A 12 Weeks to IAM : A Boredom Challenge That Will Either Push or Drive Me Insane

Source: Dev.to

In 2024 I was laid off from a company I thought I’d never have to leave. The culture was amazing, pay was great, and there was room for growth if you showed dedication. Of course, when you get too comfortable, the universe finds a way to push you out of that comfort zone.

My next goal was to break into cybersecurity, specifically Identity and Access Management (IAM). I talked to a few friends working full‑time or contract roles, passed my CompTIA Security+ exam, and felt confident about starting a career in IAM.

Four months after the layoff I landed a job as an IT Analyst at a wonderful company, and five months later I was promoted to Senior IT Analyst. Over the past two years I never forgot about becoming an IAM Analyst, but I always felt I didn’t have enough time. In reality, most of my time was being sucked into my phone.

Doomscrolling not only ate my time; it stole creativity and energy. I relied on social media to fill the silence inside my head, which led to lagging focus, constant headaches, unnecessary spending, and an inability to study without reaching for my phone. With ADHD on top of that, I realized I was wasting my life and squandering the chance to advance my career.

For the last month I took a break from my phone: I installed an app blocker on my phone to eliminate mobile distractions and added a Chrome extension that consolidates open tabs into one, preventing me from wandering off task.

Boredom Set In

Without my phone I turned to activities that could fill the void: logic puzzles, organizing my comic collection, and tackling the 200‑plus game backlog in my Steam library. I also did chores—washing dishes, folding laundry, cleaning my room—in complete silence. Silent showers and morning routines let me hear my own thoughts, and walking to the bus stop with no music made me appreciate birdsong. Gym time remains the only place I need background music for hype.

Over time I was able to read books with more focus, my imagination became more vivid, I journaled more, my vocabulary flowed, I generated short‑story ideas, and I started daydreaming again. I thought, What if I invested this “newfound” time into my career?

The 12‑Week Challenge

One of the books I recently read, “The 12‑Week Year,” inspired me to test how far I can push myself as a self‑learner. My goal isn’t to become an IAM analyst within this period, but to build a solid foundation for a cybersecurity career.

Goals for the Next 12 Weeks

1. Pass the Google Cloud Digital Leader Exam (exam at the end of the month).
2. Complete the PowerShell Fundamentals class (two sections per week, plus daily practice).
3. Advance through the 100 Days of Python program as much as possible within the 12 weeks.

Key Habits

• Study daily for the Google Cloud Digital Leader Exam: watch videos, review notes, write summaries from memory, use flashcards, and take a weekly practice exam.
• Complete two sections of the PowerShell class each week and practice PowerShell for at least 15 minutes a day.
• Keep my phone on silent mode and place it in another room while studying.
• Use travel time on public transportation as extra study time.

Each week I will write an update on what worked, what didn’t, and how I plan to fix it, along with a tally of the days I actually studied as intended. For accountability, I’ll also post a screenshot of my phone‑usage stats.

Priorities for Week 1

• Focus intensely on the upcoming Google Cloud Digital Leader Exam (3 weeks of preparation).
• Read the PowerShell scripts used at my job to gauge my current understanding.
• Deepen my knowledge of Entra ID and on‑prem Active Directory, especially regarding group policies and device management; I’ll watch videos and explore future courses on Microsoft Learn.

I’m not expecting perfection, but time is a resource we often take for granted. I’ll do my damndest to use it as wisely as possible.