Hello 👋,
Welcome back to another article from the ✨ Dev Shorts | short and meaningful collection.
A quick note before we dive in:
Thank you so much for being here and for reading along. This article comes a little later than I originally planned - almost a month after my last one. Life had its own priorities, and my writing pace wasn’t exactly linear. At first, I felt guilty about the gap, but then I realized… that’s exactly what this piece is about.
So today’s article is a reflection on pace, how we all move through tech (and life) at different speeds, and why that’s more than okay.
Tech often feels like a treadmill: everything moves fast, and stopping - or even slowing down - can feel like falling behind. I’ve been there, watching others seem to sprint ahead with new projects, posts, or promotions while I hovered, wondering if my pace was “too slow.”
But here’s something I’ve realized: speed in tech (and life) is personal.
Reframing Comparison
When I see colleagues launching ambitious side projects, or celebrate their promotions on LinkedIn, it’s easy to whisper, “Should I be doing more?” But speed without context rarely tells the whole picture.
That engineer who seems to breeze through frameworks? They’ve likely built muscle memory and habits over years. The tech lead juggling projects and conferences? They might be leaning on mentors, or balancing privilege and structure I don’t see.
Our paths are different. And that’s not a limitation - it’s what makes your journey meaningful and different.
Growth Isn’t a Straight Line
One week, you might absorb a new framework like it’s second nature. The next, you’re diligently revisiting fundamentals, thinking through edge cases, or prioritizing your well-being over another tutorial.
That shift from sprinting to pausing is not a setback - it’s sometimes essential. These reflective stretches often breed insight and lasting mastery, even if they feel slower in the moment.
Depth Matters
In tech, velocity is often equated with value: more commits, more releases, more updates. But there’s different, deeper value in slowing down:
Pausing to understand why a bug is persistent, not just patching symptoms.
Choosing clarity over cleverness in your codebase - even when the shortcut would be “good enough.”
Centering empathy - whether for users, teammates, or yourself.
Yes, you can sprint to milestones. But it’s the slower, thoughtful work that builds craftsmanship.
Listening to Your Internal Rhythm
Here are a few ways to stay tuned in:
Track your energy cycles. Are mornings clearer for focused work? Afternoons better for exploration? Arrange tasks around those natural rhythms.
Align pace with purpose. What matters most to you right now? Deep learning, team collaboration, or just steady progress? Let that guide your rhythm.
Lean into the pauses. A day off isn’t indulgence - it’s recharge. Pauses often lead to fresh solutions and renewed curiosity.
Notice your wins. If you refactor a piece of code, close a defect, or take a minute to mentor someone - these are all forward moves, even if they happen slowly.
The Long Game
Tech isn’t a sprint, it’s a marathon with no finish line. The industry will keep evolving. There will always be someone faster, younger, or seemingly ahead. But your pace, sustained over years, is what builds a meaningful career.
So the next time you feel behind, remember: we all have our own speed. The real question isn’t how fast you’re moving - it’s whether you’re moving in the direction that matters to you.
A Quiet Affirmation
If you ever feel outpaced, gently remind yourself:
This is your trajectory. You’re measured by your own evolution, not anyone else’s highlight reel.
You’re learning in layers. Pauses, deep dives, detours - they’re all part of building something lasting.
You’re doing enough. Maybe today’s step feels small - but it moves you forward. And that matters.
Closing Thoughts
If you’ve felt the weight of moving “too slowly,” I hope this serves as a gentle reminder: you’re not behind. You’re just on your path, at your pace.
I’d love to hear how you’ve navigated your own rhythm in tech.
Have you had moments where slowing down actually moved you forward? Or times when speeding up taught you something unexpected?
Hit reply, share a thought, or just let me know you’re out there, I always appreciate hearing from you.
Until next time, keep going at your own speed!
Stefania
Articles from the ♻️ Knowledge seeks community 🫶 collection: https://stefsdevnotes.substack.com/t/knowledgeseekscommunity
Articles from the ✨ Frontend Shorts collection:
https://stefsdevnotes.substack.com/t/frontendshorts
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Feel free to reach out to me, here, on Substack or on LinkedIn.
An important message to share!
Comparison is important, but only with your past self. And comparison seems a negative word, so I call it reflection.
Looking back and seeing how far you've come is a good exercise to see where you made more progress and where you need to pay more attention.