Why You Don't Need to Plant Grass Every Day.

Why You Don’t Have to Plant Grass Every Day

Grass refers to GitHub commit history. At some point, it seems everyone started planting grass daily, eager to prove “I’m diligent.” If you’re pouring too much energy and fatigue into planting grass, and find yourself writing meaningless code when you should be resting, it’s time to stop.

I attempted daily grass planting four years ago. As you can see from my commit history, I didn’t last long. I hadn’t been coding for long, and my knowledge limits were clear.

I believe there’s a difference between moments to learn and moments to advance. Back then, it was a time to learn, and the ability to read, interpret, and create documents was more important than commit history. When learning new content, you need to try it out, which isn’t necessarily related to consistency. In fact, the pressure to be consistent can hinder learning and lead to burnout.

Moreover, planting grass shouldn’t be the main focus. The essence of software development is “value creation,” not consistency. If you’re developing software that helps someone, you’ve achieved your goal.

Everyone Has a Different Style

Some people thrive on consistent repetition. However, there are also efficient people who try to minimize unnecessary work. Some might contribute by researching optimized algorithms for a long time.

Planting grass is just one measure of effort. If you plant grass every day, you might not rest when you need to. You might suffer from pressure in various ways.

Don’t Let Anxiety Be Relieved by Effort

Everyone has anxiety. Sometimes actively addressing it can calm the mind, but often accepting anxiety can be helpful. Humanity has evolved by resolving uncertainties about the future. Perhaps this survival method has led to the pressure to live like others.

If someone else’s effort doesn’t suit you, find your own way. I found enjoyment in programming only after I stopped daily grass planting. I discovered that I study better without pressure.

Practicing acceptance of anxiety is necessary. It’s okay to rest for a day or two. Just as a good night’s sleep enhances learning ability, rest is an extension of learning.

Consistency Doesn’t Have to Be Daily

I post on LinkedIn every Tuesday evening. I write threads daily. I think it’s possible because writing is my calling.

On the other hand, I’m still not used to coding every day. Sometimes I go on family trips or meet friends, and I can’t look at code.

However, if you compare my grass from four years ago to now, it’s much richer now. Recently, it became even richer after attending a hackathon. It’s quite paradoxical. By giving up writing code daily, I’ve been writing code consistently.

It’s a matter of attitude and mindset. Consistency is one of the elements needed to build an attitude. I don’t think consistency should be everything. Setting a reasonable direction and slowly executing small goals that align with that direction worked for me.

Finally, I’ll end with my favorite quote:

“Study hard what interests you the most in the most undisciplined, irreverent and original manner possible.” ― Richard Feynman