Hi ,
One of the most useful pieces of software I have on my computer isn't a program you'd normally associate with data science.
It's a program called Freedom and it works by blocking selected websites or apps, across all of your devices, for set periods of time, so you can focus on getting things done.
I typically schedule it for 3 x 2-hour focus blocks per day. And as someone who is easily distracted by emails and the news, it
has done wonders for my productivity.
Focus blocks have helped me to consistently produce high-quality, impactful data science results, ahead of deadlines - while rarely working more than 45 hours per week. This has created the time for me to explore other interests, both educational (like my Masters of Computer Science, which I completed in 2 1/2 years while working full time)
and outside of work pursuits.
To me, focus is a superpower. To Particle 41 CEO and Founder Ben Johnson, "focus is a currency" - the more you have, the richer you are.
Ben and I recently recorded a (7 minute) Value Boost episode of Value Driven Data Science
where we discuss the focus management techniques that transformed Ben's 20-year development career and which you can use to transform your data science productivity right now.
In this episode, you'll discover:
- The Kanban and focus currency techniques that replace notification-driven chaos.
- A 90-day planning
system that beats imposter syndrome and drives results.
- Why two-hour focus blocks outperform constant context switching.
- The habit tracking method that helps you consistently "win the day".
Increase your net worth in the focus-poor world of data science - in less time than it takes to run a simple query.
Click below to listen to it now (or find it on Apple Podcasts and Spotify).
Episode 55: Why Data Scientists are Focus-Poor (and the Software Developer's Solution to Fix
It)
Talk again soon,
Dr Genevieve Hayes.
