Sergiu Breban

Productivity hacks

Sergiu Breban -

Some productivity hacks, along with my personal insight

  1. Work less, but in deeply focused blocks of time.

One technique that I find valuable is to use a Pomodoro timer and measure my productivity by the number of focus sessions in a day. I also try to limit multitasking as much as possible. To limit distractions during this period, I use the Focus mode on my phone, which blocks any incoming notifications. I do not have any desktop notification, so if anyone wants to reach me, has to call. And nobody does that just to share a meme, so my concentration is safe.

  1. Take care of your body.

In order to be productive, you have to feel comfortable in your own body. And not from a body image point of view, you don't need a certain weight or form to be productive. You just need to be well rested, active and hydrated. So drink more water, not just coffee.

  1. Take breaks

For me, this is linked to the previous point. I take regular breaks that help me regain my focus and come up with new solutions. Sometimes I exercise during these breaks. Other times I cook or take a walk to fill up my focus tank.

  1. Remove distractions from your environment

I have nothing else on my desk other than an agenda and my headphones. At the office, there is almost no difference between my desk and the unused one next to it.

  1. Take time to “sharpen the saw”

I regularly set aside some time to read technical articles or books. I sometimes do it on my break, as a distraction from my main task. It helps me disconnect from the problem at hand while also learning something valuable.

Source: https://dzone.com/articles/productivity-life-hacks-for-software-engineers-and