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Build a Focus System for Better Work/Life Balance as a Web Developer

raddevon.com

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Re: Build a Focus System for Better Work/Life Balance as a Web Developer

#3

Post by andy_adams »

Rather than setting a timer + starting/stopping music, I'm a huge advocate of Focus@Will[1], which is basically a combo of the items mentioned in this article: No need to select music (they have an extensive library). You just set a timer and you get a "ding" to start work, which is oddly effective at getting you into the zone.

I've found it also helps to build a list of tasks _before_ you start working for the day. Then you can do your focused sessions 1 after the other, without wondering "What's next?".

[1] https://focusatwill.go2cloud.org/SH3f (Affiliate link. I'm a happy customer and longtime advocate.)

Re: Build a Focus System for Better Work/Life Balance as a Web Developer

#4

Post by rhizome »

andy_adams wrote: post #3

Rather than setting a timer + starting/stopping music, I'm a huge advocate of Focus@Will[1], which is basically a combo of the items mentioned in this article: No need to select music (they have an extensive library). You just set a timer and you get a "ding" to start work, which is oddly effective at getting you into the zone. I've found it also helps to build a list of tasks _before_ you start working for the day.…

It's not dispositive, but googling "go2cloud.org" does not reinforce legitimacy, i.e. "risky click."

Re: Build a Focus System for Better Work/Life Balance as a Web Developer

#8

Post by andy_adams »

ksk wrote: post #7

These articles seem to popup with some frequency on HN. Can someone post their results? How has your output/productivity changed before/after using these techniques?

I generally have 2 kinds of workdays:

1. Those where I work on whatever is in front of me for however long it takes me.

2. Those where I start the day by listing out the tasks for the day, then use chunks of 45 mins with non-distracting music (no lyrics, simple, constant beats) to knock out the tasks in the order I set them up. I take breaks between.

The days where I adhere strictly to #2 are my most productive. Having a routine and triggers to focus has changed how much I get done. So yes, these things do have an effect.

Re: Build a Focus System for Better Work/Life Balance as a Web Developer

#9

Post by VyseofArcadia »

I find it a struggle to use pomodoro in an office environment. Too many meatspace distractions. Pomodoro is best when you are working by yourself on something.

Of course office distractions are a problem in more than just that way. Hard to stay in the zone when things keep yanking you out.

Re: Build a Focus System for Better Work/Life Balance as a Web Developer

#10

Post by ksk »

andy_adams wrote: post #8
ksk wrote: post #7

These articles seem to popup with some frequency on HN. Can someone post their results? How has your output/productivity changed before/after using these techniques?

I generally have 2 kinds of workdays: 1. Those where I work on whatever is in front of me for however long it takes me. 2. Those where I start the day by listing out the tasks for the day, then use chunks of 45 mins with non-distracting music (no lyrics, simple, constant beats) to knock out the tasks in the order I set them up. I take breaks between. The days where I adhere strictly to #2 are my most productive. Havi…

Well I am not denying that they have an effect. I simply would like to see some metrics that would help quantify the effect. People have pet peeves about using bug fixes or lines of code or whatever, so they're free to use whatever metric they like. After all, there must be something objective that they notice has changed before/after the use of the technique.
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