How to Stay Motivated When Learning Gets Tough

Kia ora, friends! If you’re on a tech learning journey, you’ll know it’s not all smooth sailing. Some days you’re on fire, smashing through tutorials and feeling like a coding wizard. Other days, you’re staring at your screen, wondering if your brain’s turned to mush and if you’ll ever get it. Trust me, I’ve been there—probably more times than I’d like to admit!

So, how do you keep going when the going gets tough? Here’s what’s helped me (and a few things I wish I’d known sooner).

Remember Why You Started

First up, it’s easy to lose sight of your “why” when you’re knee-deep in error messages. For me, I started learning tech because I wanted to build things that actually work—plus, I love the idea of solving real-world problems. On the days when I feel like giving up, I remind myself of that original spark. Maybe you want to land a new job, create something cool, or just prove to yourself you can do it. Whatever your reason, write it down and stick it somewhere you’ll see it. It really does help.

Take It One Step at a Time

Tech is massive. There’s always something new to learn, and it can feel overwhelming. I used to try and tackle everything at once—spoiler alert: that doesn’t work! Now, I break things down into small, manageable chunks. One day I’ll focus on understanding a single concept, the next I’ll try a mini project. Progress is progress, even if it’s just a tiny step forward.

Celebrate the Little Wins

Honestly, sometimes just fixing a stubborn bug feels like winning Lotto. Don’t wait for the “big” achievements to celebrate. Every time you solve a problem, finish a tutorial, or even just understand something that confused you yesterday—give yourself a pat on the back. I keep a little “wins” list in my notebook, and on tough days, looking back at it reminds me how far I’ve come.

Find Your Crew

Learning on your own can get lonely. I’ve found so much encouragement from online communities, local meetups, and even just chatting with mates who are also learning. Don’t be shy about asking questions or sharing your struggles—chances are, someone else has been there too. And remember, the Learner Me team is always here for a chat if you need a bit of support or just want to talk things through. We’re all in this waka together, so reach out any time!

Mistakes Are Part of the Journey

If I had a dollar for every time I broke my code, I’d be shouting everyone coffee. Mistakes are frustrating, but they’re also where the real learning happens. Instead of beating yourself up, try to see each mistake as a lesson. Sometimes the best “aha!” moments come right after the biggest stuff-ups.

Don’t Forget to Rest

This one’s important: take breaks. Seriously. Burnout is real, and pushing through when you’re exhausted doesn’t help anyone. Go for a walk, have a yarn with a friend, or just chill for a bit. You’ll come back fresher and ready to tackle the next challenge.

Mix Things Up

If you’re feeling stuck, try changing how you learn. Watch a video, join a coding challenge, read a blog, or even try teaching someone else what you’ve learnt. Sometimes a new approach is all you need to get your mojo back.

Visualise Where You’re Headed

It might sound a bit cheesy, but picturing yourself reaching your goal—whether it’s building your first app, landing that job, or just nailing a tricky concept—can be super motivating. I like to jot down what success looks like for me and imagine how it’ll feel when I get there.

Final Thoughts

Learning tech isn’t always easy, but it’s 100% worth it. There’ll be ups and downs, but if you keep showing up—even on the tough days—you’ll be amazed at what you can achieve. What keeps you motivated when things get hard? Ka kite, and happy learning!

Written by Elyse Ardern