How Do You Avoid Feeling Overwhelmed? What If You Are In Over Your Head?

How do you fight feeling overwhelmed? What if you feel like an imposter? What if you are in over your head? How do you get through it? These are the questions we will answer in today's episode of Dev Questions.
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[@Sander-Brilman]

I came to this channel for the beginner friendly C# tutorials, but now that ive significantly improved my C# skills (partly thanks to you) the tutorials are less interesting to me. However i stayed for these dev questions video's. they are very valuable and help me as a developer in a whole different way that i dont get from other channels. Thanks alot!

[@IAmTimCorey]

I am glad they are helpful.

[@user-hm8zl1vv1b]

Tim, this is one reason why I am so thankful I discovered you and your videos. You’re not just talking about programming, but you are talking about life in general. Any one can watch this video and get so much out of it no matter if you’re a developer or not. It just makes so much sense and can be applied to any one in any situation.

[@IAmTimCorey]

I am glad it was helpful.

[@manprinsen8150]

This video could not have come at a better time ❤

[@IAmTimCorey]

I'm glad. You've got this.

[@ManInTheFridge]

Does anyone else feel overwhelmed in the workplace in terms of being a senior apprentice and the senior is so used to their own workflow that they are still leading major projects, not looping you in on things, not documenting what they are doing, to where you feel like you have to practically beg them to include you? You begin to think it's personal and wonder if they are side stepping you on purpose or just don't care, and you don't know how to approach the situation and ask why aren't you included me.. It's overwhelming to me and frustrating because as an apprentice if you are being proactive in asking for work, doing it well, learning, etc. The senior should be doing their part to keep you informed and help you succeed. Especially if you work closely together and they are planning to retire soon and it's clear you will be filling their role.

[@IAmTimCorey]

It is hard to give away work, since it is often easier (in the short term) to do it yourself. Passing it off requires spending time explaining, often when that explanation will take longer than the task. With that being said, it is important that the senior developer pass on their knowledge and help the transition process along. I would have a face-to-face meeting with them where you lay out your concerns. Try to get them on your side. Don't approach it as "you are doing something wrong" but as "I want to be fully ready for your retirement. How can I become more involved so that I don't drop the ball when you leave?" Don't put it on them, put it on you.

[@webluke]

Something I have felt over the past year wasn't being overwhelmed but a sense of being tired. Some of it has to do with working on a long project that I am doing some programming on, but it's turned into repetitive work making complex WPF screens and not really developing code or something new. So I have spent time doing code tutorials and trying to find more hobbies creating things.

[@IAmTimCorey]

I struggle in the same way. Long, drawn out projects drain me. Side work and taking breaks helps recharge me.

[@tccoder3547]

Thanks for this video Tim

[@IAmTimCorey]

You are welcome.

[@EluviumMC]

I haven't watched the video yet, but I wanted to say that I think it's amazing that you posted this after I had a conversation on this very topic with one of my managers earlier this week. Well-timed content!

[@IAmTimCorey]

I hope it will be helpful. You've got this!

[@alwiyu7352]

Many thanks Tim for your advice. Your advices are really work for me.

[@IAmTimCorey]

You are very welcome.

[@faisalalhoqani6151]

Great episode, as usual dear Tim, keep it up.

[@IAmTimCorey]

Thank you!

[@AliMustafa-xp8ih]

this video came out just in time. Thank you Tim for such great video

[@IAmTimCorey]

I am glad it was helpful.

[@kimfom]

Very timely video.. I actually needed this advice as I have a pile of tasks to do this weekend and I am feeling overwhelmed. Thanks Tim!

[@IAmTimCorey]

I am glad it was helpful.

[@andergarcia1115]

Many of us have felt this way at some point, thank you Master for your valuable advice.

[@IAmTimCorey]

You are welcome.

[@luke2042]

Great advice, as usual.

[@IAmTimCorey]

I am glad it was helpful.

[@olinzknihytovi]

I feel overwhelmed. Not because of too much work, but because the top management in our company canceled all internal development, saying that now we have a year (!) to transfer the knowledge of the products to an external company, and then they will probably cancel the products completely. But the worst thing is that since the official announcement, they have not communicated with our team at all. I wish I could work at full blast on a project with a future. :( Time to look around now. Thank you for this video, Tim!

[@IAmTimCorey]

The good news is that you didn't lose your job right away. You have time to build your resume, polish your portfolio, and look for good opportunities.

[@phillismable6303]

Omg so sorry to hear this, ok get a new job now. Do not pass on any knowledge, they have failed you don’t make their lives easier.

[@phillismable6303]

What country you in as I might have someone who can get some work for you.

[@sadhappy8860]

Currently going through this, very much appreciated

[@IAmTimCorey]

You've got this!

[@kylerbriskey372]

I’m a railroad conductor who does coding as a hobby and the values in this video are so great, I could use it at my job. Thanks Tim!

[@IAmTimCorey]

Awesome!

[@seeking_calmness]

Tim, all these points are very good. In addition I sometimes find that there is a task that I don't want to do for some reason. To get over this I sometimes decide that is the first thing I do in a day. This gives me no time to ponder/worry over it throughout the day. Sometimes it turns out a lot easier than I think it might be.

[@IAmTimCorey]

Thanks for sharing!

[@lenardbartha6722]

Hi Tim, great video. One thing that would be helpful for videos like these is to add chapters, and summary for the bullet points. Keep up the great work!

