I know the feeling, you're browsing around aimlessly, checking feeds, checking forums, etc. At some point you start getting that overwhelming feeling where you know you should be doing something productive, but it's just so easy to click one more link.
Here is the sequence I follow when I realize I've been up for 4 hours and still haven't gotten anything done yet:
- Eat something quick to prepare, if I haven't eaten yet. Watch Mixergy or something while I'm cooking/eating. This is the wind-down from "procrastination mode", and watching Mixergy reminds me that there are people out there busting their asses right now and taking all of my future customers or client dollars.
- Put on some good coding music. This puts my brain into "serious business" mode. I prefer energetic hip-hop or dubstep, something I can bop my head to and feel like a boss.
- Go through all my tabs, Pinboard and tag the ones I want to keep for later, and close all of the tabs that don't apply to what I should be working on.
- Take a post-it note and write down the 3 tasks I am going to accomplish today, come hell or high water.
- Get a coffee or energy drink, have a smoke (not recommended), and use the bathroom. Get my mental game plan together.
- Open Terminal and MacVim. This sets the stage.
- Pick a task that isn't on the post-it note (but needs to be done) that takes 10 minutes or less to bust out. Could be anything from a quick design fix to a wireframe or writing up a quick estimate. This is the warm-up.
- By this point, my brain is in full-on work mode. Jump in and tackle the work.
- Feel good. Eat dinner.
- Play Starcraft.
Here is the sequence I follow when I realize I've been up for 4 hours and still haven't gotten anything done yet:
- Eat something quick to prepare, if I haven't eaten yet. Watch Mixergy or something while I'm cooking/eating. This is the wind-down from "procrastination mode", and watching Mixergy reminds me that there are people out there busting their asses right now and taking all of my future customers or client dollars.
- Put on some good coding music. This puts my brain into "serious business" mode. I prefer energetic hip-hop or dubstep, something I can bop my head to and feel like a boss.
- Go through all my tabs, Pinboard and tag the ones I want to keep for later, and close all of the tabs that don't apply to what I should be working on.
- Take a post-it note and write down the 3 tasks I am going to accomplish today, come hell or high water.
- Get a coffee or energy drink, have a smoke (not recommended), and use the bathroom. Get my mental game plan together.
- Open Terminal and MacVim. This sets the stage.
- Pick a task that isn't on the post-it note (but needs to be done) that takes 10 minutes or less to bust out. Could be anything from a quick design fix to a wireframe or writing up a quick estimate. This is the warm-up.
- By this point, my brain is in full-on work mode. Jump in and tackle the work.
- Feel good. Eat dinner.
- Play Starcraft.