Hello, my fellow friends.

I'm on detox now. It means that I'm trying to read books instead of scrolling the newsfeed, watching online courses instead of Instagram stories, eating fruits/vegetables/nuts/otherHealthyStuff instead of trashy snacks, walking every day. This process has led me to have much more spare time to think about my own life.

Who am I? What do I want? What's next?

During these solitary reflections, I've found out that I do like helping people. But in what field am I competent? A bit of programming (currently working as a mobile dev) and everything connected to building good habits, self-discipline.

Not so long ago, a good friend of mine started her telegram channel. It has hit me. I sincerely believe that sharing your positive and negative experiences may help other people in their life. This is why I've created this channel. I hope it will make somebody's life better.

Keep it up and feel free to text me)

Of course, I also expect that this channel will help me to improve my English and motivate to stay on this cool "self-discipline track"

Plan or suffer

If I don't have a plan in some area of life (training, finance, learning, etc.) I suffer. Suffer badly.

The most recent example from my life is morning exercises. I get up at 6:30 every day and go to the sports ground. For several weeks I was training without a clear plan (I don't really have a reason for not planning this, probably, I was too lazy).

My workout went like this:
I did 8-10 pull-ups and walked around until I'm ready for the next set. I didn't have the number of pull-ups that I wanted to accomplish during training, neither had I a time limit for rest between sets. When I felt a bit tired, I went home.
One day I did 40 pull-ups in 30 minutes, another - 70 during the same time!

In my world, a training session should bring joy and motivation for the rest of the day. But these kinda uncontrollable sessions gave me only the feeling that I'm lazy and not consistent. Not hard to imagine that this has negatively affected my work sessions.

Moreover, when you practice without planning, it's hard to make any progress and nearly impossible to monitor it (if there is any).
I've decided to change my approach.

Guess what happened when I just started setting the minimum amount of pull-ups for each session the day before?
50, 55, 60, 65....
I felt like superhuman)

You may ask: "What happened?"

It's all about planning and setting small clear goals.

This applies to all areas of our lives.
- You want to work efficiently and have more free time for your hobbies: find your working hours and prepare the most important tickets.
- Want to eat healthier: research + create a meal plan + stick to it.
- Want to learn a new language: I don't know how I can help you. It's beyond me. (kidding, just decompose this cumbersome task, set deadlines and milestones, and start learning)

Don't suffer if you experience these kinda feelings. Make a plan and stand by it!

The problem with instant gratification

You’ve probably heard something about instant gratification (or immediate reward). Every motivational book doesn’t forget to mention this term and how it can affect your life.

Basically, this is a temptation to obtain pleasure HERE and NOW instead of gaining some more in the future.

First of all, you should understand that this is a weird natural thing that happens to all of us on a daily basis. I won't deep dive into the reasons for such behavior (google it), I’ll just say that we have inherited this tendency to see pleasure and avoid pain from our ancestors. It gave them some advantages many centuries ago. But the world has evolved and nowadays this behavior is mostly ruthlessly ruining our lives.

Some examples of instant gratification are:
- Hitting snooze instead of getting up early in the morning.
- Watching funny YouTube videos instead of completing your work (study).
- Eating junk food instead of cooking healthy one

Easy to see that delayed gratification is generally (there can be some exceptions*) the best choice for your future self. If you prefer deferred reward, most likely, you pursue a long-term goal which can be learning new technologies, getting fit, saving money for your future self.

There are several ways, which can help you to choose delayed gratification over instant one.
1. Think about your future self. What would you feel? Will you be happy about your "past self" decision to choose immediate reward?
2. Plan (again and again) and commit to something beforehand. This won’t require making any decision at the moment. This way you’ll more likely do what you suppose to do.
3. Break down big goals into smaller ones. It is hard to do something when the task is laborious and unclear, moreover, the moment of getting pleasure lies too far from you. When you achieve a small goal you can already get some satisfaction (this is a little hack).

*As I was writing this post I had a related discussion with my girlfriend which led us to the conclusion, that we are all different and instant-grat-thing for one person could be a part of a long journey to success for another. For example, somebody chooses to watch some entertaining youtube videos, cause it helps him to relax and get some mental boost for another work session, not because he is simply procrastinating.

How to work more productively (based on my own experience)

We waste too much time working unproductively, saying that we don't have time for something meaningful. For me, it is a big problem.

