Hi everyone. I recently turned 20, and soon I have to relocate from my home country to another European country because of circumstances outside my control.
After moving, I will probably have to take a physically demanding job or another entry-level job with 8–10-hour shifts to pay for rent, food and other basic expenses. However, before I found out about the move, I had planned to continue improving my programming skills and English so that I could eventually attend developer interviews without feeling ashamed or terrified.
I am not starting completely from zero. I have worked with Python, Django, Flask, REST APIs, SQL, Git and basic Docker. I have also worked on several projects, including an online store and a job board. However, after testing myself with interview questions, I discovered many gaps in my fundamental knowledge. I need to revise Python, databases, Django concepts, testing and other backend topics.
My conversational English is approximately A2, while my understanding and grammar may be closer to B1. I also need to improve my speaking because I would eventually like to apply to international companies.
My biggest concern is whether I will have enough physical and mental energy to continue learning after work. In the past, physical work left me exhausted and without any desire to study. I am afraid that I will start forgetting what I already know, fall further behind and never become ready for a developer position.
Have any of you been in a similar situation — working a tiring non-technical job while studying programming and perhaps a foreign language?
I would especially like to know:
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How much time did you realistically study on working days?
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Did studying for 30–40 minutes per day produce meaningful progress?
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How did you study when you were physically exhausted?
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Did you focus on theory, coding exercises or one larger project?
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How did you avoid forgetting previously learned material?
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How long did it take before you were ready to apply for programming jobs?
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What mistakes should I avoid?
I understand that nobody can guarantee that I will find a developer job. I am mainly looking for realistic experiences from people who had to support themselves while learning. I do not expect to study for four hours after every shift — I want to find a sustainable routine that I can maintain without burning out.
Thank you for any experiences or advice.
