How to find time to upskill with a full-time job

The tech world waits for no one.

As developers, you're constantly bombarded with new languages, frameworks, and tools to learn.

If you don't upskill, you become outdated. But finding time to upskill is hard with a full-time job which is already taking most hours out of your day.

You might think squeezing time out of your day at random times would work, but that never works. Here's why:

1. Your energy levels drop throughout the day. Without a plan, you might try to learn something new when your brain is fried. 
2. By the end of the day, your willpower to resist distractions tanks. You'll get pulled into other tasks or feel too drained to focus.

The good thing is that you don't have to sacrifice all your free hours to learn something. It doesn't have to feel like a chore you hate.

Instead, you need to create a unique system that seamlessly blends into your routine. Here are the 4 steps:

Step 1: Conduct a time audit 

Start by tracking how you spend your time for a week. This gives you a high-level view of where your time is going and helps identify areas where you can reclaim some hours.

1. Are there low-priority tasks you can cut down or eliminate?

2. Can you group similar activities to save time?

For example, Zara Ahmed, Senior Software Engineer at Amazon, shared her approach:

I don't always have a lot of time, so I watch 30-45 minute YouTube videos on topics I want to learn. I try to find windows throughout the day, at least an hour block, to pick up something new.

By conducting a time audit, you can find windows like Zara does and make the most of them.

Step 2: Block out non-negotiable learning time

Once you've identified where you can reclaim some time, the next step is to block out a specific time for learning. Aim for a 1-2 hour block each day and treat it like an important meeting—non-negotiable and immovable.

To maximize focus, schedule this block during a time when you have the most energy. Are you a morning person? Then block out time before work. More focused after dinner? Make that your study time.

Amalan, a Data Engineer at CertifyOS, describes his routine:

I try to spend at least an hour daily, split across morning and evening—around 4-5 hours per week. This includes reading books, taking online courses, solving coding problems, etc.

Once you've set your block, put it on your calendar so nothing else can take its place.

 

Step 3: Create a learning backlog

With time blocked out, it's time to organize your learning goals. A great way to do this is by creating a learning backlog. This helps you stay focused and avoid feeling overwhelmed by all the things you want to learn.

First, brainstorm all the skills, tools, and topics you're interested in. Then, for each item, ask yourself:

• Is this skill relevant to my current or desired role?
• Will learning this make me better at my job or more valuable to my team?
• Am I genuinely interested in learning this?

Prioritize your list based on these questions and break each item into small, actionable goals. For example, if you want to learn Rust, your goal could be to read a few chapters of The Rust Programming Language and contribute to the Rustlings project on GitHub.

Organizing your learning in a backlog helps you focus on one thing at a time and makes the process less overwhelming.

 

Step 4: Apply the skills you learn

Making time is as important as using that time well. So, to make your learning stick, hands-on practice is essential. This shifts you from passive learning to active problem-solving, which is far more engaging and rewarding.

Here are two practical ways to apply your new skills.

1. On the Job

One of the most effective ways to practice new skills is by applying them directly in your current job. This allows you to test new knowledge in real-world scenarios and improve your performance at work.

Look for opportunities in your daily tasks where you can incorporate what you've learned. For example, if you've picked up a new programming language or tool, use it to optimize your team's workflow by automating repetitive tasks.

Kaustumbh Jaiswal, a freelance software engineer at Thimblerr, highlights this strategy:

My primary way of learning is by taking on new projects in my current work. This way, the time I invest in learning aligns with the hours I'm putting into work, and I get to learn something new in the process.

By integrating learning into your day-to-day job, you're not only improving your skills but also adding value to your team.

2. Work on Personal Projects

If your current job doesn't allow much room to experiment with new skills, personal projects can be a great alternative. Personal projects give you the freedom to explore without the pressure of workplace expectations or deadlines.

Here are some ideas for personal projects:

• Build a side project using a new framework or tool.
• Contribute to open-source projects to collaborate with other engineers.
• Write a blog post or create a tutorial about what you've learned.

These projects give you hands-on experience and allow you to deepen your knowledge while showcasing your skills to potential employers or collaborators.

 

3. Open-source contributions 

Open-source contributions give you the chance to work on real-world problems and get feedback from developers outside your immediate team. 

It can be a time commitment, but it’s worth it.

“I actively contributed to open source and worked on personal projects early in my career. But I’ve taken a break from that for the last 1-2 years to focus more on learning, especially around leadership skills. I see myself going back to contributing to open-source projects again in the future.” — Amey Telwane, Senior Software Engineer at Airbnb

Most senior engineers we spoke to recommend their juniors to get involved in open-source projects. 

It gives you hands-on experience with large-scale software and quick feedback on your code. It’s also a good way to practice new skills if you're not able to use them at work. 

Plus, you get to meet other skilled engineers and grow your network in the tech community.

 

Don't overthink, just start 

Balancing work and learning is challenging, but it's not impossible. By following a structured approach, you can find time to learn and ensure you're applying your new skills.

Here's a quick recap of the steps we covered:

1. Conduct a time audit to identify areas where you can reclaim time for learning.
2. Block out non-negotiable learning time that fits your schedule and energy levels.
3. Create a learning backlog to stay organized and focused on your goals.
4. Apply your skills on the job or through personal projects to solidify your knowledge.

Remember, most people don't stick to upskilling because they get stuck into the loop of making the perfect schedule. So, don't get bogged into finding the 'perfect' time.