Getting back into programming

Hey everyone. In short, I'm looking for some tips in order to get back into "programming mode" after a long hiatus.

In long, I started programming pretty young and got really into it for a good five or six years (focused on compiler design back then, main language was C++). After a while, I started getting progressively worse"burnout" and never really reenergized.... I eventually decided to switch my long-term planned college major from CS to Sociology (180*!) and haven't really touched a compiler for quite a few years (3 or 4 I'd guess). Anyways, now I'm in college as a Socy/Psyc major, but I've lately had some urges to get back into programming mode. I don't have any plans on programming as a career (hell, taking programming as a class in high school was part of the reason I 'quit;' didn't like being '"required" to program), but deep down I have a place for it as a hobby and want to rebuild and strengthen those neural pathways. The problem is, now I have real life to deal with; no more time for 10 hour programming binges, and I'm the type of person that needs to have a big block (like a whole day) of free time in order to get "in the zone..." I can't really do the whole "code half an hour before class, then half an hour during break...etc." So does anyone have any suggestions on how to get re-motivated to program with more demanding life-responsibilities? Thanks.

I was out of programming for a long time too, until just a few months ago. I find that hanging around here is fun because it gets your mind going without any actual commitment. and there are some pretty cool people here so some good ideas bounce around here on a regular basis. that's what I do.

and think about programming when I'm not "supposed" to. you know, mulling things over and whatnot.

I haven't been a hardcore programmer since I registered for this board, sometime in 2003, check my profile.

Anyways, since then, I've still taken classes on web programming, SQL, and visual basic, back in 2003 I programmed in c++ and c#.

Now, I'm learning how to program video games, just for fun.

I'm a liberal studies major in college, and I may try to get my masters in CS, but most grad programs in cs require a cs bachelors, unfortunetly.

Anyways, I agree, a well rounded education is better than majoring in something you already know. But you can always take electives in programming classes (if your school has programming classes).

Or you can just learn something on your own that's interesting. I'm learning video game programming just by reading a book on it. Not that tough...

You could just re-learn C/C++, it would go very fast. You really wouldn't learn anything of course, but it should refresh concepts and ideas in the order that you did learn them.

Thanks for the tips. I'm thinking about adding a CS minor (only 4 more classes), and I'd like to get re-oriented a bit for that. Maybe I'll start spending more time at the boards here :)!