Codex

To become a better coder, you have to be intentional — in how you read and write code, in how you study new concepts, and even in the way you take breaks and refresh your mind.

Intention is key to progress. A journal gives you a place to work through your thoughts (e.g. algorithm steps, design process, or whatever else) in a concrete way. You can see everything before you. Not only does it make you less prone to errors, but it’ll help solidify those concepts in your mind.

It records a history of your progress and development. This may be the biggest benefit of journaling, especially for new coders. The hardest part about being a newbie is being blind to your own progress and feeling like you aren’t moving forward. But each journal entry represents a discrete achievement. It feels good, and that’s priceless when learning.

It’s also useful for staying motivated on long-term projects because the journal acts as an objective reminder of how far you’ve come. When you feel like you aren’t making progress, the journal tells you that you have — and that can be a great motivating boost.

Lastly, a journal can be useful evidence when you sit down for an interview or to write that Medium article you’ve been thinking of.