How Many Hours a Day Should You Practice Coding?
Coding, otherwise known as computer programming, is a skill that can take you far. From creating apps to quickening computer processes, there are no technical limits when it comes to coding. Knowing how many hours a day you should practice coding may be one of the key elements to success.
When it comes to how many hours a day you should practice coding, it really comes down to the individual and what feels right for their schedule. The key is to make coding an everyday habit. Whether you can only find a few hours to code per day or can reserve eight hours or more for coding, the goal is to keep progressing no matter what.
If you’re thinking about joining the world of coding, you’re likely wondering – “Just how many hours a day should I practice coding?” Well, whether you’re looking to perform basic coding to land a new job or want to become a master of the craft, you can find out how many hours a day you should practice coding in this article.
How Many Hours a Day Should I Practice Coding?
There is no one size fits all answer when it comes to coding. It mostly depends on how quickly you learn, how interested and invested you are in coding, and where you want to end up. For example, someone who wants to become a mastermind of coding may want to practice 8 hours a day, while a beginner looking for a new career will be fine with 15 minutes to 4 hours.
How Many Hours Does it Take to Learn Coding?
To learn the basics of coding, it won’t take an exuberant amount of time. Below is a basic timeframe of how many hours it takes to learn coding with the respective daily practice times.
| 6 to 12 weeks | 8 hours per day |
| 3 to 6 months | 1 or 2 hours per day |
| 2 to 4 years | 15 minutes to an hour per day |
Of course, these times will vary from person to person. For example, someone heavily invested in learning coding may consider a coding bootcamp that will teach them all of the basics in a short period. The hours will be long and maybe somewhat grueling, but you can walk out of a coding boot camp with enough information under your belt for a new career.
Other new coders may want to go at a slower pace, and that’s okay, too. This may be a better option for someone who is not technically proficient and needs the extra time to process the mass amount of information that goes into computer programming.
How Many Hours to Become a Mastermind Coder
Malcolm Gladwell created the book Outliers: The Story of Success, in which he coined the 10,000-hour rule. His book describes how it takes 10,000 hours of practice before one becomes proficient at something.
Hearing a high number like this can be overwhelming for the new coder. Is 10,000 the miracle number? At that rate, it would take you approximately ten years if you were coding for around 3 hours a day, or five years if you were coding for 8 hours per day.
Is this feasible? Sure. If you’re looking to eventually become a mastermind coder, you should strive to practice coding up to 8 hours per day. At this rate, you can easily reach proficiency before the 10,000 hours have been reached. While it still may take several years, you can easily accomplish this goal – especially if you’re working as a coder.
You Don’t Need 10,000 Hours to Get Hired
If you’re thinking you need to be a master of coding before landing a new job, think again. Companies hiring for coders don’t expect you to know everything. In fact, they may prefer you know less so you can learn how to do it their way.
While it doesn’t look bad to have a degree in computer science or go through a coding boot camp, it isn’t essential for success (although you might get the job faster than someone with no experience). There are a few key things companies seek when hiring coders:
- Experience with certain aspects of technology, such as web application development, data structures, and test-driven development.
- A desire to learn and improve.
- Ability to work through problems and figure things out – otherwise known as the base of coding.
These skills don’t take a whole lot of time to learn. So, someone who has only coded for a few hours per day should easily tackle these coding skills without spending their entire day and night practicing.
How Can I Practice Coding Every Day?
There are many ways you can train yourself to start coding every day. By sticking to it, you will create a habit. Remember that habits can be made in approximately 66 days, so sticking to your daily coding practice is ideal.
Here are some of the top tips to bring coding into your everyday routine:
- Create a routine that includes coding in your daily schedule, and stick to it.
- Create challenges and goals, but don’t forget to reward yourself for achievements big and small.
- Design an ultimate “dream” coding experience and don’t stop until you achieve it, such as making a computer faster or programming a website to completion.
- Pick a field you want to work in, such as web, software, AI, or one of the many other coding fields.
- Choose a comfortable but motivating area to work in (not your bed, sleepyhead).
Practice Coding for the Amount of Time That’s Right for You
If you look up how many hours a day you should practice coding on a search engine, you will get a seemingly endless amount of answers. Some say a few hours; others say to go all the way and eat, breathe, and sleep coding.
The truth is, you should practice coding for the amount of time that’s right for you. Don’t count the hours. Just do what feels right. Keep in mind that you shouldn’t make daily progress; instead, make progress daily.
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