Is Being a Web Developer Stressful?

Honestly, I think handling stress really depends on the type of person who is trying to become a web developer. People handle stress in various different ways and have varying tolerance levels. One person’s all time high of stress levels could be someone else’s everyday. So your mileage may vary when it comes to evaluating whether this career would be stressful for you or not.

Handling the Stress of Being a Web Developer

The parts of web development that may be stressful usually boil down to two things. How well you can handle deadlines and how well you handle dealing with the unknown on bugs, errors, and various road blocks that one runs into within web development. Personally I do my best to handle these situations. But it is reasonably expected for things to go wrong from time to time. This is especially true when learning to code or handling projects with various amounts of people working in and out of them. Let’s face it, we are human. The biggest part for me is to not get so focused or stuck on the problem itself as this can lead to anxiety and frustration. I find that when I change my perspective, it really helps me engage and find a solution quicker.

The Key to Solving Problems within Web Development

Frustration, stress, & anxiety are definitely a possibility when one faces any sort of problems within life or at work. What helps me the most is when I change my perspective to be “curious” as to why something is not working. When I am curious rather than frustrated it opens up my head and clears my mind. I am not so fogged up with worry about not finding the solution when I am curious. I find that being curious engages my brain in a way that is proactively finding a solution.

A lot of programming comes down to how determined are you to find a solution when it comes to learning. Just about any problem you are running into, 99% of the time, it will have been posted about on the internet. With this in mind, get curious and continue the search. It is perseverance and consistency that helps us grow. It took me awhile to figure this out unfortunately, as before I used to give up right away.

How to Handle Deadlines

Deadlines for a web developer can be stressful. I think the biggest part of handling deadlines is setting expectations and being completely open and honest with where you are at. It takes a lot of courage to admit you do not know how to do something or you may be behind; it is significantly better to be upfront and handle the situation to continue forward progress, than rather; putting things off until it is too late to do something about.

The other part that really helps me reach my deadlines for projects is for me to plan out my day. Usually first thing in the morning I will write down notes for a few minutes of what I need to do for the day. Usually I will check back halfway through the day and see what is left. At the end of the day I spend just a couple minutes writing down what went well, what could have gone better, and anything else I feel is relevant. I don’t spend a whole lot of time on this, because if I did; I do not think I would be consistent with it. But in general, I find when I spend only a couple minutes or less; it truly holds me accountable to myself as I am writing down mini goals.

Comparatively, How Bad is the Stress of Being a Web Developer?

Personally for me I do not find the job all that stressful. I think there are definitely moments where stress can come up. Sometimes I run into roadblocks that I am not quite sure how to overcome. That being said, I am not afraid to spend some time googling the issues. You need to research ways you can do something better, and if after all your efforts have failed; GO ASK FOR HELP. It is way better to go ask for help, especially when you are learning; than sitting at your desk for hours on end getting no where. Where asking for help starts to become a problem is when you are constantly asking the same questions. It is just like any other job; if you do not try, you will not get very far.

My Personal Thoughts as a Web Developer:

I really enjoy working as a web developer, and I think you should pursue something you enjoy. I have worked many jobs before that I have hated; and I can finally say, without a doubt, that doing something you enjoy is so much easier on your mind, body, and soul. I used to be stressed out at work all the time. Now it just feels natural and gives a more fulfilling feeling when I am at work. But this is just my experience, this job is definitely not for everyone. What brings me happiness and joy may be completely different for you.

The fact that this job requires life long learning due to constant changing technologies makes me happy. But for someone else, the thought of so much change, required learning, and constantly delving into the unknown may be very daunting and stressful. Before diving down this career path, I highly suggest figuring out if you can personally stomach change, unknown, life long learning, and most importantly, what truly makes you happy.

Conclusion:

Web development can be a very rewarding career if one has the stomach for all it comes with and gets enjoyment out of everything it requires. I have always really enjoyed seeing my creations and work come to life after I have put in so many hours. So for me personally, I have found a good fit within the web development career path. For others, this can vary drastically depending on what brings them happiness and fulfillment. How someone handles stress and change will also have a big impact on how they view this field. It is definitely not for everyone, but can be extremely rewarding for the ones that do enjoy it.