5 Productivity Hacks for Developers

Published on 2026-01-02

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2 min read

Being productive doesn’t mean writing code faster; it means removing the friction that prevents you from thinking clearly. Here are 5 hacks that changed the way I work.

1. Master Keyboard Shortcuts

The mouse is your enemy. Every time you lift your hand from the keyboard, you lose milliseconds and focus. Learn the shortcuts for your IDE (VS Code) and your operating system.

Ctrl + P (or Cmd + P) to search files.
Ctrl + Shift + F to search the entire project.

2. The Pomodoro Technique (Modified)

25 minutes of work can be too short to get into “The Zone”. Try blocks of 50 minutes of work and 10 minutes of rest. Use those 10 minutes to walk, not to scroll TikTok.

3. Automate the Repetitive

Writing the same boilerplate code over and over? Use Snippets. Doing the same manual deploy? Write a Bash script or set up a GitHub Action.

4. Document for your Future Self

Don’t trust your memory. If you find a complex solution to a bug, write it down in Notion or a personal Markdown file. Your “self” 3 months from now will thank you when the bug reappears.

5. Take Care of your Physical Environment

A good chair, a monitor at the correct height, and a clean desk affect your code more than you think. If your back hurts, your logic suffers.