I did this many times before. I still do it sometimes (doing my best not to fall into the same trap). I know what I'm talking about.

If I need to work 4/6/8 hours a day (remotely), I try to complete all the work in my working hours (7:00-10:00, 13:00-16:00, for example). Otherwise, Parkinson's law comes into play. It states that "work expands to fill the time available for its completion." If this is the case, I work more hours less productively, having less time for other things at the end of the day. Furthermore, I start feeling guilty and try to compensate for a wasted time by sacrificing my free time.

Having specific working hours is not the only hack that I use.
- I track my working sessions using a time tracker (I prefer Toggl). It helps not to get distracted when the timer is on.
- I have all my tasks in Trello, so I could take one from the "To do" column and start/continue working.
- If you're prone to surf socials during work, install special software, which will block certain websites. I used Self-Control for macOS. It is a free supersimple no-way-back type of app.
- If you're not alone, warn your mates that you don't want to be distracted during specific hours.

I hope these tricks will help you to be more productive and have more time for your hobbies. If you have some cool hacks not stated above and they work for you, I would love to know about them.

Make your fingers smarter

It's time to remind you (and me) that I'm a programmer. And one skill that is perfectly assisting me in this craft is touch typing (an ability to type some text without looking at the keyboard).

I've started practicing a year ago when I was typing 40w/min using an advanced hunt-and-peck technique.

Why did I start?
First of all, 40w/min is just too slow for fingers that spend their lives mostly on the keyboard. Why not speed up a bit?
Another reason is that it is mentally exhausting to look for the needed key and think about your current programming problem simultaneously. It's like driving a car when you're a beginner. Painful.

I've decided to practice for at least 30 minutes daily, found a web app that teaches this skill in a step-by-step manner, and started.

Honestly, it wasn't a walk in the park.
I remember how I did 15-20 w/min during the first days using only 5 keys.
I remember how I learned to type long-distance keys ("y", "b", all of the numbers). It's pretty demanding and takes time to build muscle memory.
I remember a regress in speed and accuracy when I started typing capital letters and punctuation.
I'm 100% sure that everybody who has mastered this skill experienced the same difficulties during their learning process.

On the other hand, there were also many enjoyable moments.
What on earth can be better than beating your speed record by 2-3 words or winning a multiplayer typing race? Nothing.

I've intensely practiced for 3-4 months in different apps. After 6 months, I was already typing 60 w/min on average. I started trying to apply my new secret weapon to my work. It was a success. It has certainly paid off.

I urge you to try it out if you're still struggling with your typing routine. Make it a one-month challenge. It’s worth a shot. I believe in you.

Btw, check out my profile on keybr.com. It was the first app that I've used, and I loved it. It collects every possible statistical data that you can imagine, so you can always see where you should try a bit harder.

What is Self-Image, and why it's so important?

My close friend recently asked me how do I work out every day? How did I develop such consistency?

I took some time to think about how I make habits stick in general and what helps me wake up every morning and work out. I guess I've finally found an answer.

The answer is Self-image.
It is all about how we perceive ourselves. What kind of person do we think we are, and what do we believe others think about us.

It all comes down to 1 simple idea. You do what you think you're supposed to do as a person from your self-image. For example, if you think you are a shy person, it's unlikely that you'll start a conversation with a stranger in the bar.

I know. It may sound ridiculous. Like another useless mantra from an amazon bestseller self-help book. But it works.

So, in my case, my self-image tells me that I am a sportsman (as I've been professionally playing tennis for 11 straight years.) So I do what I'm supposed to do. I don't need any motivation or discipline to keep it going. Somebody may call it a habit. Maybe.

I also consider myself a consistent and responsible person who keeps his word and likes to build new habits, to try something new.
- It helps me to do everything before the deadlines. Of course, if they are adequate.
- Plans work as a promise to myself to do something. So, I do it.
- I like taking up new challenges. Meditation for a month or solving a couple of problems on Leetcode every day (yet to come).

Of course, there is also a negative part of my Self-Image.
Back then, when I was playing tennis, I thought I have a terrible backhand. So, my backhand was magically disappearing during the tournaments.
I still think that I'm a bit shy and not-talkative person. And if I don't have a strong reason to talk to some stranger, I won't.
And never ask me to solve some Physics problem. I'm the worst at it.

