My Best SQL Debugging Strategy Has Nothing to Do with SQL

Debugging doesn’t always mean working harder. It can mean the opposite.

Sometimes, the best thing you can do is just walk away.

No, not from your job, that would be a little much.

I mean from your problem, whatever it is.

I know, it may sound counterintuitive, because how can you solve a problem if you walk away? Let me explain.

Recently, I was working on debugging a SQL query at work. I was going through each temp table, testing different examples to figure out whether it was my case statements that were incorrect or the data itself was incorrect. The query was quite extensive and complex, as I was doing some QA (quality assurance) testing, so I was very much focused and 'in the zone.'

I looked at the source data to see if that was the problem, and was deeply ingrained in the mapping spec documentation... But the results were still off, and I couldn’t figure out why.

I almost missed lunch!

I said almost, didn't I?

Don't skip your breaks, especially not lunch.

I Tried Everything, Then I Stepped Away

I took my lunch break, did other things for an hour, and when I came back to my desk to work on my code, you know what happened?

No, I didn't magically come up with the solution, if that's what you were thinking. I hoped!

But my mind felt sharper and I was less frustrated.

It still took me the rest of the day to figure out the issue, but it might have taken even longer if I didn't take that break.

What Happened When I Finally Took a Break

I would have eventually figured out where the issue was in my query, but I needed to step away and come back to it with fresh eyes, because I wasn’t fixated on the same chunk of code for an extended period of time.

You know when you look at something for too long and everything becomes one big blur?

Yeah, that's a sign you need to step away.

I was able to come back and look at the problem differently, and that helped me move forward.

Your mind needs time to relax and regenerate ideas, so stepping away is often one of the best things you can do for yourself and your work.

I’ve had this happen more than once. I’ll be stuck on something, go do something completely unrelated, and come back with a much better idea of where to look next.

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Why Stepping Back Helped Me Debug Faster

When you’re staring at the same problem for too long, you stop being helpful to yourself. Your brain gets tired, your mind starts to wander, and you start second-guessing everything, and usually not in a productive way.

You know when you're so mentally fatigued that you start going over the parts of the problem you already fixed? Yep, that's not progress, it's going backwards.

Walking away interrupts that cycle.

Even a short break can help you stop hyper-focusing on the wrong things. It gives your brain some space to process in the background, and when you come back, you’re more likely to notice things that you didn't mentally have the capacity for before.

Fixing SQL Logic Isn’t Always About More Code

You might think that the more time you spend on a query, the faster you'll solve the problem.

But that’s not exactly how it works, especially with logic-based bugs. Sometimes you need to do less so your brain can actually think.

Realize that fixing SQL logic isn’t just about typing until something works. You need to know when

to stop and come back to it with a clear head.

Walking Away is an Effective Debugging Strategy

Walking away for a bit doesn't mean you are giving up. You don't need to stare at a screen for hours on end. That doesn't make you more productive, it just drains you faster.

Walking away means you’re using your time better. It is a part of productivity, not a hindrance to it.

So go grab a coffee, grab some lunch, or read a book. Just do something else, anything else.

How I Apply This Strategy Any Time I’m Stuck on SQL

Now, when I’m stuck on a problem (any kind of problem, doesn't have to just be SQL), I pay attention to the signs that I need to step away:

• I’m checking the same section over and over and making no real progress.

• I’m convinced the bug has to be in one spot, so I fixate on it.

• I feel mentally drained but keep forcing myself to focus.

• I start making edits just to try something, not because I believe they’ll work.

• I start going over sections I already reviewed, "in case I missed something."

That’s when I walk away.

Sometimes it’s 20 minutes, sometimes it’s an hour, sometimes I just stop for the day and sleep on it.

And every single time, I come back with a better chance at solving it.

It might not be the correct solution, completely, but at least I have a new idea or can come at it from a different angle.

If You’re Debugging and Getting Nowhere, Try This

Close the file, leave your desk, and do something else. Give your brain a rest from staring at the same piece of code.

It's not a waste of time, but a chance to reset and come back with better focus and less frustrating.

And no, it doesn’t mean the problem will solve itself, but you'll be in a better head space to solve it.

So the next time you are stuck on a problem, just walk away for a bit or sleep on it.

And you know what? That's one of my best SQL debugging strategies, and I've been in data analytics for a few years.

It's nothing groundbreaking, but it works, and it's not something that people automatically think of.

If you haven't tried it, give it a shot and step away for a bit.

Your brain will thank you.

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