How do you manage the feeling of being perpetually behind?
In tech, there are an endless amount of books and articles to read, and videos to watch. My browser tabs have grown to the point where I use Onetab to bookmark tab groups that I will eventually get around to...
I also have a long list of improvements, tech debt, and ideas for work and personal that I implement when I have the time. I prioritize and accomplish things every week, but I still feel perpetually behind. This is an internal struggle I deal with, and I don't think this feeling will ever go away. What do you recommend I do to finally feel like I am ahead of the ball?
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Discussion
(2 comments)- 32 years agoSenior Software Engineer at IBM
You just have to know what's priority and what you're interested in. Other things you have to learn to do what you want. Think about where you want to go, focus just on what you need to get there, and let the rest slide off. I think everyone struggles with this tbh and I'm working with a lot of folks right now so they won't be running off of cliffs anytime soon.
- 32 years agoEntry-Level Software Engineer at Startup Company
I think that the best approach to address this is to focus on the most critical or high-return tasks at hand. Keep your tabs and other resources organized in a place where you can easily return to them when you have the time. If you don't end up revisiting some of them, it's likely that they weren't crucial enough to begin with.
A key aspect of dealing with this issue is learning to accept the fact that you may not be able to cover everything, even if it's occasionally uncomfortable. Remember, you're not alone in feeling this way. I can completely relate!
