Remove distractions and unplug to do your best work
Our workplace is full of distractions. When your Outlook gets a new email the “Toast” alert pops up. The name “Toast” is what it does to your mind. Similarly Slack and Teams have myriad of noises and notifications too.
Remove Distractions
The developers' most important asset is our attention. The first step is to remove distractions from your workspace. A cluttered desk can distract you as well.
Unplug
This may seem counter to productivity as a software developer, but we need to unplug. Take time to step back and ask yourself a few questions. “Is this the most important work?” Then the following question. “Is this work I must do?”
The answers can help you work on the right things. As Peter Drucker said, “There is nothing so useless as doing efficiently that which should not be done at all.” Be useful and do your job.
Focus
Utilize this focus to work on your number one item. Alert your teammates that you are focusing. Set ground rules that you should not be bothered only about certain issues. Place an end time for this timebox.
As your focus time comes to a close document any next steps. Stepping away our mind can shift gears and forget our work. If we have a few items to jog our memory we can start back later more effectively.