It's near the end of the year, so I've been doing some reflecting on the habits that have had the biggest impact on my career so far:
1. Accomplishing deep work.
It is SO easy to go an entire day without getting into the zone, and that's death for real productivity. Getting serious about guarding my attention was a turning point.
It is SO easy to go an entire day without getting into the zone, and that's death for real productivity. Getting serious about guarding my attention was a turning point.
Things that helped: blocking time-wasting sites, nuking Slack, having a day-start checklist, declining recurring meetings.
2. Protecting my body.
In my early 20s, it was easy to program all day and not feel like crap.
These days, I need a steady dose of maintenance to not be stiff or in pain. Prioritizing this work improved my career, since I work vastly better when my body is tuned up.
In my early 20s, it was easy to program all day and not feel like crap.
These days, I need a steady dose of maintenance to not be stiff or in pain. Prioritizing this work improved my career, since I work vastly better when my body is tuned up.
Things that helped: a daily limber routine, self-massage techniques, posture drills, better desk ergonomics, accountability buddies.
3. Optimizing my workflows.
Over 10+ years of developing, I've slowly honed my environment and tools to be ideal for the way I like to work. Working in my customized setup is a joy, and it's saved countless hours.
Over 10+ years of developing, I've slowly honed my environment and tools to be ideal for the way I like to work. Working in my customized setup is a joy, and it's saved countless hours.
Things that helped: keeping a tool sharpening list, improving one thing each morning, stealing from others' dotfiles, RTFMing to learn my existing tools better.
4. Building an audience.
It's hard to overstate how useful my Twitter following and email list have been. They've helped me land amazing jobs, and then quit those amazing jobs to launch my own things. I would be nowhere without this habit.
It's hard to overstate how useful my Twitter following and email list have been. They've helped me land amazing jobs, and then quit those amazing jobs to launch my own things. I would be nowhere without this habit.
Things that helped: working in public, starting a newsletter, learning to hack the conference CFP process, sticking with a podcast.
2019 is going to be a big year for me. It's going to make or break the company I've poured a lot into.
I want to double down on each of these habits and get super consistent.
I want to double down on each of these habits and get super consistent.
If you have a similar goal, I'm running a course where we'll practice each of these habits.
I'll share much more about what's worked for me, and we'll support each other in sticking to them.
I'll share much more about what's worked for me, and we'll support each other in sticking to them.
