5 Ways to Stay Focused While Coding

Hello, buddies! Of course, coding is NOT hard but, if you can't keep your focus on coding, it would be hard. And the amount of coding some programmers need to do, it is common to not be able to get back into it or continue doing it for a long time. This can be the reason for a spaghetti code.

So here are some of the ways that you can use to keep your focus while coding :)

1. Use Pomodoro Technique

I have mentioned this before too. The Pomodoro technique is a time-management methodology designed to give you bouts of uninterrupted focus for about 20-30 minutes at a time. Followed by some rest periods in between so that you don't completely lose it.

Just play around with the technique and see how your body and mind react to it. Because sometimes even just a day of constant focus can make the difference in our week and completely shift our work mindset around.

2. Listen To Music When You Code

Music is a great way to keep your focus on almost anything(not for everyone😉). There are lots of focus-based playlists and mixes on YouTube spread across various genres and styles. Find out what works for you and stick to it. To keep in focus, I recommend listening to calming and instrumental music. Listening to heavy metal music can make your code a spaghetti...

While many find it difficult to focus when music is on, instrumental music like Piano functions to the contrary for many. It functions instead as background music, reinforcing your feedback loop and keeping you in the code for a long time.

Related : - 5 music albums to listen to while coding By @Gabriel RomayMachado (he/him)

Why You Should Listen To Music While Coding? 🎧 By Buddy😂

3. Eat for the task at hand

Our brain needs fuel to work, as does our car, our phone, our house and pretty much everything that man has created that works in a mechanized way. So eat for the situation at hand. Everyone is different, and at different metabolic rates and such, so I can't tell you what to eat exactly. But I can say that you should eat foods that don't make you sleepy afterward. Sure, sometimes those meals are satisfying and the nap afterward feels pretty fantastic. But you aren't going to build that next big space company while napping on your coding chair.😂😂

Of course, coffee is a good thing but don't drink more than 1 Mug-fulls a day. It can harm your mid-night nap. Recently I realized that a Teacup can do the task of coffee too. The best thing is, Tea doesn't harm your health like coffee!🍵

4. Practice Meditation

Studies show that even a short meditation session of about 20 minutes per day increases the capability of performing cognitive tasks. Meditation helps the practice of not only focusing the mind but also being a part of the moment and observing one’s train of thought without controlling it.

Even though I can't stay in the same place for a long time without doing anything, I can stay meditating. In our country(Sri Lanka), meditating is done by almost every person so I don't miss it 😜

Related: How meditation improved my productivity as a Developer By @Andrei Zgirvaci

Warning: You may fall in a beautiful nap while meditating so be careful!💤

5. Reward yourself

I saved this one for last because it is the hardest to follow for some reason. But you need to reward yourself after having accomplished a milestone in your work. Something that says 'Good job' to yourself and that you can look forward to on your next focus session. That's where that pair-programming or teamwork worth much. Whenever you have done a task your mates cheer you! As I take my team as an example my mates cheer me before the work, while doing the work and after completing the work!💪

'Duck' is a nickname😜

If you feel saying 'Good Luck' for yourself, get a gift. It can be food, Games, Hangouts, Shot On iPhone, or anything that you love. For me, it would be a dark chocolate bar that I love🍫🍫

So, buddies, that's for now. Make sure you've focused when coding or debugging or anything to make it Not Hard! Happy coding!

Originally published on Hashnode