How Long Does It Take to Learn We’ve seen that practicing every day is the best way

to learn Python. For the students who have mastered data

Python?  science principles the quickest, that includes some
weekends. 
With the proper time and dedication, you can learn It's important to be as consistent as possible, but
Python in just a few months!   sometimes life gets in the way. That’s what weekends are
Like any skill, how quickly you learn for. If you’re completely booked from 5 am to 6 pm every
Python is ultimately dependent on how much time and day, you can keep yourself on track by putting in extra
effort you put in. While everyone learns at their own pace, hours on the weekend. 
if you commit to 5 hours a week, you can gain the skills Plus, this is a great way to find uninterrupted time in a
you need to start doing basic data analysis projects in just space you’ve dedicated just for learning python. Tie it to
a couple of weeks (and you'd be amazed how far you something rewarding — a walk through the park, a
could get in a year).  sandwich from your favorite coffee shop — to make your
Here are 3 reasons you should start to learn Python for Python study time something that you look forward to!  
your work life, personal life, or both:  One thing to keep in mind: studying two hours a day is far
better than 10 hours in one day on the weekend. If you
have other commitments during the week, even 10
Tips to Help you Learn Python minutes each morning will make a difference compared to
only looking at Python materials once a week.  
as Quickly as Possible 
If you're learning Python on your own, creative time-
management habits will be very helpful — especially if you
3. Join A Community of Python
want to learn Python sooner rather than later. While 5 Programmers  
hours may seem like a lot to fit into your already-
busy weekly schedule, it's very achievable for someone Joining a community of Python developers will help you
working a full-time job or with a full calendar stay on track toward your goal to learn Python.  
of school commitment.   Python meetups are fairly common on Meetup.com, and
Here are a few ways you might find the spare hours:  you'll get recommendations from other members of these
groups. Additionally, Dataquest's students
use our Members community to network and discuss
1. Set Your Alarm Clock for 30 Python problems, troubleshooting, and data science
portfolio projects. 
Minutes Earlier  If you carve out a few minutes each day for connecting,
you’ll complete your coursework with a new skill and a
The best time you can set aside to learn Python each day new network as you enter the job market!
is in the morning.  
Biologically, your best, most productive time is around the
first two hours of each day. You don’t want to sacrifice any
4. Compete on Kaggle
sleep, but you may want to get to bed earlier so you can  Kaggle hosts data science competitions. Signing up is
practice a bit before work.   free, and members submit Python scripts to find the best
It's a commitment, for sure. But, if you set aside your fit model for a given dataset. You'll find a lot of
clothes the night before, have your coffee ready to go and competitions with objectives similar to the guided projects
already know what aspects of Python you are going to in your Dataquest portfolio.  If you’re one of
work on, it’s a bit easier. Tell yourself that you can’t look those Fortnite fans we mentioned above, collaborating
at your phone or emails until you dedicate 30 minutes with other Dataquest students on Kaggle competitions can
toward learning Python and make it a habit!  help replace some of your game time in a way that helps
The time it saves and the advancement in your career will you learn Python without losing that competitive fix! 
be worth the extra effort. As an added benefit, you’ll feel
extra healthy when you get a productive head start on
your day.   5. Read Python Books 
You may even surprise yourself - lots of people who think
they are just ‘not morning people’ find after getting There are many guides written for general and specific
enough sleep each night applications of Python, and we’ve highlighted a few that
that it was only a matter of shifting the hours around and you can read without paying a dime, as long as you don’t
building some healthy habits.  mind scrolling through digital copies.  
It feels pretty cool to say, “I stayed up all night coding.”   You can use these books to supplement your Dataquest
But a lot of those times we overestimate our courses, where you'll learn this information and more,
productivity - you don’t get nearly as much done or retain specifically tailored to data analysis and data science. This
as much information when you’re is perfect for students who want real-world context for the
tired. When you look at the numbers with fresh eyes, you skills they learn in our data science paths.  
can absorb what you learn much better!  Be gentle with yourself and allow yourself the time to
learn Python at the pace that works best for you. It’s
better to take a little extra time than to rush through
2. Take Advantage of Quiet everything without building  a solid foundation in the
fundamentals! 
Saturday Mornings  Having great instruction in the basics of Python will help
you automate your life and work, excel in your current job,
or even allow you to enter a new one. Dataquest’s
interactive courses offer instant hands-on learning and a
community of fellow students who will help you on your
journey.  
If your goal is to not only learn Python for data
science, but to truly master it, Dataquest is the place for
you.