Meeting Prep for Developers: Simple Habits to Enhance Focus and Reduce Stress
Posted on Building Better Habits

Meeting Prep for Developers: Simple Habits to Enhance Focus and Reduce Stress

Welcome to Episode 9 of the Building Better Developers podcast, Season 23. Hosts Rob Broadhead and Michael Meloche explore the crucial habit of meeting preparation. This season focuses on building better habits as developers. In this episode, they explain how solid meeting prep can streamline projects and reduce stress. Why Meeting Prep Matters Rob and Michael start by acknowledging a common challenge in the developer world: meeting frequency and their often chaotic nature. Meetings are an essential part of any team-based workflow. However, when ill-prepared, they can disrupt productivity and lead to a cycle of “meetings about meetings.” Many developers frequently toggle between intense coding sessions and strategic discussions. This constant switch in focus can be exhausting and detrimental to... Read more

Taking Breaks to Boost Developer Health and Productivity
Posted on Building Better Habits

Taking Breaks to Boost Developer Health and Productivity

In Episode 8 of Building Better Developers Season 23, hosts Rob and Michael explore the importance of taking breaks for health. This episode, part of the “Building Better Habits” season, offers strategies for integrating breaks throughout the workday. From using the Pomodoro Technique to taking short, mindful walks, Rob and Michael show how stepping away can prevent burnout and improve focus. Using the Pomodoro Technique for Structured Breaks Rob begins by sharing his success with the Pomodoro Technique—a method of focused work intervals with short breaks. This approach helps him boost productivity and mental clarity during the day. Pomodoro’s structured work blocks break tasks into manageable chunks, creating a rhythm for distracted developers. Rob explains how each break keeps him... Read more

Breaking Things Down for Success: How Developers Can Build Better Habits
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Breaking Things Down for Success: How Developers Can Build Better Habits

Rob Broadhead and Michael Meloche host Episode 7 of Building Better Developers. They explore how to Breaking Things Down for Success. Their discussion centers on maintaining a personal backlog. This practical tool helps streamline both project management and professional growth. Through real examples, they demonstrate how this approach enhances productivity. Breaking Down Projects into Manageable Chunks Rob discusses how breaking things down can make overwhelming tasks more achievable. The hosts suggest starting with identifying core project elements. For developers, they recommend breaking features into backend, frontend, and testing components. Breaking down work helps maintain momentum and creates a systematic approach. This method prevents developers from feeling overwhelmed while ensuring thorough completion. Creating a Personal Backlog for Better Task Management The concept... Read more

Planning and Scheduling: Essential Habits for Building Better Developers
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Planning and Scheduling: Essential Habits for Building Better Developers

Welcome back to “Building Better Developers” as we continue our journey through Season 23, focused on building better habits. In Episode 6, Rob Broadhead and Michael Meloche dive into the fundamental skill of planning and scheduling as a daily practice. This episode stresses the importance of structuring your day with a manageable, prioritized list of tasks. We will show you how doing this can improve productivity and mental clarity. Here’s a recap of the key takeaways on how to build a sustainable planning habit. The Power of Daily Planning and Scheduling Rob starts by emphasizing the need to tackle tasks with intention. Careful not to jump into work or focus on the sheer volume of items on our plate. Instead,... Read more

Improving Coding Skills: Building Better Developers by Building Better Habits
Posted on Building Better Habits

Improving Coding Skills: Building Better Developers by Building Better Habits

In the latest episode of Building Better Developers, Rob and Michael continue their journey through Season 23, “Building Better Habits.” In Episdoe 5 the focusing on improving coding skills. Like diving into why developers should consistently refine techniques, stay updated with evolving coding standards, and explore new tools. This hosts go beyond just writing code; it’s about forming habits that make continuous learning an essential part of a developer’s daily routine. Tools and Techniques Rob shares insights on the importance of regularly updating coding habits and exploring new languages and techniques. While it’s easy to rely on familiar coding methods, especially in stable languages like Java, doing so can lead to missed opportunities to improve coding skills and write more... Read more

Automation for Better Habits: Streamline Your Workflow and Boost Productivity
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Automation for Better Habits: Streamline Your Workflow and Boost Productivity

Welcome to episode four of Building Better Developers. This season, we are focusing on “Building Better Habits.” This episode shows how automation can handle repetitive tasks in your daily routine. By automating mundane work, developers can focus more on creative and strategic projects. These automation practices help build a more efficient development process. The Power of Automation in Development This episode centers on how automation can dramatically improve productivity by eliminating repetitive tasks. The hosts highlight that developers often perform redundant tasks that, though small, can add up to significant time losses. They encourage listeners to reflect on their daily routines and pinpoint actions that automation could streamline. These might be running scripts, batch processing, or setting up CI/CD pipelines.... Read more