Reflect on your habits from last module. What behaviors and activities were helpful for you? What activities and behaviors could be more effective for you? What processes would you like to try differently this module to become more effective at your work and as a software developer?
I have had a habit of pushing to stay up and keep working as late as I am able, but far too often fail to recognize (or recognize too late) when I have gotten too tired and diminished. I would be better rested if I went to sleep with more intention rather than just crashing. It would benefit me to set a solid cutoff time that I can commit to and make sure that I start getting cleaned up and ready to rest at a specific time every night - say 10pm I take a shower,make nighttime tea and go to bed with time to read a few pages of a book.
Setting intentions for this module: who do I want to be this module? What specific habits would help me get there? How are those habits tied to the identity of a software developer?
This module, I want to start finding ways to step into leadership roles, increasing my confidence by finding the ways in which I am personally equipped to contribute to the group. I am participating as an SLC representative for this inning and trying to push out of my comfort zone in voicing my unique perspective as the only Mod2 repeater in the group. I hope that finding my own voice in the group can translate further as I'm stepping into the tech industry, clarifying my identity as a developer.
Incorporate temptation bundling to create a new habit by using this template:
After taking a shower at night, I will begin an intentional routine to wind-down toward bed for the night. After making my tea in the morning, I will sit and allow myself the space to meditate for 5minutes before class.
How to enjoy “hard” habits: Reframe your habits to consider their benefits rather than their drawbacks; name 3 habits that you have to do and explain the benefits of them. How do they further your goals longterm? How will they add to your processes as a successful developer? At the end of the day, how do they add to your life?
I'm being called upon now to spend time writing in this career journal each week, but it's long been an aspiration to establish a daily journaling practice for myself. I have in the past found it so helpful to remember details from the course of a day when I've not only written as a reflection at the end of the day, but by jotting down snippets and notes throughout. I am specifically recalling times I've travelled abroad and will always carry a small notebook to record notes as I go about each day, but find it so much harder to make the space or engage in that practice during my regular day to day at home. It certainly calls for a balance between experiencing and recording the given moment, but I find these seemingly sparse or disjointed notes often help me recall far more than I seem to without them. As a developer (and just as a person), I think that finding a way to lean into this practice and build it as a regular habit will help me actually tune in and be more aware in the moment, but also better able to recall and reflect on my thoughts/experiences so that I can reference them better and learn more from them.
I enjoy going to the climbing gym, especially as a way to get physical activity when conditions are less inviting outside. I don't do it often these days, but as I like to go during the later and less-trafficked time-slots, I have found that I can use that as a reward to be granted after having completed another week. This can work particularly in scenarios for shorter windows, including after an extra working block to make use of time following Friday retros.
Environment design (optional 5-min. additional reading: Motivation is Overvalued. Environment Often Matters More): how does your environment set-up currently help you with your habits? How could it be improved to make it easier for you to follow through on your habits?
I keep books readily available, so once I am able to get a more intentional nightly routine on track, I think it should be easy to integrate some reading time as a part of that routine.
“When you start a new habit, it should take less than two minutes to do.” Read this 4-min article on how to stop procrastinating. Apply the 2-minute rule to reframe 2-3 of your habits by scaling them down into the 2-minute version. How does this reframing help you think about shaping your new identity as a software developer?