To improve productivity is to be able to create more value given the same input. It is how we achieve growth. I commonly ask variations of the question posed in the title of this article when I interview people for engineering positions. Software engineering is fast-paced knowledge work, and investing in personal productivity is an important lever.
Most answers I receive revolve around to-do lists and the Pomodoro Technique. As a self-improvement enthusiast and productivity hacker, I have also tried numerous frameworks for getting things done, and the structure they provide can be helpful. However, it took a long time for me to realize those techniques yield marginal impact. What worked for me was more fundamental.
This is how I stay productive:
- Get enough sleep. If you struggle with sleep like I used to, here are some handy tips.
- Consume more healthy stuff and less unhealthy stuff. Eat your veggies, drink your tea. Reframe helped me drink more mindfully.
- Take care of body and mind. I exercise frequently, and I practice both mindfulness and gratitude daily.
- Nurture relationships. There is ample research on how essential relationships are to happiness, and I believe happy people are more productive in the long run. I actively make sure I check in with family, friends and colleagues, both former and current. Being around great people is one of the best things in life.
- Routinely reflect and project. I have established routines to regularly reflect on the past and project the future I want to see. Ordered by decreasing effort, I do this annually, quarterly, weekly and daily.
- Optimize for learning. Titles, salary or any other kinds of miswantings will bring you neither happiness nor productivity.
A rather mundane answer, but focusing on the basics has had a significant impact on my productivity. Coincidentally (not really), also on my wellbeing.