How to get back in the zone

I posted the other day about lost code mojo. For a few days I’d been struggling to find enough focus to accomplish anything significant on the code front.

This has happened before - in fact, it happens a little too often, although usually only for a day or so, not this long. I posted about it and you guys left some great comments, including:

  • do something else - computer unrelated - for a while
  • get some exercise
  • get some sleep
  • remove distractions - IM, twitter, email, blogs, phone
  • break things down into small manageable chunks

All excellent advice, although these were things that I had half-heartedly tried already, without a lot of success. I think in the end the act of posting about my frustration was what helped me get over it. Reading about other people having the same problem actually made me feel better!

As they say, a problem shared is a problem halved, yada yada yada. And blogging is good therapy. And misery loves company, possibly.

So how did it end? My alarm went off at 5.30am this morning (I’m often most productive early) and I woke up with a brilliant idea to make the code I had been struggling with all week more efficient. Everything else just flowed on from there. I’m not at my most productive, but I’m getting through things which is good enough for now.

So thanks, blogosphere - I owe you one!

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You’re currently reading “How to get back in the zone,” an entry on kay lives here

Published:
27.04.07 / 9pm
Categories:
blogging, chatter, gtd