[muzani]

The world happenings hasn't affected me at all. Same job, family is fine. Things are nice and getting better.

One trick I've learned is to just show up. Instead of planning to write a whole module in a day, I now plan to just write 5 lines of code. This has helped me a lot - I've picked up two programming languages in three months just with the intent of watching one minute a day. I've had a lot of work done on my side project and have recently been getting fan mail on it. I cut down on a lot of bad things simply by planning twelve 2-minute tasks a day, and being engrossed in them.

Similarly, it's important to avoid creeping into bad behavior. Once we drop good behavior, once we're a couple minutes late for a meeting, a class, a deadline, things rapidly deteriorate from there.

Career wise, my goal is no longer to make a better salary (I have enough), but to do more meaningful work that I'm satisfied with. Meaningful work tends to be recession-proof too.

[cyberpip]

I've discovered this way of looking at work as well, though I apply it more to outside of work personally. It really amazes me how much gets done when I decide "just do it for a chapter or two" or whatever the measurement is.

[tmaly]

I like the 2-minute task idea. It reminds me of the 1-pushup micro habit. Once you get down to do one pushup, you end up doing more.

[oldsklgdfth]

I do something similar with running. I tell myself to give it a mile before I quit. Once I'm a mile in a usually finish the run.

[twox2]

Can you share some examples of your tasks?

[muzani]

5 tasks are personal, religious.

Exercise. Anything within 2 minutes - 3 push ups, some squats, etc.

Learn iOS programming. 2 minute video, which I often play in 2x speed.

Work on my side project. 2 minutes is quite a lot of progress as the bulk of the work is data entry.

One task for a game I'm playing. It's not productive but I'll do it anyway. It used to take an hour, but thanks to habit, I shortened it to half an hour and can go even less.

Spending a little time dedicated to the family, nothing else, no phones. Cook breakfast, run with the kids, tell them a bedtime story, help them with homework. I thought I might have neglected this, but it seems it's already a habit.

Two to a regular work task. One in the morning, one in the afternoon. It's usually something like write 5 lines of code, remember to keep it to 2 minutes to cut out procrastination.

What really happens is that I'd rush through all the chores. After all they take just two minutes. I watch an intro video to iOS navigation, which is unsatisfying and end up watching a whole chapter. I write 4 lines for my project when I'm busy, or code an entire module when I feel like it. I do three push ups when I'm exhausted that day or run the whole neighborhood when I'm in the mood.

It's put me 'in the mood' to do a lot of productive things. I end up delaying the bad stuff until later, or have no guilt over doing them because I had a good day.