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Frank - How are you so productive?

Frank Rosner on January 23, 2025

Introduction Friends and colleagues often ask me: "Frank - How are you so productive?". While I don't have a silver bullet, I developed ...
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Jess Lee

These are great strategies, thanks for sharing!

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Paweł bbkr Pabian

I'd make one addition: Don't try to work against your biological clock.

I'm a nocturnal type. For me best deep focus work time is between 23:00 - 03:00. If your company allows to split working day as long as you get the job done - do it. There is no point of torturing yourself with coffee to do coding in zombie mode during typical work hours.

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Frank Rosner

Totally! I'm also a nocturnal type, however, having kids made it impossible for me to work at these times. I found that I'm also productive in the morning though, so that's fine :)

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Jonny Eom

I appreciate how detailed it was!
Do you workout everyday after work? or is it a mid day thing?
Pomodoro. what do you do during your breaks? do you run your day based on timers if using pomodoro?

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Frank Rosner

I am moving every day, not necessarily lifting weights or doing body weight exercises. I often use a timer with Pomodoro, to hold me accountable.

During my breaks, I empty the dishwasher, talk to my kid(s) or wife (she's working from home as well), stretch, do some push-ups or pull-ups.

I don't always use Pomodoro the entire day, but it helps to keep a consistent schedule wrt taking breaks.

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JoeSchr

Yeah, I found the hardest thing with pomodoro is to fill the breaks without losing focus or getting completely distracted

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Frank Rosner

True! Before entering the break I am writing down what I will do in the next session (e.g. in my editor or google doc or on my ToDo list). That helps me get back into it right away.

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Sailendhran Paramanandhan

Thanks for sharing these techniques. Some of these are really helping me. I also see that few quick physical exercises during pomodoro 5 min breaks help us think more clearly and stay fresh and focused for another 25 mins.

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Frank Rosner

Totally! I like doing some push ups or pull ups and stretching in the breaks :)

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Rodrigo Castro

agree with all the facs

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