How to make the most out of #100DaysOfCode
Tags: 100daysofcode, sql, mysql, postgres
Published: 2021-05-07 16:31:42

---
title: How to make the most out of #100DaysOfCode
published: true
description: How to make the most out of #100DaysOfCode
tags: #100daysofcode #sql #mysql #postgresql
cover_image: "https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/7twxqfjc2obimgxkx1rp.png"
---

I am at the end of #100DaysOfCode and thought I would share some tips and tricks on how to successfully complete the challenge, my accomplishments, and what I would do differently in the future.

###Tips and Tricks
1) The main goal of #100DaysOfCode is to code consecutive for 100 days consecutively. Was I successful in this? Actually no. My birthday occured in the middle of the challenge, so I took a few days of to travel and celebrate. Balance is key, so while this challenge provides structure, feel free to afford yourself some flexibility and grace. Life happens and you just may not be able to code for 100 days straight. I would even suggest calibrating this challenge to best fit your needs. If you don't want to code on the weekends, then don't. The challenge will take longer of course, but you need to do what's best for you. 
Edit: After drafting this, I went through an extremely traumatic event that required me to take more time off. I almost decided to quit the challenge at d.82, but decided to continue. It helped with getting my life back to normal.

2) Don't think you have to code for hours at a time every day. There were some days where all I did was watch a Udemy video before going to bed. There were other days when I spent hours coding. For me, I liked doing something every day to keep new concepts fresh in my mind.

3) Set a goal. Setting a goal sets you up for success. For this challenge, I wanted to learn SQL. The system to learn that goal was to use the #100DaysOfCode challenge to learn SQL via online courses. The secondary goal was to finally start completing those Udemy courses I kept buying.

4) After you've chosen what you want to learn, try not to go overboard with resources. There are so many free and paid resources, and it's easy to try and want to learn everything. I would suggest that before doing the challenge, do some research on what you would like to learn, then find some resources to help you learn that topic. This will help provide structure so you won't feel like you're flailing in the wind.

5)Find a way to keep yourself accountable. For me, that was tweeting about it every day. You really don't have a way of knowing if people are paying attention, and in all honesty you have to assume that they don't care. But what if you have one person watching, you don't want to let them down do you? Learning is hard, and learning in public is even harder. Do it anyway. 

TLDR: Be consistent, but flexible, set a goal and have a system for achieving that goal, find a few resources and stick to those to completion.

### What did I Accomplish?
I started this challenge with the goal to learn SQL because I saw it in so many different job applications. SQL is needed for data analytics, data science, and back-end web development. I learnt mySQL and PostgreSQL as well. 
I completed _____ Udemy courses, and later on in the challenge I started the Professional Data Analytics Course from Google. (I have finished the first of 8 courses and will be continuing the rest). Also later in the challenge, I started learning Python and will be continuing that as well. 

I also started about my journey and wrote _ articles about SQL. Writing about sql allowed me to cement the knowledge I was gaining and improved my technical writing ability as well. 
I not only improved my writing, but my presentation skills as well by including annotated screenshots and creating my own graphics in Canva as well. The tech world is huge, and all these skills, knowing how code, knowing how to write about technical topics, can all be useful. At the very least, it was helpful for me to go back and revisit topics I had written about so they served as a note taking function as well.


###What would I do differently in the future. 
There is not a lot I would change about my process. I will probably make my goals more defined the next go around, in terms of what I hope to achieve (for example, write more blogs to increase my dev dot to viewership, or choose a sql database tool and try to learn that deeply). 

Thanks for reading! Hope these tips were helpful!