How to stop feeling lost in tech: the wafflehouse method
3 days ago
- #self-improvement
- #career-planning
- #mental-health
- Many CS students feel lost, stressed, and anxious about their future, especially concerning AI, job security, and overwhelming learning curves.
- The author introduces the 'Wafflehouse Method'—a personal, introspective process to untangle life goals and create a structured plan.
- Step 0: Take two days off in the middle of the week for deep self-reflection without distractions.
- Step 1: Spend the first day visualizing and writing about your ideal self in 5 years, focusing on pride and fulfillment, not external expectations.
- Step 2: On the second day, refine the 5-year vision into 2-3 specific, detailed goals at a favorite spot (e.g., a wafflehouse).
- Step 3: Break down 5-year goals into 3-year and 1-year milestones, adjusting as needed for realism.
- Step 4: Create a Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG) mapping current status to 1-year goals with 100+ detailed steps, assuming constant adversity.
- Step 5: Untangle 'knot points' in the DAG by researching or breaking them into smaller, actionable steps.
- Step 6: Translate the DAG into monthly, weekly, and daily tasks, prioritizing actions that align with long-term goals.
- Step 7: Regularly review and adjust the plan weekly (e.g., Sunday afternoons), focusing on progress and adapting goals.
- Key mindset: Ownership—blame shifts to oneself, emphasizing personal responsibility for achieving the envisioned future.