Self-image forms unconsciously from our past experiences, successes, and failures. And there is a way to change it. It takes a lot of time and effort, but it is the easiest way to alter your behavior, not for a month or a year (wasting all your willpower), but for as long as it is consistent with your self-image. If you're interested in it, read this article on Medium.

Do you use the best tools money can buy?

I'm not a money-waster.
When I need to buy something, I think like hundred times if I need this particular thing and where it'll be in several days/months/years after the purchase. But when it comes to investing in myself and my tools, SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY.

I've upgraded my laptop two times. In both cases, I was thinking about how it would make my job easier and more efficient. In both cases, I regretted not getting them earlier. I still believe making these purchases was the best choice at the moment.

After the first upgrade, I was able to develop web projects in professional IDE. So, I've made like 5-6 small web apps (Python/Django) in 2 months and got some pocket money and a hell of a lot of experience.
After the second one, I gained the ability to develop Flutter apps for iOS and macOS and decreased an app build time by 200%. It allowed me to look for new job opportunities and explore an App Store Connect (better keep away from it).

I've made an example of my laptop because it's the most crucial tool in a programmer's inventory. That goes without saying. The same approach applies to additional hardware&software, working place, and other things that can make my life as a programmer more enjoyable and efficient. The more I can remove avoidable stress and frustration from my daily routines, the better the work I'll be able to deliver.

So, don't ever try to save money on your tools. Upgrade and open up new opportunities.

P.S. Don't take it too far. If you don't have enough money at the moment, try to save up a bit. Taking a loan may not be the best decision in your situation.

It's not rocket science

You don't need to be smart to be a programmer. There are many areas in IT, that don't require you to be eggheaded. You have a language, framework, and many ready-to-apply approaches, that cover almost every use-case you'll need to implement during the development of your app.

Building a typical mobile client requires you to know how to:
- get and send JSON
- handle authentication (JWT token in most cases)
- create a layout based on a design in Figma
- UX (just a bit) to keep a user informed on what's happening in your app
- navigate between screens
- add payments, subscriptions
- add notifications
- add localization
- cache data
- implement the basic architecture, at least separate different layers of your app

It seems like it's a lot, but here's a trick. You can easily find manuals for all of these things in docs, on youtube, or somewhere else. Do it once and learn how to do it even better and faster in your following projects. In some cases, you can apply a "special" copy/paste technique. And you are a newborn developer.

Of course, most likely, your first apps will be unscalable and unmaintainable (in Russian: gavnocode, in English: suboptimal code). But it's totally fine. I firmly believe that only practicing and reading deep books make you a better programmer.

On the other hand, there are also complex apps that require all of your problem-solving skills and some deep knowledge to come up with unique solutions to unusual problems. If this is the case, congratulations! Your job is not so tedious.

Learn in public

I've discovered this concept a year ago or so in a Coding Career Handbook. Its author claims that this is "the fastest way to build an expertise, network, and second brain." Sounds cool, right?

The main idea is to open-source your knowledge, share the process of learning a new thing with other people in the form of an article, youtube video, conference speech, etc.

Why should you start learning in public?

- To deepen your understanding of your work. The protégé effect in action. While trying to explain a new concept to somebody, you're gaining more understanding of this topic and closing all the gaps.
- To keep yourself accountable. If you have an audience, at least one person, it will be harder to give up on everything and stop posting. You probably don't want to be that inconsistent person in your reader's eyes.
- Fast feedback loop. Cunningham’s Law: "The best way to get the right answer on the Internet is not to ask a question; it's to post the wrong answer."
- To create a reviewable archive of your knowledge. Building a knowledge base to which you can refer at any given moment (you can also do this in Notion or any other note-taking app).
- To connect with others along the way. You'll get new friends, colleagues, mentors by simply showing up.
- To set yourself up for new income-generating opportunities. You build a self-brand. You promote yourself as an expert in your area. Potential recruiters may seek you out themselves for one of the 80% of jobs that are never published.

I recommend you to read this free chapter of the book I've mentioned above to find more reasons on why you should accept the idea and make the first move.

I've already started applying this principle by sharing my general knowledge and experience with you and tech knowledge with my teammates. I do plan to expand in this direction cause it works, and I enjoy it a lot.