[@IAmTimCorey]

I don't have the time to add them, but I do take community submissions.

[@randyriegel8553]

For the most part I have a "it will be there tomorrow" attitude. But then I'm mowing grass or doing something else in the evening and my subconscious brain just pops up and answer to my problem when I'm not even thinking about it. I'll go inside to my home office and write ideas down. Have did same thing in middle of the night... wake up and have the problem solved in your head. If you can relax a little instead of stressing it will come to you.

[@IAmTimCorey]

Thanks for sharing!

[@BeepBoop2221]

I'd also add also keep archived copies of those emails asking what your boss asked you to do.

[@IAmTimCorey]

Always! That paper trail is really important.

[@kirandasr1621]

13:59 and then show that list to the boss to prioritize & reorder 😂

[@IAmTimCorey]

Yep. Let them have some input so they feel like they're managing something.

[@konanoobiemaster]

When Tim's video reads your mind 😂

[@IAmTimCorey]

I've been there. I hope the video will help.

[@OldGuyAdventure]

This is a very timely question; I am going into a Project that would assist with deploying various applications. Having very defined tasks to resolve the problem, thinking through it first and ensuring you look at all aspects. Also, you work to live, not live to work, and you should have a life outside of work. I come from experience that you should take care of your health. I did not for most of my career, and it catches up fast. Something that sticks with me is how you eat an elephant, one bite at a time. Good advice about time for tasks. I work with a company that runs tight time on programming duties, and this is always very stressful. I am taking the Mastercourse for C# precisely because of the stress associated with my job, but to secure outside work because my current job does not prioritize any projects to allow me to work full time.

[@IAmTimCorey]

Thanks for sharing!

[@markmahowald7866]

Man I needed this after this week. I’m the only dev and was assured that a change would work by local it….. who hadn’t checked the sql collation. Long story short we had a factory down for 2 1/2 hours.

[@IAmTimCorey]

That's always scary. The good news is that it has happened to almost everyone. You will get past it and it will become a story you laugh about in the future. I remember when one of my employees destroyed all of the emails (and backups) for our entire organization. It took us three months to recover everything. That felt awful during the situation, but it is one of my funnier stories now.

[@WaveWalker15]

Thank you for the vid. I am currently overwhelmed by a large undocumented legacy codebase. I have to maintain and extend it, which is nearly impossible, because its poorly written (no docs, god classes, no unit tests). Do you have a video done for this particular topic? Like "How to deal with legacy code"

[@IAmTimCorey]

This video will help you prepare to tackle the issue, but then the following video will give you some specifics about your situation: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fHbVepl7mZh8fqssi=h6bIb63LYcicBOuR

[@phillismable6303]

He Already did that last year see I watched all of his vids, just go through a file at a time, build a mental map of how it all works, map it out, it does take too long to do. About 2 weeks max for a large project, then design what’s needed, half of your projects will be like this. I have done 6 of them in the last few years.

[@enesaliev3518]

Should I learn nested for loops 2d and 1d arrays and sorting before learning OOP and OOP principles.

[@IAmTimCorey]

Yes to nested for loops (that's learning a bit of logic in building apps). No to 2d arrays (you will probably won't use them again for years). Yes to 1d arrays just because you will probably see them. You will more likely use List, but knowing how to build and use an array is helpful (mostly so you know to avoid them in favor of generic lists). No to sorting (mostly, that is done for you these days). OOP is really important to get into when you are learning C#. Spend a lot of time practicing it (and everything you learn).

[@user-ig9jh6ff3m]

Hi Mr Corey. I have a suggestion! :) I have searched and searched and could not find even one example on TDD for CRUD with blazor. I believe anyone who takes this task will set an standard for the whole industry and I think lots of discussions will rise. Would you do that if it is not too much to ask!? :) It would be great to get feedback from giants like Steven Sandersson, Kent Beck and Martin Fowler What do you think?

[@IAmTimCorey]

Well, Blazor is a UI framework. CRUD should not be done in the UI. The same CRUD will work in Blazor Server, API, WPF, and WinForms, so you don't need to do a Blazor-specific CRUD. That means that the TDD videos you've seen with CRUD will apply when you build a Blazor application.

[@user-ig9jh6ff3m]

@@IAmTimCoreyThank you for your answer Tim. There is a package called Bunit which is designed for testing Blazor components. I believe it is possible to test UI and backend Blazor way. Am I right? In this case you can see it for yourself, there is no example for CRUD in Blazor on the web.

[@yasmelfl5146]

After starting coding using C# I started coding using Angular now it will be great to get back to C# without losing the time invested in Angular which course do you suggest as a next step, your courses are great thank you.

[@IAmTimCorey]

It depends on where you are at and where you want to be. If you are going to work with C# at all, I always recommend making sure your foundation is set. Often, people try to skip to the UI that they like first, instead of learning C# well. Since C# powers all of the UIs, it is what you need to know well. After that, figure out where you want to be and dive deeper in that area. The big deal, though, is to practice a LOT.

[@magicja]

I find it easier to categorize the work that needs to be done and then batch that work in increments of 1 hour instead of using the pomodoro, GTD, or 1-3-5 method.

[@IAmTimCorey]

Whatever works best for you. I find that for me, it changes.

[@cirusMEDIA]

Hi Tim, are you related to *Adam Corey*? I learnt a lot of php from Adam here on KZbin.

[@IAmTimCorey]

Nope, not that I know of.

[@cirusMEDIA]

@IAmTimCorey okay cool.