/rules

Practical rules I try to follow.
Not rigid laws, but reminders to save energy, stay sharp, and keep moving.

Productivity

If a task can be done in 2 minutes or less, do it immediately.
If you’ll only do it once, do it manually; if it repeats, automate.
Don’t keep Slack/Outlook always on — batch notifications every hour; if it’s urgent, you’ll get paged.
Block focus time in calendar, even if it’s your personal email calendar.
Not every meeting deserves you. Attend only if you’ll gain or contribute.
Default to asynchronous updates (docs, notes, recordings) over live meetings.
Capture open loops (ideas, tasks, errands) into one trusted system (not your head).
When you feel unfocused (e.g. early morning), reset your state: stand up, take a 5-minute walk, breathe, then plan your top 3 priorities for the day.

Guard the first 2 hours after lunch — no email, no chat, just deep work.
Use a single screen mode when solving problems to reduce context-switching.
Take 5-minute breaks every hour — stand, stretch, breathe.
Sleep is a performance enhancer. Prioritize 7+ hours as non-negotiable.
Limit caffeine after 2 PM. Tomorrow’s energy is part of today’s job.
Stretch mid-day or when you are tired/sleepy.
When things go wrong or out of your control, give yourself 5 minutes to release — complain, mourn, be angry if you need. After 5 minutes, take a breath and remind yourself: “I can’t change it. Accept and move on.” (Talk Link)

When you hit a bug, read the error fully before Googling.
If you can’t solve it in 30 minutes, write down what you tried before asking for help.
Build small “throwaway projects” to learn faster than tutorials.
Share what you learn — writing forces clarity, and helps others.
When advice conflicts, test both; keep what works for you.

Default to clear, short messages. Respect people’s time.
Always document decisions (meeting notes, PR comments, design docs).
If it’s team knowledge, ask in public channels; if it’s personal, DM directly.
If you disagree, start with: “Help me understand…” instead of “You’re wrong.”
Praise in public, critique in private.

Companies are not families — they are teams with goals. Don’t confuse the two.
Always know: what am I learning here, and how does it grow me?
Seek overlap between your growth and company goals. That’s win-win.
Don’t tie identity only to your job. Side projects and hobbies keep perspective.
When in doubt, optimize for skills, people, and reputation over short-term comfort.