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I think long-term follow-up on productivity "hacks" are really important. I've tried a bunch of them, and my experience with all of them so far has been that no

I think long-term follow-up on productivity "hacks" are really important. I've tried a bunch of them, and my experience with all of them so far has been that none of them can be sustained indefinitely. Even Adderall use (which I haven't tried) eventually has side effects and physiological costs (as well as immediate costs in terms of creativity for many users). It would be neat if there were a way to cheat the rules about how much the average person can produce in their lifetime. I think many of us have a tendency to look towards extraordinarily productive people and want to try to match their output. But, either they seem to have won the genetic lottery which allows them to get away with things that other mere mortals cannot, or they eventually pay the price in insanity or exhaustion or early demise. I'm starting to come around to the idea that the best possible productivity "hack" is healthy living and a laser-like focus on just one or two projects at a time, and delegate everything else.

simonsarris 14y ago
I definitely agree that long term follow-ups are important. For me the best productivity hacks aren't adderall/redbull/caffiene pills, sleep cycling, standing up or locking myself in a hotel room. And it's not knocks on those methods per se, its just that I have a very hard time doing them with enough regularity to be relevant. The best productivity hacks in my experience are still simply staying positive[1] and hiring interns. [1] which includes things like adequate exercise and rest, but nothing outlandish.
- rednum 14y ago
  Can you elaborate on hiring interns? I'm doing my second internship at the moment, and it would be interesting to hear some opinions from the employer's point of view.
  - loeg 14y ago
    Someone has to fill the coffee ;-). Jokes aside, having someone else ask you questions about your software is a pretty good way to become familiar with it.
- itmag 14y ago
  Another good one: using social support. Say you want to get fit. It's going to be a lot easier if you recruit your friends to go to martial arts and cook healthy meals in bulk together a few times per week. This can be extended to all areas. Social support lets you put hard work on autopilot. It's still hard work but you have a safety net of accountability which doesn't permit you to slip up easily.

simonsarris 14y ago

I definitely agree that long term follow-ups are important. For me the best productivity hacks aren't adderall/redbull/caffiene pills, sleep cycling, standing up or locking myself in a hotel room. And it's not knocks on those methods per se, its just that I have a very hard time doing them with enough regularity to be relevant. The best productivity hacks in my experience are still simply staying positive[1] and hiring interns. [1] which includes things like adequate exercise and rest, but nothing outlandish.

rednum 14y ago
Can you elaborate on hiring interns? I'm doing my second internship at the moment, and it would be interesting to hear some opinions from the employer's point of view.
- loeg 14y ago
  Someone has to fill the coffee ;-). Jokes aside, having someone else ask you questions about your software is a pretty good way to become familiar with it.
itmag 14y ago
Another good one: using social support. Say you want to get fit. It's going to be a lot easier if you recruit your friends to go to martial arts and cook healthy meals in bulk together a few times per week. This can be extended to all areas. Social support lets you put hard work on autopilot. It's still hard work but you have a safety net of accountability which doesn't permit you to slip up easily.