💡 Tips & Tricks

Practical tips for everyday life and work

1

The Pomodoro Technique

Work in focused 25-minute intervals followed by 5-minute breaks. After four pomodoros, take a longer 15-30 minute break.

How to apply: Set a timer for 25 minutes, eliminate distractions, focus on one task, then reward yourself with a break.
2

Two-Minute Rule

If a task takes less than two minutes to complete, do it immediately instead of adding it to your to-do list.

Examples: Reply to quick emails, file documents, make short phone calls, clean your desk.
3

Batch Similar Tasks

Group similar tasks together and complete them in one dedicated time block to minimize context switching.

Try batching: All emails at once, all calls together, all meetings in one afternoon.
4

Digital Detox Hours

Set specific hours each day where you disconnect from digital devices to improve focus and mental health.

Suggestion: No phones for the first hour after waking up and the last hour before bed.
5

Use Keyboard Shortcuts

Master essential keyboard shortcuts to save hours of time over the course of a year.

Essential shortcuts: Ctrl+C (Copy), Ctrl+V (Paste), Alt+Tab (Switch windows), Ctrl+Z (Undo)
6

Morning Routine

Establish a consistent morning routine that energizes you and sets a positive tone for the day.

Example routine: Wake up, exercise, healthy breakfast, review goals, tackle most important task.
1

Write Clean Code

Use meaningful variable names, keep functions small, and add comments to explain why, not what.

Good: calculateUserAge(birthDate)
Bad: calc(x)
2

Use Version Control

Always use Git for version control. Commit frequently with clear, descriptive messages.

Good commit:
git commit -m "Add user authentication feature"
3

Debug Systematically

When debugging, isolate the problem, reproduce it consistently, then fix and verify the solution.

Steps: Read error messages, use console.log, check docs, search Stack Overflow.
4

Learn One Thing at a Time

Focus on mastering one language or technology before jumping to the next. Depth beats breadth.

Better approach: Master JavaScript fundamentals before learning React, Vue, or Angular.
5

Read Others' Code

Study well-written open-source projects to learn best practices and different coding styles.

Resources: GitHub trending repos, code review platforms, documentation examples.
6

Test Your Code

Write tests to catch bugs early and ensure your code works as expected when changes are made.

Types of tests: Unit tests, integration tests, end-to-end tests.
1

Use White Space

Don't be afraid of empty space. It helps guide the eye and makes content more readable and professional.

Tip: Add padding and margins generously. Cramped designs feel amateurish.
2

Limit Your Color Palette

Stick to 2-3 main colors plus neutrals. Too many colors create visual chaos.

Formula: One primary color, one accent color, shades of gray for text and backgrounds.
3

Typography Hierarchy

Use font size, weight, and spacing to create clear visual hierarchy in your text.

Example: Headings (24-32px bold), subheadings (18-20px), body text (16px regular).
4

Consistent Spacing

Use a spacing scale (like 4, 8, 16, 24, 32px) for consistent margins and padding throughout your design.

Pro tip: Set up spacing variables in CSS for consistency across your project.
5

Design for Mobile First

Start designing for small screens first, then scale up. It's easier than trying to shrink a desktop design.

Benefit: Forces you to prioritize content and creates cleaner, more focused designs.
6

Use High-Quality Images

Invest in quality images or use professional free stock photo sites. Poor images ruin great designs.

Resources: Unsplash, Pexels, Pixabay for free high-quality photos.
1

The 5-Second Rule

When you have an impulse to act on a goal, count down 5-4-3-2-1 and move before your brain stops you.

Use it for: Waking up early, starting exercise, making difficult phone calls, speaking up.
2

Meal Prep Sundays

Spend 2-3 hours on Sunday preparing meals for the week. Saves time, money, and promotes healthy eating.

Quick wins: Cook rice/pasta in bulk, chop vegetables, prepare proteins, portion into containers.
3

20/20/20 Rule for Eyes

Every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds to reduce eye strain from screens.

Set reminders: Use apps or browser extensions to remind you to take these breaks.
4

Learn While Commuting

Use commute time for podcasts, audiobooks, or language learning apps instead of scrolling social media.

Recommendations: Educational podcasts, skill-building audiobooks, language apps like Duolingo.
5

Automate Bill Payments

Set up automatic payments for recurring bills to never miss a deadline and avoid late fees.

Automate: Rent, utilities, subscriptions, insurance, loan payments.
6

Weekly Review Habit

Spend 30 minutes each week reviewing what went well, what didn't, and planning for the next week.

Questions to ask: What did I accomplish? What could I improve? What are my priorities?