How makers stay productive

A few temporarily reliefs for me:

• I go out for lunches/dinners with family.
• Look for others shipping for inspiration (MakerLog, IndieHackers and newly found MakeHub.io)
• Add more info to the unreleased landing page of my project 😄 (The actual product is like 5% complete. Landing page is 200% complete).

I've identified a new trick. Sequence of steps below.

1. Maintain a "context" page/paper and write down all tasks.
2. Breakdown a large task into smaller tasks that can be completed mechanically.
3. Execute on those smaller tasks like a mindless robot.
4. Repeat step-2

Everytime I cannot focus, I just look at the context page and pick up some tasks. There are time when I don't have the energy to think out a 5-line block of code. I've copied code from my own older projects (I apparently have a lot of incomplete projects). Atleast this gets me to move forward.

Once in a while, I realize I don't have to force a deadline on myself. Just do a little bit everyday and see what I can move forward.

I've begun seeing friends again. The vaccine is probably still pretty far off and isolation in and of itself is a health risk. To minimize risk while meeting friends what I do is :

1) Only meet one or two friends max at the same time, about once a week. 2) Meet for outdoor activities only. 3) Wear masks.

I moved back in with my parents and my brother (no social isolation), spend plenty of time in the countryside (alone time + fresh air), and just focus on my overall health (exercise, sleep, good food) and my daily habits without trying to push myself too hard (forcing myself to take breaks or helping out in the house/garden helps).

I'm aware it's not an option for many people, but I did something similar back when I was in Budapest (January-June, at the peak of the quarantine in Europe). I just found some roommates and we isolated ourselves in an Airbnb. During the day we would walk to the city park and eat dinner together. I would spend a two/three hours per day on deep work but not much more. It was hard but there are harder things to go through, just gotta see the bright side of things :P

Despite the hard times, I'll suggest to take each day as it comes, don't be to hard on yourself, but try to be active even if it means by exercising at home, drink tea lol, relax and create little tasks to complete everyday to help with productivity 🙂

I wonder how all the "we've been preparing for this all our lives" introverts are feeling?

I am an ambivert and since last year I was solo traveling. I am not in a very emotionally connected phase so the isolation did not hit me as hard as it would have in my more connected phase. I stayed in a hostel for 5 months in Laos, just another traveler and worked the whole day, cooked, played DotA, walked a bit nearby. I tried keeping to a routine for laundry, cooking, trimming my head, etc. Social activities were weekly calls to some friends, but not regular.

Now I am back home and I spend almost all the day in my room, working and playing DotA in my free time.

I think routines help a lot. It is important to tell yourself that this is also a choice you can make and can learn from it and grow. I found a new level of focus in my own product which I have failed to get ever in my life as a trying entrepreneur. To be honest, I told myself from the start - this is my personal challenge, this is just a phase so I will make the most of it.