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Overcoming addition to programming

Overcoming addition to programming

A talk at GDG-MAD's March meetup about being addicted to programming & overworking.

Karan Trehan

March 31, 2021
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  1. Overcoming Addiction
    To Programming
    Karan Trehan
    Product Engineer @ gopay - gojek
    @karntrehan

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  2. What is addiction?
    “Addiction is a psychological
    and physical inability to stop
    consuming a chemical, drug,
    activity, or substance, even
    though it is causing
    psychological and physical
    harm.”

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  3. 5
    Ongoing
    Recovery
    H
    ave
    identified
    w
    hat triggers
    your addiction,
    and
    have
    built a
    solid
    support netw
    ork
    to
    turn
    to
    w
    hen
    you
    are
    having
    diffi
    culties.
    4
    Start Recovery
    They
    can
    start to
    learn
    new
    coping
    skills
    and
    healthy
    dietary
    habits, and
    start to
    focus
    on
    living
    a
    substance-free
    life.
    3
    Recovery
    Exploration
    Finding
    w
    ays
    to
    overcom
    e
    the
    addiction.
    Aw
    areness
    They
    are
    gradually
    realizing
    how
    their
    addictions
    are
    ruining
    their lives.
    2
    1
    Acknow
    ledgem
    ent
    The
    addict realizes
    he
    or she
    has
    a
    problem
    Steps of Addiction Recovery

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  4. Are you addicted to
    programming?

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  5. Symptoms of addiction
    ● Uncontrollably engaging in harmful levels of habit-forming behavior
    ● Neglecting or losing interest in activities that do not involve the harmful substance or behavior
    ● Profound changes in appearance, including a noticeable abandonment of hygiene
    @karntrehan

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  6. Uncontrollably engaging in harmful levels of habit-forming behavior
    @karntrehan

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  7. Neglecting or losing interest in activities that do not involve the harmful substance or
    behavior
    @karntrehan

    View Slide

  8. Profound changes in appearance, including a noticeable abandonment of hygiene
    @karntrehan

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  9. Are you addicted to
    programming?

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  10. Possible reasons for addiction to programming
    Positives
    Instant gratification - Hit Run
    and Done!
    Creative pleasure - I created
    this!
    Control of outcome - I can
    do this alone!
    Ease of access - All I need is
    a computer!
    Neutrals Negatives
    Organization Pressure - My
    organization rewards it.
    Peer Pressure - My friends
    are doing it.
    Creative block - Can’t stop
    till I solve this.
    Pandemic - I have nothing
    else to do.
    Passion - It is my passion
    and I like it.
    Side Projects - I am using
    this to learn.
    Challenges - Lets work this
    weekend on Compose.
    @karntrehan

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  11. How do I stop?

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  12. Do I need to stop?
    ● Do you have a start time but no stop time?
    ● Are you spending late nights and early mornings in front of your computer?
    ● Is your organization commending “all-nighters” & “weekend efforts”?
    ● Are you not able to enjoy your holidays?
    @karntrehan

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  13. Do I need to stop?
    ● Are your weekends exclusively for coding side-projects?
    ● Are you neglecting your social circles because you are too busy coding?
    ● Are you constantly thinking of bugs & issues?
    ● Are you skipping on lunches and dinners?
    @karntrehan

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  14. Possible
    Solutions
    1. Develop a non - digital habit
    2. Disconnect
    3. Talk to peers
    4. Talk to your organization
    @karntrehan

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  15. Develop a non - digital habit
    An activity to do daily at a particular time
    @karntrehan
    Good
    Running / Walking
    Weight lifting
    Swimming
    Drawing
    Horticulture
    Reading books
    Board Games
    Bad
    Computer Games
    Netflix / Prime / Alt Balaji
    Side projects
    New shiny language
    New shiny framework

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  16. Disconnect
    ● Have work mode on your phone
    which turns off
    ● Keep your work laptop out of sight
    ● Use tools to monitor work apps
    @karntrehan

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  17. Talk to peers
    ● Tell them about addiction
    ● Discuss about burnout
    ● Ask them to disconnect
    @karntrehan

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  18. Talk to your organization
    ● Quantity != Quality
    ● Ask them for tools to support this
    ● Ask them to have discussions with
    employees overworking
    @karntrehan

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  19. “.. treatment often
    involves counseling,
    medication, and
    community support”

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  20. Thank you for listening to me!
    Overcoming Addiction To Programming
    @karntrehan

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