datawithkasim #11

These past two weeks I have had two main thoughts continue to come back to me.

How do I level up my coding ability and how do I make time to learn all the things I need to learn to level up?

Let's tackle the first issue first since it is quite easy to address.

I go into a lot more detail in the above, but you can read the TLDR below:

1. Simplicity: reduce complexity by introducing modularity, incorporating DRY and avoiding verbose code.
2. Modularity: breaking down larger systems into smaller, manageable pieces. For data scientists, this means breaking down projects to data collection, exploration, preprocessing, modelling and deployment.
3. Readability: writing code that is easy to understand. This can be achieved by using coding standards and conventions, choosing appropriate names and cleaning your code.
4. Performance: this topic is difficult to summarise in a couple of sentences but you need to be able to find a balance between performance and memory usage.
5. Robustness: creating code that is reproducible, can handle changes in input, uses error handling and logging.

Making time.

This isn't a brag, but a reflection on optimising a packed schedule.

I juggle full-time employment, a mathematics degree, regular exercise, Korean studies, content creation, private tutoring and daily life tasks.

The challenge? Fitting it all in without sacrificing sleep or sanity.

My secret? Efficiency and synergy.

I've cut my study time from the recommended 32 hours a week to a fraction of that.

How? By leveraging the overlap between data science and mathematics.

I document my learning journey, turning study into content creation.

Here's my approach:

1. Blend work and study, applying maths to data science projects.
2. Summarising notes in the shortest amount of words possible.
3. Multitask smartly - Korean podcasts during workouts.
4. Focus mode on my phone between 8-4PM. No social media, or WhatsApp.
5. Using friends as accountability partners. I have to go to the gym x4 a week because my friends expect me to show up.

Remember, it's not about perfection, but sustainable balance. Find joy in the process, and your commitments become a journey of growth, not a chore.

To all the jugglers out there: you can achieve more without sacrificing well-being. Work smarter, find your rhythm, and celebrate your progress.

Until next week, keep learning, growing, and enjoy the process!