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Daniel
Daniel

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Better Programming Productivity- Techniques and Attitude

Techniques to improve productivity

As a programmer, there are many things you can do to improve your productivity. Some of these are technical in nature, such as using a good text editor or IDE that supports features like code completion and refactoring. Others are more about attitude and approach, such as maintaining a consistent coding style, commenting code clearly, and having the right attitude towards learning new things and making mistakes.
One of the most important things you can do to be productive is to use a good text editor or IDE. A good editor will have features like code completion, refactoring, git support and many more plugins, all of these can save you a lot of time. It’s also important to use a consistent coding style so that your code is easy to read and understand. This will help you when you need to come back to your code later or when working with other people.

I can attest to a few times I worked on remote instances and forgot to commit something, expecting it to save then for some reason all of my new code was gone, luckily Pycharm has it's own version control to save me!, that simple feature saved me redoing a whole days work.

Another important thing is to use a version control system (VCS). This will allow you to track changes to your code and revert back if necessary. It also makes it easier to collaborate with other people on projects.Even when I am working on a personal project I make an effort to write good commits, both to enforce good habits and to keep everything tidy. Another good technical tip it to activeley look for plugins that make your life easier - every developer has his own use cases and prefrences so don't be afraid to explore all kinds of plugins.

Finally, it’s important to have the right attitude towards programming. This includes being willing to learn new things and not being afraid to make mistakes. Mistakes are part of the learning process and they can help you become a better programmer in the long run.

Can you change your mindset?

Yes, you can! It may take some effort and it won't happen overnight, but if you're willing to put in the work, you can definitely change your mindset for the better. Here are a few tips to get you started:

1. Be more positive and optimistic in your thinking

One of the best ways to change your mindset is to focus on being more positive and optimistic in your thinking. Instead of dwelling on the negative or on what could go wrong, try to think about what could go right. When you catch yourself thinking negative thoughts, stop and reframe them into something more positive. For example, instead of thinking "I'll never be able to do this," try thinking "I can do this." It may seem like a small change, but it can make a big difference in how you feel and how motivated you are to take action.

2. Focus on your goals and what you want to achieve

Another way to change your mindset is to focus on your goals and what you want to achieve. When you're clear about what you want, it's much easier to stay motivated and take action towards achieving it. So instead of focusing on all the things you don't want (like being overweight or in debt), focus on what you do want (like being healthy and financially free). When you keep your eye on the prize, so to speak, it's much easier to stay focused and take action towards achieving your goals.

3. Take action and don't procrastinate

One of the biggest killers of productivity is procrastination. If you're constantly putting off taking action, it's going to be very difficult to achieve anything substantial. So if you want to change your mindset and be more productive, it's important that you take action and don't let procrastination get in the way. Of course, this is easier said than done! If you're struggling with procrastination, there are a few things you can do to overcome it:
Set smaller goals rather than trying to accomplish too much at once. When a goal feels overwhelming, it's often easier to just put it off altogether. But if you break it down into smaller steps that feel more manageable, it will be much easier to take action and make progress.

Create a timeline or deadline for yourself. Having a specific date that you need to have something accomplished by can be a great motivator. Just be sure not to make the timeline too unrealistic or else it will backfire!

Find an accountability partner or group. It can be helpful to have someone (or a group of people) who will hold you accountable for taking action towards your goals. This could be a friend, family member, coworker, or even an online accountability group. Knowing that someone is counting on you can be just the motivation you need to get moving!

Changing your mindset is not an easy task but it is definitely possible with some effort and perseverance. If you want to be more productive and successful, start by focusing on being more positive and optimistic in your thinking, setting clear goals, and taking action towards those goals. With time and practice,you'll be well on your way to changing your mindset for the better!

In conclusion, if you want to be a more productive programmer, you need to have the right techniques and attitude. With the right tools and mindset, you can achieve great things.

Tell me in the comments what are your ways to improve productivity - share tools, plugins and mindsets that help you!

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Top comments (5)

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incrementis profile image
Akin C.

Hi Daniel,

Thank you for your article.
I like the content and your thoughts on the topic.
Even if it seems you wrote it in a hurry.

Staying healthy as a developer is the number one path to better programming productivity.

Here are some typos I found:
"With time and practice,you'll be well on your wayto changingyour mindset forthe better!"

I think it should be:
"With time and practice,you'll be well on your way to changing your mindset for the better!"

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chainguns profile image
Daniel

Thanks, and yes I did write this while running some ETL pipelines late in the day πŸ˜…

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apimike profile image
Mike Rozner

I always try to be positive and optimistic with my thoughts, but it happens from time to time that reality tags along and gives me hard times.

Great article D, thanks for sharing.

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andrewbaisden profile image
Andrew Baisden

Remaining positive can go a long way to making you a better person.

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yigblst profile image
yigblst

I agree