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Back From Vacation: Four Days of Pure Coding Joy

January 14, 2026 (2w ago)

Software DevelopmentContinuous LearningSide ProjectsDeveloper LifeBuild in PublicCareer in TechLearning by Doing

After a long holiday that stretched all the way to January 10th (I was traveling), I came back home and did something that felt surprisingly natural:

I spent January 11, 12, 13, and 14 doing what I love most — writing code for four days straight.

And honestly? I felt genuinely happy.

There’s something deeply satisfying about:

  • cracking technical problems,
  • learning new skills in the process,
  • and watching a project become more real with every commit.

Of course, rest matters. I’m not trying to pretend burnout is a badge of honor.

But if I’m being honest, I sometimes find rest a bit… boring — at least compared to the challenge and reward of building things. Coding gives me that mix of focus + progress + curiosity that I can’t really replace with anything else.

I wanted to share this energy because it’s one of the few feelings I’m completely sure about:

Even if I wasn’t paid, I’d still write code.

My pet projects are how I learn. They’re my playground and my training ground at the same time.

Right now, they actually cost me money and bring in zero revenue — and I still love them:

  • VDS servers
  • AI token costs
  • domain fees

It’s an investment in skill, momentum, and curiosity — and for me, that’s worth it. 💡💻

#softwaredevelopment #continuouslearning #sideprojects #developerlife #buildinpublic #careerintech #learningbydoing