How to be Productive As a Computer Science Student and Entrepreneur

For about a year now I've been juggling being an Entrepreneur with studying Computer Science. This has made it extremely hard to be as productive as I would like to be, but it hasn't stopped me from increasing my productivity. In this article, I will go over the 5 most important personal conclusions on staying productive while balancing being a student and entrepreneur.

Always start your day by focusing on the most challenging task ✔️

I've found that the best way to start a productive day is by focusing on the most challenging task. This way, you can get it out of the way and move on to the rest of the day's tasks. Of course, it's important to make sure that the challenging task is actually achievable, otherwise you'll just be frustrated. But if you can manage to knock it out of the park first thing in the morning, you'll be in good shape for the rest of the day.

Take breaks and do something that will relax you ☕️

There is a lot of pressure to be productive in today's society. We are constantly being told that we need to be working all the time in order to be successful. This is not true. In order to be productive, you need to take breaks and do something that will relax you.

"If you don't take a break, you'll end up breaking."

- Every Developer and Entrepreneur

One way to relax is to take a walk outside. Fresh air and sunshine can do wonders for your mood. Another way to relax is to listen to music. Studies have shown that listening to music can lower your stress levels. Finally, you can also relax by reading a book. Reading is not only a source of knowledge, as we will see later on in this article, but it is also a great way to escape from reality for a while and relax your mind.

So, don't feel guilty about taking breaks. They are essential to being productive. Just make sure that you use your breaks to relax and recharge your batteries.

Be aware of the "IKEA effect"

Heads up, rather formal definition incoming!

The "IKEA effect" is a cognitive bias that occurs when people place a disproportionately high value on objects they partially created. This bias is named after the Swedish furniture company IKEA, which is known for selling furniture that is easy to assemble. People tend to value objects more if they have put more effort into creating them.

If the above paragraph doesn't make any sense to you, take a look at the following cartoon, which captures the idea of the IKEA effect.

This cognitive bias can have a negative impact on productivity and can affect entrepreneurs as well as developers. For example, if you are working on a project and become overly attached to it, you may be less likely to make changes or compromises that are necessary for the project to succeed. This can lead to wasted time and effort.

It is important to be aware of the "IKEA effect" and its potential negative effects on productivity. When you are working on a project, be sure to keep your goals in mind and be willing to make changes if necessary.

Get help from others 🙋

If you're trying to learn a new skill it can be really helpful to find someone who is already an expert in that area and ask them for help. You can learn a lot from someone who is more experienced than you, and it can save you a lot of time and frustration.

Another great way to get help is to use online resources. There are a lot of websites and forums, like StackOverflow, where people share their knowledge and experience. If you're lucky your question will already be asked and answered by an expert. If not, you can usually find someone who will happily help you with whatever you're trying to wrap your head around.

Sometimes it can be difficult to ask for help, especially if you're shy or feel like you're not good enough. But remember that everyone was once a beginner, and everyone had to start somewhere. So don't be afraid to ask for help when you need it. You'll be surprised at how much you can learn from others.

Invest in resources that will help you learn more effectively 📚💡

Investing in resources that will help you learn more effectively is a great way to improve your productivity. If you can find a way to learn more quickly and retain the information you are learning, you will be able to get more done in less time. There are a number of different resources that you can invest in, including books, courses, software, and tools.

One of the best ways to learn more effectively is to read books. Books can help you learn about a variety of different topics, and they can teach you new skills and strategies. If you are looking to improve your productivity, it is a good idea to invest in some good books on productivity. There are dozens of great books on the topic, some of my personal recommendations are:

• Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity by David Allen
• Atomic Habits by James Clear
• The Effective Executive: The Definitive Guide to Getting The Right Things Done by Peter Drucker
• Deep Work by Cal Newport

There is no doubt that online courses can be a great way to learn about a new topic. However, it is important to be careful about the course you pick, as there are many low-quality courses out there that can waste your time and money.

When choosing an online course, it is important to make sure that it is from a reputable source. The course should be offered by a credible organization, such as a university or a professional organization.

Conclusion

I know as an entrepreneur and developer it can be fairly easy to get wrapped up in our work. Part of being successful means giving a hundred percent to your business, however we must not forget who or what got you there. Giving thanks to those who support us is part of staying healthy, both physically and mentally, while running our own businesses.