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I did daily DSA for 365 days , here's how much I improved.
Pudeesht
Overview
This video details a computer science student's year-long journey of daily practice with Data Structures and Algorithms (DSA) on LeetCode, driven by placement concerns. The student shares their initial struggles, the strategies that helped them stay consistent (like peer groups and contests), and their current state after securing a job. The narrative emphasizes that consistent effort, even with reduced intensity post-graduation, is crucial for long-term growth in technical skills, highlighting that upskilling is an ongoing process.
How was this?
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Chapters
- The speaker, a computer science student, felt unprepared for placements and job opportunities due to a lack of DSA and development skills compared to peers.
- To address this, they committed to a daily challenge of solving DSA problems, initially without a specific long-term goal beyond consistency.
- The inherent interest in DSA was a key factor in maintaining this daily practice for 365 days.
Understanding the initial motivation highlights the common pressures students face and the personal drive required to overcome skill gaps.
Starting the challenge on June 13th, 2025, right before the final year of college and placement season.
- Began with common beginner resources like LeetCode 150 and Striver's Sheet, and explored competitive programming platforms like Codeforces.
- Found significant benefit in forming a peer group of like-minded friends to study and solve problems together, fostering mutual accountability and motivation.
- Participating in LeetCode contests, even without mastering advanced topics, was identified as a rapid method for improving problem-solving skills under pressure.
These strategies offer practical, actionable advice for learners on how to build and maintain momentum in their DSA practice.
Studying together in college libraries or late-night Discord calls with friends, and the speaker's decision to stream contests live on their channel for accountability.
- After securing a job, the time dedicated to intensive DSA learning and new concept acquisition decreased significantly.
- This reduction in practice intensity has led to a short-term decline in contest performance (rating loss).
- The speaker views DSA practice as a marathon, not a sprint, believing that long-term consistency will yield net positive results despite short-term fluctuations.
- Continuous upskilling remains a priority, evidenced by starting new challenges like CSES and learning new languages like Golang.
This section addresses the reality of maintaining technical skills after entering the workforce and emphasizes the importance of lifelong learning.
Continuing to solve one question daily and participate in contests, while also starting to learn Golang and tackle the CSES problem set.
Key takeaways
- Consistent daily practice, even if initially daunting, is a powerful driver of skill improvement in technical domains like DSA.
- The social aspect of learning, through peer groups and shared challenges, significantly enhances motivation and accountability.
- Participating in timed contests is an effective, albeit stressful, method for accelerating learning and improving problem-solving speed.
- Maintaining technical proficiency requires ongoing effort and adaptation, especially after transitioning from academic settings to professional roles.
- Lifelong learning and upskilling are essential for career growth, extending beyond initial job acquisition.
- Focusing on long-term progress over short-term performance fluctuations is key to sustained development.
Key terms
Data Structures and Algorithms (DSA)LeetCodeStriver's SheetCodeforcesPlacementsCompetitive ProgrammingPeer GroupLeetCode ContestsUpskillingCSES
Test your understanding
- What was the primary motivation for the speaker to start daily DSA practice?
- How did the speaker leverage social connections to maintain consistency in their DSA studies?
- Why are LeetCode contests considered an effective, though potentially stressful, tool for improvement?
- How does the speaker's approach to DSA change after securing a job, and what is their long-term perspective on this shift?
- What does the speaker mean by viewing DSA practice as a 'marathon, not a sprint'?