Embrace boredom

Can you put aside your phone for 30 minutes and sit in silence one on one with your thoughts? It sounds so easy, isn't it?

We live in a world of distraction. Our brains got used to multitasking and escaping boredom at all costs. Can you recall yourself having a long ride on public transport without looking at your phone? Do you often find yourself reading news, scrolling Instagram, or watching Youtube just not to feel bored? Why don't we like boredom so much?

Our hatred for this state is so extreme that in some cases, people would prefer being in pain to being bored. There was an experiment where students had to sit alone in a room with a shocking button for a short period of time (6-15 minutes). A quarter of the women and two-thirds of the men preferred to give themselves mild electric shocks to be somewhat entertained than to think. How crazy is that?

I don't have an answer on why we can't stand the boredom and always need some stimuli. But I believe that a bit of boredom is what we need to be more creative and productive.

Several experiments show that people are more creative after doing some boring monotonous tasks. My experience and Cal Newport's (author of "Deep Work") observations show that experiencing a lack of entertainment also boosts our ability to concentrate on some task for longer periods.

Moreover, I'd say that trying to avoid boredom but having no access to social media makes me want to start my work as soon as possible. This is why I like detox (no Youtube, no Instagram). You should definitely try it out as a one-week challenge. I'd like to hear about your experience and what you think about it.

P.S. Don't take it to extremes. Don't try to stay in total isolation for 3 days like this crazy guy.

The easiest way to get your first job (as a developer)

Vacancy requirements for a mobile developer usually look like this:
- Several published apps (AppStore/GooglePlay)
- Coding a layout from Figma
- REST principles
- CI/CD
- Some advanced state management approach
- Some libraries used by this company/team
- 1-2 years of experience

And why do all these points matter (except for the last one*)?

The answer is quite simple. Small business needs an app from scratch here and yesterday. And if you've built something cool already and managed to deliver it to the audience, probably you'll do it again. No matter how good it will be from a code perspective.

Congrats if you've already made several apps that appeared in stores. You're on fire. Everybody wants you. But what to do when you want to land your first job?

Most programmers learn fundamentals and practice them here and there by building small nobody-cares-about apps. But in this case, they miss out on a large part of app development. Architecture, theming, CI/CD, testing, different capabilities like notifications, in-app purchases, and much more.

The easiest way to stand out from the crowd of juniors is by building a production-ready app and posting it to the store. I talk about real pet projects. Not tic-tac-toe or another to-do app. This way, you'll cover the whole project lifecycle.

You probably already have an amazing idea for an app. Find a free API or create one with some cloud backend like Firebase. Get a mobile app design sample from google. Create tasks in Trello or somewhere else. And start coding. Screen by screen. Feature by feature. Try to touch every point from vacancy requirements.

I know it's hard to build something great** because you don't know how to structure your app, divide it into layers, why it even matters, and many useful tricks and hacks. Find a person who will review your code. Then fix everything and ask to review it again.

Voilà. You've just increased your chances to land a job by 1000%.

*I don't think that measuring experience in years is an accurate approach. It highly depends on the person.

**I've built a quiz app with the help of Firebase. I've changed my initial design in Figma to make it look more modern. I've changed state management to more advanced when I realized that my code is highly coupled, and it becomes harder and harder to maintain it. I refactored it a couple of times, added theming, linting, and localization in the process. Today I can see that there is so much more to refactor. But I've learned a lot during the development process.

Some thoughts on this channel

Hello, my friends. It's been about a month since I've started this channel. And there are already 10 posts in here. These posts mostly are about good habits + efficiency. I appreciate all of you who were reading them. Hope it was valuable.

Also wanted to add that I fell in love with writing. Although, it's super hard for me. I still spend plenty of time writing one post. Partly cause it's hard to put my thoughts on paper, partly due to the fact that English is not my native language. No pain, no gain)

I think it's time to introduce new topics/rubrics. Maybe, make this channel a bit more technical, a bit more about Flutter and mobile development in general. Since there will be more topics, I want to add more structure by using hashtags. #efficiency, #habits, #career, #learninpublic, #books, #dev, #flutter, #thoughts and more.

I've recently written about learning in public and its benefits. Yesterday, I set a goal (actually, goals) for myself until the end of the year. It's connected to Flutter and animations. From now on I'll post my progress here under the hashtag #learninpublic. Wish me luck!