Ask HN: Best methods and tools for becoming more productive? | Hacker News Reader

Ask HN: Best methods and tools for becoming more productive?

3 pointsap222133 comments

I'd say that I'm relatively effective and productive, but I'd like to step up my game to the next level. What are some methods, techniques, libraries, and tools that I can use to become a wildly effective software developer?

Lately, I've been using a lot of:

Java 8 - IntelliJ, Gradle

Python 2.7 / 3.4 - Anaconda, PyStorm, Jupyter

JavaScript (TypeScript) - WebStorm, Node 4.2, Angular, Yo

Linux Mint - Shell, Bash, Nano (I know - I've just forgotten all my vim)

Firefox / Chrome - Multifox, TabGroups, Postman

AWS - cli, web console, custom JS scripts via SDK

Apache Spark

Databases - DataGrip, Redshift / Aurora (MySQL) / Postgres, Mongo, Dynamo

Misc. - Google Apps, Slack, Jira

My problems are generally with managing a lot of open tabs, windows, projects, etc.

Personally the biggest productivity win was to

a) more regularly do some fun sport (bouldering for me). Not doing any conscious work related thinking a couple times a week helps to be effective, being healthier as well.

b) Separate private and work (including technical hobbies) helps me a lot. It's something I struggle doing well, because I like working lots. But everytime I let things slip more than a few days I do notice getting less productive. That does include taking holidays often enough, best without a computer and a phone.

c) Managing interruptions. I.e. try to keep meetings to a specific time of the day, with most of the rest being uninterrupted. Personally I put them in the evening because I collaborate with west coast people, from Europe. Don't read emails while working on other things, instead process them when you're interrupted anyways; in the morning, after lunch, before stopping the day.

d) Try to keep a significant portion of your work day on fun stuff.

I know, thats not technical. But I think a lot of us are prone to overestimating the effect minor tooling differences have, and underestimate the rest.

My proven tools: - Facebook's logout button - Gmail's logout button - Phone's airplane mode button - Must-complete-no-matter-what daily to do list - Meetings/calls scheduled for first thing in the morning or last thing in the afternoon - Power nap

I think any change has to be relative to your current way of working.

How are you measuring productivity?

There are a lot of tools in the list, what methods are you using?

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