What are your most effective game dev productivity hacks?

[Ronald.R]

Between work, family, and other responsibilities, my game dev time is limited. I need game dev productivity hacks that actually work. What are your most effective techniques for getting more done in less time? Looking for practical, actionable advice rather than generic productivity tips.

[Michael.M]

My top game dev productivity hack: time blocking with theme days. Monday: coding. Tuesday: art. Wednesday: design. Thursday: polish. Friday: learning/research. This eliminates decision fatigue and ensures I make progress on all aspects of development without getting stuck in one area.

[Andrew31]

The Pomodoro technique is my favorite game dev productivity hack. 25 minutes focused work, 5 minute break. After 4 cycles, take a longer break. This keeps me from burning out during long sessions and actually increases my total productive time. The breaks feel earned, not like procrastination.

[Camila.H]

I use implementation first, optimization later" as a game dev productivity hack. Don't get stuck trying to write perfect code on the first pass. Get it working, then refactor. This keeps momentum going. I can always improve code later, but I can't improve code that doesn't exist.

[Emma_L]

My game dev productivity hack is keeping a parking lot" document open while working. Whenever I think of something I need to do later (research a topic, fix a bug, add a feature), I jot it down and immediately return to my current task. This prevents context switching and maintains focus.