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Employee productivity in the workplace or workplace productivity refers to the measure of an individual’s output. As a software developer, it’s important to stay productive. In this blog post, you will learn 10 effective tips to increase productivity.
1. Create a Routine
One of the most important things you can do to increase your productivity as a developer is to establish a routine. Human beings are a creature of habit. So, make sure you stick to a set of standard practices and procedures so you don’t have to waste time thinking about how to do something new or execute on tasks that are in progress. Not only you should create a routine for work hours, but also for taking breaks. Having a routine specially when you are working from home is of prime importance. This will help you focus on the tasks at hand and get more work done in a shorter amount of time.
2. Set Goals
Another key way to increase your productivity as a developer is to set goals. Make sure you have specific targets in mind for the number of hours you plan to work each week, or the number of features you want to complete. You can also create daily goals if you want to stay on top of your work items. This will help you stay on track and avoid becoming bogged down by meaningless tasks. It is also important that at the end of each allotted time frame, you compare actuals to expected results. Based on this, course correct your expectations and goals.
3. Take Breaks
It’s no secret that developers are often required to work long hours. However, taking regular breaks can help you stay productive and avoid burnout. Instead of taking a long break, take a few short ones throughout the day. This will help you stay focused and avoid feeling overwhelmed.
4. Organize Your Workspace
If you’re able to get your work area organized, it will be easier to find what you’re looking for. Use white boards and bulletin boards. You can also use sticky notes if you need reminders. These tools can help you brainstorm ideas, track progress, and stay organized. If possible, make sure your desk has some natural light.
5. Use Technology to Your Advantage
If majority of your job is to write code, below are some great ways to boost your productivity as a developer, using technology to your advantage:
- Use a code editor that is designed for developers. This will make coding more efficient and error-free.
- Use a code repository that is optimized for developers. This will help you keep track of your code and share it with other developers.
- Use a debugger to track down errors and optimize code performance.
- Use a chat client to communicate with other developers and get feedback on your code. Any form of social interaction can increase productivity.
- Use a task manager to manage your development tasks and deadlines.
- Use a virtual machine to test code before you deploy. Development environments can be created on the fly using Infrastructure as a code (IaaS) and leveraging CI/CD pipelines.
- Use Code Comments Comment your code to help yourself and others understand what you’re doing. This is especially helpful when you’re working on a complex project and you don’t have time to go back and look at the code again.
Related Blog: Top 5 reasons you should learn Cloud Computing
6. Organize Your Time
Make sure you have a set amount of time in which you will work each day, and stick to it. This will help you avoid getting stuck in a rut and allow you to take breaks when you need them. Another hack is to time box your tasks. Often times, developers get stuck troubleshooting a problem which can take a lot of time. Some times you need a fresh pair of eyes to look at it or perhaps a small break. Return to the task after a break. Also, don’t overwhelm yourself with tasks; create a to-do list and prioritize your daily tasks.
7. Stay Focused
You can use a couple of techniques to stay focused at work.
- Use headphones if your company allows it. Many developers listen to their favorite tunes while at work. Studies show that music without lyrics works best for repetitive tasks.
- Practice mindfulness to be in the moment. Mental health is directly related to good night sleep, healthy diet and yes, don’t forget to drink water.
- Sometimes staring at a blank wall can help you be more focused as it gives you new ideas on how to fix a problem.
8. Be Patient
Don’t get discouraged if your development project doesn’t go as planned. Be patient and persist through the difficult times. Often times triaging the code that is not working can cause frustration. Use debugging tools where needed. Multitasking can often lead to loss of patience and interest. Concentrate on single task to improve your productivity levels.
9. Be Proactive
Don’t wait for something to happen; take action to improve your development process. For example, reaching out to fellow developers for feedback on code is a great practice. You can also reach out proactively to your managers for feedback on your strengths and areas of improvements. Leverage your strengths to your advantage and work on your weaknesses.
10. Stay Motivated and Celebrate Your Successes
Developers tend to move quickly from one project to the other. When you finish a successful development project, learn from your mistakes and don’t forget to celebrate! Be sure to take time for yourself to rejuvenate and celebrate your successes. This will help you stay motivated and focused throughout your development journey.
Conclusion
In order to be successful as a developer, you need to be upskilled. Upskilling means learning new things, and it’s a big part of how to be successful at developing code. As a developer, it is of prime importance to take the time to keep reinventing your technical skills, learn new technologies and approaches.
Finally, a productivity increase takes time so do not expect to see huge growth in a short period of time. I hope by following these 10 productivity tips, you can increase your output at work and achieve great results.
Author: Haman Sharma is a technology enthusiast. You can connect with him on LinkedIn.
Further Reading: The 5 Best Programming Languages That Will Help You Become a Cloud Developer
