Every software developer, no matter how experienced, eventually finds themselves staring at the screen, feeling stuck and uncertain about what to do next. The act of sitting there and metaphorically spinning your wheels can be frustrating and be incredibly stressful. Therefore, it’s important to have a few tools in your back pocket to help you get unstuck. So next time you find yourself facing a wall in your problem-solving, try one of the following techniques.
Visualizing the Problem
Sometimes being able to visualize a problem can make it easier to identify a solution. Sometimes, it can be hard to track all the elements that factor into a problem, as well as how they all connect. Writing down these interconnected concepts, whether on paper, a whiteboard, or a digital tool like Miro, is a great way to save your brain from having to keep track of everything at once. It’s like a puzzle. Having all the pieces laid out in front of you allows you to focus on identifying where elements fit together or how things need to be moved around to fit in more parts.
Visualizing problems also allows you to apply different mental models to find solutions. For example, when faced with a complex problem, you can use a mind map to lay out its elements and break it down into bite-sized pieces, making it easier to tackle.
Rubber Ducking
Also known as “rubber duck debugging,” this problem-solving technique involves talking through a problem to a rubber duck. In practice, this technique doesn’t need to use a literal rubber duck. The general idea is to verbalize the problem out loud. Talking through a problem out loud forces you to slow down and clarify your thoughts as you articulate each step. This process might bring to light aspects you previously overlooked or misunderstood, making it easier to spot potential solutions.
Writing Down What You Have Tried
Writing down what you have attempted is useful for keeping track of your progress. It also helps highlight what still needs to be tried. This technique is especially helpful when tackling complex problems with many components, such as debugging a complicated section of code.
In these situations, it can be easy to unintentionally repeat the same thing over and over again in hopes of finding a solution. Keeping a written record gives you a checklist to see what you’ve already done and prevents wasting time on duplicate efforts. That way, you can focus your energy on exploring new approaches in your search for a solution.
Walking Away
Sometimes walking away can help solve your problem. Yes, literally getting up and walking away. This could mean going to get a snack, going to use the restroom, or just doing a lap around your workplace. Taking a short break gives your brain a chance to subconsciously process the details of the problem. Sometimes this leads to a new idea or solution surfacing unexpectedly.
Walking away also gives you a short break to decompress and return to solving the problem with a fresher, clearer mindset. The key is to trust that a brief reset isn’t wasted time, but an important part of your creative and problem-solving process.
Getting a Second Opinion
When you feel that you’ve exhausted all other methods, talking through the problem with another person can be invaluable. While it offers the same benefits as rubber duck debugging, there’s the added advantage of getting feedback and new ideas from someone else. The saying that “two heads are better than one” tends to hold true, as having more points of view on a problem allows more ideas to bounce back and forth until a solution is found. So when you hit a wall, don’t hesitate to seek out another opinion.
Getting stuck on a problem can be infuriating, but don’t let the frustration stop you from finding the solution. No matter how tough the problem, there’s always a path forward. Experiment with these strategies the next time you’re stuck, and you might be surprised by how quickly you find a breakthrough.