How to Remain Focused While Coding – 11 Elite Tips

 As a programmer, being focused is very necessary since distractions can rapidly stir up errors and frustration.

Here are 11 tips guaranteed to help you maintain focus till you get the job done.

1. A to-do List 

When you sit down to code you must know the agenda of your day a list of all the things that need to be done on that particular date and what should be the outcome after coding for hours. 

I personally maintain a Google to-do list along with the deadline so that Google notifies me when are the tasks due. 

2. Divide and Conquer

The divide and Conquer approach means to divide the problems into smaller ones and conquer one at a time.

The programming challenge might seem too bulky to dive heads in but tackling it in smaller bits might just do the magic thereby reducing your frustration and maintaining your focus.

3. Working in Groups

If you easily lose focus while working alone, then try working in a group or with a team.

For this to be effective, your team needs to have and share the same common goals.

There should also be team goals with work deadlines.

Working in groups helps to maintain motivation, ignite the working flame and keep everyone going.

4. Minimum or No Distraction

Noise is the biggest killer of focus as it’s almost impossible to remain focused in a noisy environment.

To make the best use of your time while coding, try to be in a serene workplace, cafe or office.

5. Soothing Music

Calm, well collected and soothing music can be good for the mind and soul during programming.

When paired with good noise cancellation headsets like the Apple Airpod Max can help cancel/filter off external and background noise.

Here’s one of my favorite playlist: Chillstep Music for Programming.

6. Mental Peace

A troubled mind hardly gets things done.

Take a break to declutter what’s negating your inner peace.

I would suggest writing your problems down then proceed to seek help from friends, and family, or you can use therapy.

Once you’ve taken off the big stone of worry affecting your thought process, you can resume coding.

7. Ten Minute Break Rule

Working tirelessly for hours is fruitless.

Sometimes your mind goes numb at some point, especially when working for hours.

This is why you should always take a 10-minute break after working for 30-40 minutes.

8. Use Paper

Solving complex problems with paper and pen can be very beneficial.

Fixing code issues can be overwhelming and projecting them on bright sheets can help keep you focus on check.

9. Keep your Phone away

It’s a common thing to pick up your phone at the sight of any notification, beep or alert.

The bad part: It’s very easy to get carried away right after that as you find yourself skimming through social media, reading tweets and scanning through TikTok trends and saved Pinterest pins.

Few minutes turn hours, your coding focus is lost completely and now seems difficult to bounce back as your attention is already divided.

Do yourself a favor by keeping your phone away or activating silent mode.

You can always have your time with your phone when your tasks is complete or during your set breaks.

10. Stay Healthy and Hydrated

Always remember your health comes first.

I have seen many programmers not taking care of themselves in a bid to maintain focus.

That’s a very wrong approach, eat healthy and always stay hydrated.

11. A comfortable Setup

Investing in the right accessories is another way to maintain focus.

A well-planned setup is known to highly increase productivity.

This might be a quality laptop that doesn’t lag, comfortable sit, availability of electricity, standard working desk and more, as it varies across individuals.

Conclusion

Coding is a marathon, not a sprint, meaning it’s a continuous process and every such process do require a high level of focus.

The points stated above will help go a long way in maintaining focus and increasing productivity.

Hope it helps you achieve you smash your coding goals in no distant time.

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Happy Coding!