7 Tips to Boost your Development Productivity
Productivity is crucial to achieving better results, having the ability to do more in less time is the best way to unlock new career levels.
I’m going to share 7 tips to help you become more productive.
1. Dominate your programming language
Consider two developers: one who is well-versed in best practices, knows the most effective ways to solve problems using the project's programming language, and understands how to get things done efficiently, versus another who is learning on the job as they go. Who do you think will be able to produce better code more quickly?
Probably the first one, knowing deep your programming language is essential. I’ve been sharing many things about it for free, enjoy this opportunity to master your programming language.
As a Java developer, you can also watch Venkat's talk at SpringIO this year.
2. Break in small tasks
It's common to feel intimidated when faced with large tasks, as managing them can be challenging. Breaking these big tasks into smaller, more manageable ones can make the process easier and lead to better results.
Imagine you need to clean your entire house, which feels overwhelming. Instead of trying to do it all at once, break it down into smaller tasks. Start with cleaning one room, then move on to another. This way, you can focus on one area at a time, making the job more manageable and less daunting.
3. Baby steps and testing
This is very associated with the previous one, the idea of breaking things into small tasks and verifying that each task is completed can help you to gain dopamine and feel motivated to keep going until reach the big goal.
4. Shortcuts & IDE
If you are a programmer, there's a high probability that you are using an Integrated Development Environment (IDE). It's likely that you spend at least 50% of your working time in your IDE. Mastering the shortcuts and learning to write and navigate code efficiently within your IDE can significantly boost your productivity.
We have limited cognitive resources, and using them to compensate for a lack of proficiency in your IDE can be detrimental.
By familiarizing yourself with the IDE's features and shortcuts, you free up mental space for more critical tasks, such as problem-solving and creative thinking. This not only improves your efficiency but also enhances the quality of your work, making you a more effective and productive developer.
If you want to get deep into it, I wrote 3 articles about it:
5. Regular Break
It is very common for us to spend many hours on a problem, and after having a coffee or a shower, or even when we are close to going to sleep, we identify the solution. This occurs because taking a break allows your brain to shift gears and engage in diffuse thinking.
When you are intensely focused on a problem, your brain is in a state of focused thinking, which is great for detail-oriented tasks and deep concentration. However, this can also lead to cognitive fatigue and tunnel vision, where you become fixated on a particular approach and miss alternative solutions.
Taking a break to get a coffee can be the best way to solve a hard problem.
6. Use AI
AI is increasingly easy to use and powerful, not studying and understanding how it can help you could be a mistake.
By embracing AI and identifying opportunities to leverage its capabilities effectively, individuals and organizations can unlock new levels of productivity and competitive advantage.
I’ve also shared some tips and tricks about it.
7. Keep learning
Continuous learning is key to productivity. Each day offers new methods to tackle old problems. Staying informed helps us utilize these advancements, boosting efficiency and output. AI exemplifies this principle very well, and not only that, but Java also introduces numerous features for productivity enhancement.
If you want to increase your productivity or delve deeper into any of these topics, subscribe now for free and increase your chances of unlocking career opportunities.