In short, when you have planned or have thought about an idea to create – what do you use to help keep you on task, or to make sure you stay programming without (negative) distraction?
I’ve found that reading books and being around like minded people does help with motivation, although when it comes time to being by yourself typing away on the keyboard again, that it’s very easy to get lost tracking websites that are not related.
Could anyone recommend a mindset, or approaches you’ve taken to maximise your productivity?
I usually start by killing my internet connection, otherwise I know it’ll just be a matter of time before I’m surfing away on totally unrelated pages. Also, I usually plan my time ahead of starting working, and make sure to incorporate frequent short brakes (for example, work 45 minutes, 15 minutes break, work 30 minutes, 5 minute break, and so on…). This way, if I get hungry, I need to wait for the next break before getting something to eat, which will help me focus just because I know it’s no point in thinking about food prior to the break. And if you manage to get into the mindset of “if I do this now I won’t need to do it later”, that’s always a good place to be.
Finally, loads of coffee and a comfortfable working position (lying down in the couch with your computer on your tummy isn’t a very good position for working) are probably my best tips.
Good luck on your motivation!