Productivity Life Hacks for Sofware Engineers.
My co-worker, Abdullahi, encouraged me to write this post. Since I’m on Thanskgiving vacation, I thought why not? Plus, writting this post proves him correct; I’m very productive.
I generally don’t think of myself as very productive. I was diagnosed with ADHD, like my father, and I’ve always tried to take on too many projects, jobs and challenges at once.
I work 2 jobs, sometimes 3, I am a father of twin girls that are in school plus I make time to work on NatesCode blog posts, videos, exercise and be a son, boyfriend and play DnD. How do I find time?
A part of the answer is that not what I DO have time for but which activities I don’t do that most others do. I don’t watch T.V., I’ve never owned cable and Cobra Kai is the only TV I’ve finished in the last decade. I don’t go out with friends as much as others might.
Here is my schedule for example:
| Duration | Time | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| 30m | 06:00 | Wake, Quick exercise, self prep |
| 15m | 06:30 | Prep kids for school |
| 45m | 06:45 | Drive kids to school |
| 6h | 07:30 | Start work from home |
| 1h | 13:30 | Drive pickup kids from school |
| 2h | 14:30 | Back to work |
| 30m | 16:30 - finish work. Start family time | |
| 17:00 | Dinner |
| Duration | Time | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| 2h 15m | 17:45 | Teach coding bootcamp online |
| 15m | 20:00 | Read kids story and tuck them into bed |
| 1h 30m | 21:30 | finish teaching |
| 30m | 22:00 | Prep for bed |
| 7h 30m | 22:30 | Sleep |
| Duration | Time | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| 15m | 20:00 | Read kids story and tuck them into bed |
| 2h 15m | 20:15 | NatesCode projects: block, beyond code camp, Youtube etc. |
| 7h 30m | 22:30 | Sleep |
I have my kids every other week so I’m free every other weekend. I play DnD 1-2 weekends per month, kids play with the other kids of DnD parents. I spend time with family, girlfriend and work on Natescode stuff in the evenings on free weekends and week days.
Yes, I lay out their outfits the night before. They have their own alarm clocks to wake up. They know how to brush their teeth and get dressed themselves. I also already have their backpacks ready by the door.
Yes, that is enough for me. I RARELY get less than 7.5 - 8 hours of sleep. Sleep is critical to being able to be productive.
Lists, Make a list for the day, week and month. I have lists with priorities at work. Prioritizing is SO importanty. You can do ANYTHING with your time but not EVERYTHING.
You can’t, think long term. You have to make small, sustainable changes. I gave up alcohol this year (2024).
WEEKENDS. I do NOT work, or make any big commitments on weekends. My weekends are sacred.