Managing Time & Creating Habits
Our first assignment at Dev Academy requires us to spend some time researching and exploring 'time and habit management techniques', and report back on our findings. Specific topics include meditation & mindfulness, the power of habit, and timeboxing & the pomodoro technique.
Meditation & Mindfulness are topics I previously knew very little about and to be honest, wasn't particularly interested in learning. But after reading a few of the articles, it actually makes quite alot of sense and is something I am definately going to try to incorporate into my daily routine. By default, I am an active relaxer and often find it difficult to switch off. Some of these meditation techniques only take a few minutes and could be the answer I have been looking for to help me unwind after a long day.
The Power of Habit on the other hand is something I can immediately relate to, and is the kind of technique I already use. If I am looking to make a change to my lifestyle or a system at work, I set up alarms and put reminders up everywhere, and then after a while, it just becomes second nature. During Dev Academy I am going to make a strong effort to do more of this, and to implement a few more good habits (and possibly try and shake off a few of the old, not-so-good ones).
Now, timeboxing is a concept that is completely foreign to me, and probably the one I could benefit from using the most. Generally, I am the type of person who does something until the job is done. In my previous employment this work ethic has often resulted in me working 80+hrs/ week for 50hrs pay. As a web developer, timeboxing makes an awful lot of sense, as I could easily lose hours (if not days) lost down a rabbit hole. I am going to try to focus on improving my timeboxing skills, and implementing the pomodoro technique as often as possible.
Cheers,
