Studying on a Saturday— pinkies, Python, and the pain of CCNA
It’s been a long one. Not finished yet, either — but it’s been productive, and that’s what matters.
Touch typing
Started the morning the usual way — touch typing practice. My weak point right now is my pinkies. They’re lagging behind the rest of my fingers, which is annoying but honestly not surprising. I’ve started adding some pinky-specific drills into the routine to target the problem directly rather than just hoping the general practice eventually fixes it. Expecting to see some improvement over the next week or so. Fingers crossed. (Pinkies, specifically.)
Linux
Spent about 15 minutes on Linux today. I’m working through a site called The Linux Journey, which is even more entry-level than Linux Unhatched — and honestly, that’s fine. The real problem I’m running into isn’t difficulty, it’s retention. Commands just aren’t sticking the way I’d like. The solution isn’t more complexity though, it’s reps. Going back over the basics is the right call. Everything compounds eventually.
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100 Days of Python — Day 4
Today’s topic was randomisation and lists. Lists I already had a decent handle on from my Open University work, and imports had come up there too, so neither were a complete surprise. Still useful reinforcement though — and the highlight of the session was building a rock paper scissors game from scratch. There’s something satisfying about that kind of project. The logic involved is simple enough that it doesn’t overwhelm, but it still makes you think. Good fun.
CCNA
Right. CCNA. This is the one. The videos are dry — genuinely, painfully dry — and I’m finding it hard to absorb information when it’s coming at me in that format. I’m going to change my approach: less passive watching, more hands-on time in Packet Tracer, and rewatching sections after I’ve had a chance to actually work with the concepts. Theory makes a lot more sense once you’ve seen it in practice. I knew this path wasn’t going to be all smooth sailing, and networking content is where the slog begins.
Overall
A long day with a lot of ground covered. Touch typing, Linux revision, Python, and CCNA — four different sessions, four different challenges. The CCNA is going to need a new strategy, the pinkies need drilling into shape, but Python was enjoyable and Linux is exactly the kind of low-key revision that quietly does its job. Still got more to do this evening. The day’s not done yet.
