Despite the myths discipline and motivation are both finite resources. Both plays crucial role in big picture and long-term plans. And it is important to use both the right now. No matter how strong you are if you are trying to push concrete wall alone.
In order to optimally utilize the entire potential of energy, both mental and physical, we must take a control over circumstances or context. And the first rule is: there are no small nor meaningless details. You might want to avoid silence and use music, or specific noise, or listening to birds singing or wind and blizzard. You don’t know what is your key until you try and learn it in practice. Depending on what you do, of course. But most people have huge impact on their work environment when it’s office work of any sort.
Once our environment supports us, helps to focus, reduce distraction and enjoy the process - we must take care of the next things. Tools. If you’re software engineer - use IDE that you like and the one that solves your problems. I am using JetBrains tool pack for many years for every stack. Not affiliated, I simply enjoy these tools. They are capable of much more than I need, though. But the core is - they are capable of doing exactly what I need.
There are 2 exceptions: I’m using VSCode for working with frontend and XCode for working with Swift & Apple ecosystem. Why? Because sometimes we have to learn the right tools for the specific tasks. It makes no sense to stay attached to the tool if it does not provide convenience and speed, replacing those with limitations. VSCode provides blazing fast speed for adoption, being super-popular tool almost everything is supported from the day 1 when a tool or a library is released.
Then it’s time to choose the pace. Maybe you spend couple of hours after a lunch on having chill or education to work 2 hours in the evening and get your super-productivity ultra-focus hours. Maybe these are your morning hours, when nobody’s there to ask, distract and “just a small question” you. Maybe you push hard for 3 or 4 days to have 1 chill day to meet, chat, plan. These are examples that I’ve been trying. And I personally spent a lot of time figuring out what works for me. And yes, I can go for 2-hour long walk in the middle of the day. And yes, it is still possible to work. Context and choices matters. The amount of energy and refresh I get during that walk keeps me productive for many more hours if I need it. But everything has limits. Sometimes you have to turn off a laptop at 5 PM.
And finally - the big thing. Doing what you like. As I mentioned in the beginning - there is motivation and there is discipline. No way discipline will get you to the success if you have to force doing the wrong thing. Things that you hate in context you don’t like. You can force yourself to do that. But if you don’t - you shouldn’t even dare to speak about success. It’s frightful, it’s inconvenient, it’s hard. And it’s absolutely worth it. You don’t like to build green websites? Try red websites. Don’t like web apps? Try mobile apps or backend. Don’t like databases - try working with cloud. The world is huge and there are endless choices. Don’t lock yourself up to the things you hate.
Bonus
Work flows when we’re in the flow. A state of deep focus and full immerse. Nothing else exists. It’s amazing when you feel it. And you feel awful when you can’t get there. And if you haven’t experience that - you definitely should.
Here are 3 basic requirements to get into the flow state: - clear goal or direction - you know WHAT you’re doing - immediate feedback - you know you are MOVING - it’s balanced to your skills - it is challenging, but not too hard, it’s easy, but no boring. It’s on the edge of what’s possible. It’s not obvious, yet important: the activity itself is rewarding. In other word - you enjoy what you do. Than magic happens.
Limits disappears, clarity and movement consumes you entirely and you glide through the challenges toward your goal. Building a better future!