The document provides techniques for improving productivity and focus. It suggests limiting distractions by not checking email or talking about unimportant things first thing in the morning. It recommends optimizing for deep work by turning off notifications and practicing "mise en place". The document outlines ready to use techniques like tackling the most important task first, using creative triggers to get in a focused state of mind, starting with small blocks of focused time, and using the Pomodoro technique. It stresses the importance of monitoring your bandwidth, limiting commitments, prioritizing tasks, and ignoring some bugs. Overall, the document presents numerous evidence-based strategies for catching the productivity "unicorn" and optimizing one's focus and workflow.

1. The hunt of theThe hunt of the
unicorn, to captureunicorn, to capture
productivityproductivity

2. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Hunt_of_the_Unicorn_Tapestry_5.jpg

3. https://www.wired.com/2015/02/fantastically-wrong-unicorn/

4. About meAbout me
@kjendrzyca / aimforsimplicity.com
Full-stack / Full stack / Fullstack
Smuggling good practices and simplicity
React > Angular
Node.js > ASP.NET
In search for productivity for over 4 years
"Don't outdo anyone else, outdo yourself, you are
your competition" - Simon Sinek

5. https://tech.wp.pl/elon-musk-z-zaskakujaca-deklaracja-utarl-nosa-konkurencji-
6220168875149441a

6. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKTOcSjmr_c

7. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-4672558/Musk-warns-world-
accelerating-collapse.html

8. What hurts you the most?What hurts you the most?

9. Profits / AgendaProfits / Agenda
1. How to catch the unicorn?
2. It's all up to you (you can fix it)
3. Ready to use techniques and tools

10. Limiting distractionsLimiting distractions
“Remember that anything important that happens in the
world, in the news, in you life, in your work, will come
your (way) many times” – Scott Hanselman

11. Focus is nothing more thanFocus is nothing more than
eliminating distractionseliminating distractions

12. Optimize for deep workOptimize for deep work
Deep work is the ability to focus without
distraction on a cognitively demanding
task.
It's a skill that allows you to quickly master
complicated information and produce
better results in less time.
Cal Newport
https://www.amazon.com/Deep-Work-Focused-Success-Distracted/dp/1455586692

13. "It's just 10 min""It's just 10 min"

14. "Just play it in the"Just play it in the
background"background"

15. https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MWGFYu9f7_o/VazkCf2SzaI/AAAAAAAAHDk/OPwEuoF-
Hus/s640/stella.jpg

16. http://www.pssite.com/news/59194/twitch-i-growy-youtube-popularniejsze-od-hbo-i-
netfliksa-razem-wzietych.html

17. facebook.com

18. "Let's grab a coffee""Let's grab a coffee"

19. RULESRULES

20. Don't check email/slackDon't check email/slack
first thing in the morningfirst thing in the morning

21. Don't talk about bullshitDon't talk about bullshit
first thing in the morningfirst thing in the morning

22. (grab a beer after work)(grab a beer after work)

23. Turn off notificationsTurn off notifications

24. Tell you are busy, peopleTell you are busy, people
will understandwill understand

25. Mise en placeMise en place

26. https://www.flickr.com/photos/garysoup/2990823521

27. "Develop routines/systems so that the"Develop routines/systems so that the
decision-making is only applied to thedecision-making is only applied to the
most creative aspects of your work"most creative aspects of your work"

28. Don't use 3 monitorsDon't use 3 monitors

29. Don't use 8 virtual desktopsDon't use 8 virtual desktops

30. Turn off your pc, don't hibernate, don'tTurn off your pc, don't hibernate, don't
put to sleep, don't live in messput to sleep, don't live in mess

31. http://www.quickmeme.com/meme/3q6jzy

32. OneTab

33. Clean up your desk, desktop, IDEClean up your desk, desktop, IDE
You are not so cleaver as you might think
Your brain will notice

34. Tackle the most importantTackle the most important
task first in the morning (!)task first in the morning (!)

35. Use creative triggers:
The same place
The same background music
The same day time

36. "Start with small blocks of"Start with small blocks of
focused time and thenfocused time and then
gradually work yourself upgradually work yourself up
to longer durations"to longer durations"

37. PomodoroPomodoro
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pomodoro_Technique

38. ""Self-controlSelf-control is not genericis not generic
or fixed, but rather a skillor fixed, but rather a skill
one can develop andone can develop and
improve with practice"improve with practice"

