Practical Techniques to Keep Mind in Tune for Testing :)

Software testing is not a job, it’s a responsibility

These day have been really hectic for me but I tuned my mind to overcome the stress of testing work by changing my daily activities and try keeping my mind calm. Here are my experiences on this:

Either you are doing manual testing or you are writing complex automation scripts, you are the authorized person for the quality of that particular web page / module / overall product.

Why Software Testing is challenging?

Software testing is challenging because we have to keep up ourselves updated with latest knowledge as well as you have to continuously provide more qualitative inputs to make product better (in short, find more bugs). How can we keep up with this kind of stress?  It’s not a one time learning. It’s a process and believe me, by following some simple practices daily, you can do it easily.

Think testing about everything around you

Think how can you test a spoon, how can you test a book, how can you test a jar, how can you test a cable, how can you test a remote….endless list it is. After following these practice for 15 days (I personally did), see the difference in yourself.  You will be full of ideas. You will be able to understand things properly and will be able to co-relate the things.

Learn a new thing everyday

No matter whether it’s a small testing technique or an automation tool, you must have at least one item to list as “Learned” every day. Small amount of knowledge when accumulated creates an ocean of the same. Try it!!!

Keep diversified interests

It’s not easy to learn something else, while we are already busy testing. But at the same time, you cannot take a risk of pulling our career chords downwards. You cannot learn everything but you definitely can have some idea about some of the important things/domains other than the specific one, you have been working on.

Play games

There are numerous strategy games, pattern finding games, missing letter games available for free (I am using PEAK). Use the opportunity and learn from them. Games make your mind sharp and alert.

Read

Read whatever you can. It’s not necessary to read only software testing books to become a good tester. If you are able to co-relate things correctly, books on any subject will be a treasure for you.

Take breaks

We humans has a tendency of getting used to. If you look at a broken piece of furniture for longer time, our mind, at one point will start thinking about how perfect that piece was rather than the broken part. Don’t stick your eyes, constantly on the same thing. Take breaks, observe surrounding, discuss knowledge and resume work. Difference? A lot.

Keep a note

Everyday, in a notepad, jot down minimum two points about what you learn or what you did to make things happen or what did you find or what ideas did you implement. It would be a treasure on re-visit.

Learn management

To manage something you need not to be a manager. Start from your work and time. Try to help others and take help when required.  The management skill will grow with constant practice but will surely take out the best from you.

'Stay tuned and enjoy life'