- Michael Sim, 33, works as an Android developer in California.
- One simple productivity tip changed the way Sim approaches tasks at work.
- This is Sim's story, as told to writer Fortesa Latifi.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Michael Sim, a 33-year-old android developer who lives and works in California. The conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
There's no shortage of distractions for the modern worker — from our cell phones constantly pinging with app notifications and text messages that demand our attention to the allure of opening a new browser and seeing what everyone is talking about on Twitter.
Although working from home offers a level of flexibility that in-office workers don't experience, it also adds more distractions. Many conversations about working from home revolve around the idea that you should be doing even more during the day, like vacuuming or doing the dishes between meetings.
As I struggled with tasks, I wondered: How are we ever supposed to focus?
I ran across a productivity tip that may seem counterintuitive but has changed my working life
The tip is to do one meaningful thing every day instead of stacking your to-do list with tons of micro-tasks. My personal approach is to use a physical piece of paper instead of an app (which can lead to more distractions) and write down what I have to do each day. At the end of the day, I crumple up the paper and throw it out. The next day, I get to start fresh, both literally and figuratively, with a new piece of paper and a new task.
Working like this has changed my outlook. Focusing on one task makes it so much easier to enter a state of flow, which is the mental state of being entirely immersed in an activity.
In a state of flow, there is no cognitive energy left over to think about anything else. You're entirely focused on your work. The intense concentration can lead to work feeling almost effortless.
Instead of having to force myself to work, I'm naturally absorbed in what I'm doing
When I reach a state of flow, I often don't even notice that time is passing because I'm so focused. I compare it to having such a good time with your friends that you don't realize an hour has gone by. That's how it feels when I'm in a state of flow.
It's nearly impossible to reach a state of flow with a ton of distractions, including a lengthy to-do list. I limit my meeting availability and urge myself to focus on one meaningful task per day. I'm an Android developer, meaning I code apps for Android devices. "Make X feature of this app work today," is usually the kind of tasks I work on. When I quiet my devices and take my attention away from text messages, emails, Twitter, Discord, and an impending check-list with tasks I don't have the bandwidth to focus on, I can actually do the task I want to do — and do it well.
I think of coding as a creative activity, like writing or practicing a musical instrument.
It doesn't make sense to do something for 15 minutes and then do something else
That's not how it works if you are trying to reach a level of creativity again. For me to access my creativity as a coder, I have to be focused, and to be focused, I have to have one task in front of me for the day. Another thing I do to help boost my productivity is listening to music without lyrics, because it keeps me stimulated without being distracting.
Everyone's taste is different when it comes to ideal working conditions and picking a productivity tip that works. You have to find what speaks to you. Give it some time. Pick a tip and stick to a routine for one to two weeks to see if it's effective for you.
The best possible outcome is that you reach your state of flow, and it's possible if you just try.