39. Track your workTrack your work
//
multitasking doesmultitasking does
not worknot work

40. Sad scrum masterSad scrum master
https://productivity-blog.vanaia.com/multitasking-meme/

41. RULESRULES

42. Be conscious of yourBe conscious of your
bandwidthbandwidth
"There will always be more opportunities than you can
actually take on"

43. Limit your daily todo list /Limit your daily todo list /
limit your commitmentslimit your commitments
3 important
3 less important
Delegate/Delete not important/not relevant tasks

44. Prioritize your bugsPrioritize your bugs
(and even ignore some of them)(and even ignore some of them)

45. Does it really need to be doneDoes it really need to be done
right now?right now?

46. http://keysleft.comhttp://keysleft.com

47.
“Giving a fuck” is basically your life’s currency
If you give a fuck about everything and everyone, you’ll quickly
run out of fucks, or even worse, go into fuck debt
You need to find more people or ideas that are worthy of your
limited fucks
https://pjrvs.com/win/

49. Capture everyCapture every
commitmentcommitment
"mind dump"

50. Nozbe

51. Workflowy

52. Bullet Journal

53. Piece of paper doesn't workPiece of paper doesn't work

54. Schedule time for the task,Schedule time for the task,
otherwise it won't be doneotherwise it won't be done

56. Do it right now if it takesDo it right now if it takes
less than 2 minutesless than 2 minutes
Getting Things Done - David Allen

57. Use TDD as a mind dumpUse TDD as a mind dump
techniquetechnique

58. As explained by Kent Beck:
1. you write one test and more of them keep coming to
your mind
2. you write them down and go back to them later
3. thanks to that you remember about every test you
should write
4. some of them will be invalid so you can dump them.

60. Peace of mindPeace of mind
http://www.quickmeme.com/meme/35ruii

61. Define "finished" from the startDefine "finished" from the start
(!)(!)
(works also on meetings)(works also on meetings)

62. begin with the end in mind
put the first thing first
https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=21536799

63. https://makeameme.org/meme/brace-yourself-refactoring

64. https://memegenerator.net/instance/67228792/brace-yourself-winter-is-coming-
brace-yourself-meeting-is-coming

65. "K"Keeeepp yyoouurr iinnnneerr ppeerrffeeccttiioonniisstt iinn cchheecckk
bbyy ddeeffiinniinngg wwhhaatt ffiinniisshheedd llooookkss lliikkee aatt
tthhee bbeeggiinnnniinngg ooff aa
pprroojjeecctt//ttaassk/meeting"k/meeting"

66. Break the task into piecesBreak the task into pieces

67. "Tasks won't take longer than there is"Tasks won't take longer than there is
time for doing them"time for doing them"

68. The best developers know when to stopThe best developers know when to stop
and what to postponeand what to postpone

69. Don't bother fixing everything right nowDon't bother fixing everything right now
- there is no good code- there is no good code

70. "Y"Yoouu ccaann ddoo aannyytthhiinngg oonnccee
yyoouu ssttoopp ttrryyiinngg ttoo ddoo
eevveerryytthhiinng"g"

71. SummarySummary

72. How to catch the unicorn?
It's all up to you (you can fix it)
Ready to use techniques and tools

73. It's all up to you (you can fix it)
Limit distractions
Optimize for deep work
don't check email/slack first thing in the morning
don't talk about bullshit first thing in the morning
turn off notifications
mise en place
tackle the most important task first in the morning
use creative triggers
start small

74. Ready to use techniques and tools
monitor your bandwidth
limit your daily todo list / limit your commitments
prioritize and ignore bugs
find more people or ideas that are worthy of your limited
fucks
"mind dump" - nozbe, workflowy, bullet journal
schedule time for the task, otherwise it won't be done
do it right now if it takes less than 2 minutes
use TDD as a mind dump technique
define "finished" from the start (!)
break a task into pieces, know when to stop
don't bother fixing everything right now - there is no good
code

76. Questions?

77. http://www.hanselman.com/blog/ItsNotWhatYouReadItsWhatYouIgnoreVideoOfScottHansel
mansPersonalProductivityTips.aspx
7 habits of highly effective people
Manage your day to day
Getting Real
Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World
wikipedia.com
https://www.hanselman.com/blog/DoTheyDeserveTheGiftOfYourKeystrokes.aspx
http://keysleft.com/#
https://pjrvs.com/win
nozbe.com
workflowy.com
bulletjournal.com