BACK TO Articles

5 things that have actually made me more productive as a software developer

By Caroline Evans

As a Front End Developer I understand the challenges of maintaining focus while writing code. Over time, I’ve honed productivity hacks to keep my brain sharp. But for me, productivity is more than ticking tasks off a list—it’s about fulfilling a purpose and perfecting user experiences. By saving time with these strategies, I can invest more in what truly matters. Here are my top tips so you can get your brain humming along like a well-oiled machine.

Eliminate Distractions.

Flow state on Spotify. 

Flow state is a curated playlist of minimal, instrumental, electronic music that follows the Pomodoro technique – 30 mins of music, followed by a 5 minutes break. I like to put on my noise cancelling headphones, hit play and get stuck into it. 

Lofi playlists. 

This is music designed to recede to the background. Lofi Girl is a good place to start – but there are so many of these on Youtube, Spotify and wherever else you listen to music. 

Forest App 

Grow trees on your smart phone while you focus. It two modes: timer and stopwatch and you can set up an ‘allow list’ of apps. 

Focus Blocks 

Block out a few hours in your calendar to be unavailable via messaging app (Teams/Slack etc.) 

Write it down. 

Keep a work diary. 

I use Notion and make a new page for each month. I write down notes from meetings here and document by progress on a task. I find once I’ve written my thoughts down, it broadens my perspective and often prevents me from getting stuck in a loop. 

Sketch it out. 

If digital notes aren’t cutting it, it’s good to have a paper notebook on hand to sketch out your thoughts. I recommend these as they’re a good size, are blank and the binding allows you to lay them completely flat on the table. 

Break it down. 

“The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” ~Lao Tzu. 

Break your tasks into smaller subtasks. Your co-workers will thank you for the smaller code reviews and you’ll get a dopamine hit from each thing you tick off. 

Time boxing 

Give yourself a set amount of time to complete a task and if you get stuck… 

Collaborate! 

This is another place where documenting your progress comes in handy because it helps when giving someone an overview of what you’ve tried so far. 

If you don’t have someone to collaborate with – post your problem somewhere like Stack Overflow. 

Shift your mindset. 

Learning about the concept of growth mindset has helped me a lot – I highly recommend Carol Dweck’s book Mindset: The New Psychology of Success 

A shortcut I’ve discovered is imagining that future me has already solved the problem and I’m just finding a path to the solution. 

Most of all, look after yourself and remember that you will have some days that aren’t as productive as others and that’s okay! 

Looking for something specific?

Search our Archive to find content that piques your interest.
SEARCH

Recents Posts

February 18, 2025
Before you add AI to Power Platform and Dynamics 365, fix this first
By Daniel Monger Artificial intelligence is transforming the way businesses use Power Platform and Dynamics 365, but before you dive in, it’s important to understand the differences between these two platforms and how AI fits into them. Understanding AI in Dynamics 365 vs Power Platform Dynamics 365Microsoft has embedded AI-driven Copilot features across its suite…
Read more
February 13, 2025
AI for beginners: How I used AI to level up my half-marathon training
By Iris Monod Disclaimer: This blog is based on personal experience and is not professional health, fitness, or nutritional advice. Always consult a qualified professional before starting any new exercise or diet plan. When I started my journey as a newbie runner wanting to conquer longer runs and set my goals towards a half-marathon, I…
Read more
February 4, 2025
Dynamics 365 vs Power Platform: which is best for your business?  
By Maxine Harwood When it comes to selecting the right tools for your business operations, the choice between Dynamics 365 and the Power Platform can feel a bit like walking into Bunnings. Imagine standing in the tool shop aisle: do you invest in a few specific tools to craft something custom for your requirements, or…
Read more
December 24, 2024
Make post-holiday feedback fun and effective with Microsoft Forms
By Maxine Harwood The holiday season is a whirlwind of campaigns, sales, and celebrations. Once the dust settles, there’s one critical question every business should ask: How did we do? Gathering feedback after a major campaign is key to understanding what worked well, what could be improved, and how to make your next campaign even…
Read more