Makers Mindful Coder Series: Week 1 - Coding meets Mindfulness
A 9 part series of Mindfulness and Emotional Intelligence topics from our Daily Meditation sessions at Makers. Take a sneak peak into what our learners experience.
Welcome from the Joy Team at Makers! As our learners embark on their coding journey with us, we’re here to guide and support them through an experience that’s as enriching personally as it is technically. Here’s what we covered with them this week:
The first week at Makers is not just about laying the foundations of your coding skills but also your emotional intelligence (EI). One of the ways we help our learners to build their EI skills is through daily guided mindfulness meditation. Whether you’re new to meditation or a seasoned practitioner, these sessions are designed so that you can opt in and benefit at any level.
Our holistic approach is designed to bolster your resilience, focus, and wellbeing, ensuring that you’re not just learning to code but also learning valuable life skills that will support you throughout the bootcamp, your career and beyond.
This week we started our mindfulness journey with some fundamentals: non-judging, patience, letting go and more…
Cultivating Non-Judging and Adjusting to the Environment
Your first days at Makers are all about settling in — finding your rhythm, meeting new people, and diving into the vast world of coding. It’s a period filled with excitement and, understandably, some anxiety.
In ‘Cultivating Non-Judging,’ we encourage you to approach these experiences without self-criticism or judgment. As you practice mindfulness it helps to forge a mindset allows you to be kind to yourself as you navigate changes and leverage them as an opportunity for growth.
“The meditation sessions have felt transformative. I’ve been really struggling with my emotions recently and I’ve seen myself start to recognise my emotions sooner, and be able to respond to them in a healthier way. “ — Makers Learner
Embracing Patience on Your Learning Journey
At Makers we like to say “Learning to code is a marathon, not a sprint.” The theme of ‘Embracing Patience’ is crucial as you start to lay the groundwork for your future in tech.
It’s important to give yourself the time to absorb new information, to practice, and most importantly, to make mistakes. Mindfulness teaches you patience with yourself and the process is a form of self-care. Ensuring that your wellbeing remains a priority even as you push yourself to reach new heights in your coding journey.
Letting Go and Trusting the Process
As you progress through Makers, you’ll find that ‘Letting Go’ becomes an essential practice. This means trusting in the transformative process of learning, understanding that each step forward, no matter how small, lights up the path ahead.
Each day as you show up and do your best, you’re building a new layer of knowledge and awareness, and as this unfolds you can learn to hold on to what serves you and let go of what’s getting in your way. Letting go is about trust — trust in the process, and, most importantly, in yourself.
Prioritise Self-care
We also emphasised ‘The Power of Gentleness.’ As you move through the growth and transformation into your new career, remembering to take breaks, and practicing self-care are all acts of kindness towards yourself.
Challenging yourself and being kind to yourself can co-exists. Acknowledging when you need a moment to breathe, to step away, reaching out to a coach if you need support and celebrating the small (and big) victories along the way. This gentleness fosters a healthier internal and external learning environment, one where you can maintain your energy and thrive.
“In the softness of gentleness lies the strength to transform your inner world, like a gentle stream shaping the hardest stones.” — Unknown
This week’s reflection questions:
- What are some possible benefits in meeting yourself with less judgment?
- Where might be your next opportunity to practice patience with yourself?
- What’s something you’d like to let go of? What will it feel like to release it?
- How could you incorporate gentleness into your day? What will that look and feel like?
The Makers Experience: A Holistic Approach to Coding
At Makers, we believe that developing your emotional intelligence through mindfulness practices like these is just as important as honing your technical skills. This holistic approach prepares you to become not just a capable coder but a well-rounded, resilient individual ready to face the challenges of the tech industry with confidence.
So, as you take these first steps with us, remember to cultivate non-judging, embrace patience, trust yourself, and be gentle with yourself. Welcome to Makers - we’re thrilled to be part of your journey.
Join us for Part 2 — “Cultivating Presence in Learning”
Makers Joy Team
