Hacker News Reader

Comment by pradhyo | Hacker News Reader

I am in the exact same situation - I am trying to get into machine learning from being a web developer so I am learning a lot of new things too.

After months of not finding time to do courses online, I've been studying between 5-7am for the last couple of weeks. Previously I would wake up, go straight to work, come back home tired and waste time on Netflix before going to bed. Now I spend less time for entertainment after work and sleep sooner because I have to wake up early.

This may not help you but thought I would share my experience.

Edit: Reading your question again and looking at the other comment, looks like your question may not be about time management so this may be irrelevant.

View on HN

How do you stay motivated? Do you have negative days, days full of doubt, insecurities, etc.?

Back when I was a student, I had to find a job so I put in a lot of effort.. until I found a job and settled in nicely. Couple years in, I am now familiar with the team and our stack so it takes less effort to keep up to date. I have a lot less free time than before due to the full-time job but I spend a larger percentage of it on unproductive things - lack of motivation when everything is cozy.

My situation has changed a little bit now (due to some deadlines) and though I can find a web developer job more easily, I want to give it my best shot trying to get an ML job, since I have realized I might never do it if I don't do it now.

Luckily I don't have a lot of those negative thoughts/days. I've felt bad a couple of times for wasting too much time on that particular day but I think of the overall progress I've made and get over it pretty quickly.

I'm curious as to your mentality here? - you make it sound like a real chore to learn machine learning, but also that it's something you want to get into.

I've found that if I want to get into something, it's a real pleasure to research, learn, tinker - that is my entertainment & relaxation.

I didn't mean to sound like that - does allocating time come across that way?

This is something that has frustrated me - I thoroughly enjoy learning new things and these online courses and yet I wasn't spending time on these things. After work, it's a lot easier to just switch on Netflix from the couch and let it autoplay. If they had Udacity on FireTV, I would have probably used that instead of Netflix. I'm thinking this is also because I am mentally spent after work and it takes more to study vs Netflix.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com