Automating stuff and writing little helpers is a great idea. I would suggest to start with the command line. I wrote a lot of tools for it. Basically everything

Automating stuff and writing little helpers is a great idea. I would suggest to start with the command line. I wrote a lot of tools for it. Basically everything in daily life, which involves repetitive math, like tracking finances, calculate taxes etc, has the potential to be transformed into some tailored script in your favorite language. Also everything which transforms or involves text, is appropriate. For instance, instead of using some random smart phone app to train memory, I wrote a program to practice the mnemonic peg system by using the shell. Once you start writing such a tool, you will quickly run into practical problems, which need to be solved. Usually this triggers creativity and a learning effect.