A little while ago, coding felt like a superpower. I could sit down, get in the zone, and hours would fly by while I pieced together ideas, logic, and lines of code into something that actually worked. It was frustrating sometimes, sure—but it was also deeply satisfying. Then AI came along, and... things got weird.
The Honeymoon Phase
When I first tried tools like GitHub Copilot and ChatGPT, I was blown away. You mean I could just describe what I wanted and get code? Instantly? It felt like cheating—in the best way. I started moving faster, writing cleaner code, skipping the repetitive stuff. Honestly, it was exhilarating.
But slowly, something started to shift. I didn’t notice it at first. I just knew I wasn’t getting into that deep "coding flow" like I used to. I was moving fast, but the joy and the why behind what I was doing started to fade.
Losing the Thread
At some point, I realized I was letting AI take the wheel a little too often. I’d let it write functions, name variables, even handle logic I didn’t fully understand. It worked... until it didn’t.
I started to lose confidence in my own instincts. When I didn’t have AI right there, I’d freeze. Even basic tasks felt harder than they should have. I wasn’t building things anymore—I was just assembling pieces someone (or something) else gave me.
The worst moment? A code review where I couldn’t explain my own logic—because I didn’t really write it. That hit hard. I had outsourced the thinking part of coding, and I missed it more than I expected.
Finding My Way Back
That was the wake-up call. I realized I didn’t want to be someone who just glued together code suggestions. I wanted to be a developer again—someone who understood the why, not just the how.
So, I decided to do something about it.
1. Going AI-Free (Sometimes)
I started with a personal project and promised myself: no AI. Just me, a blank editor, and Google if I got stuck. It was slow. I fumbled a lot. But you know what? That sense of satisfaction came rushing back. I remembered how it felt to solve something on my own—and it felt good.
2. Treating AI Like a Collaborator
Now, I still use AI—but differently. I ask it questions, explore options, or get feedback. I don’t let it drive. I use it the way I’d use a senior dev on my team: as someone to learn from, not someone to do my job for me.
3. Relearning the Basics
I went back to old-school stuff: data structures, algorithms, writing small functions from scratch. Not because I needed them for my job, but because I wanted to rebuild that muscle. Coding isn’t just about getting something that works—it’s about understanding how and why it works.
4. Talking Through My Code Again
I started pairing more, doing code reviews, even talking out loud while I code. That helped me rebuild my ability to explain what I was doing—and catch myself when I didn’t fully get it.
What I Learned
I don’t blame AI. It’s an incredible tool. But I learned (the hard way) that how you use it matters just as much as what it can do.
Coding is more than getting output—it’s about thinking, learning, solving, creating. I’d forgotten that for a while. But I’m back in the flow now, and it feels like coming home.
If you’ve been feeling the same—like your brain is getting a little too quiet during coding sessions—you’re not alone. Step away from the autocomplete. Get your hands dirty. Struggle a bit. You’ll be surprised how fast your mind remembers what it used to love.
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