Mental Health and Productivity

With the dynamic landscape of the modern workforce, employee burnout has emerged as a major concern. This phenomenon is characterized by overwhelming demands, constant connectivity, and an unrelenting pace, all of which negatively impact the well-being of employees.

Enter artificial intelligence (AI), a powerful ally in reshaping the workplace. When combined with progressive work policies,  AI’s transformative capabilities become a catalyst for mitigating software engineer burnout. The result is a marked improvement in both employee engagement and overall productivity.

The software engineer burnout crisis

Often there is an imbalance between job demand and job resources. Software engineers, in particular, struggle with challenges created by this imbalance. They find it difficult to separate insights from the noise, and even if they manage to do so, it often comes at the expense of creativity.

Artificial intelligence can lift the burden, freeing software engineers from mundane responsibilities and allowing them to unlock their productivity potential. Organizations that remain vigilant in this regard not only free their workforce from trivial tasks but also foster an environment that unleashes creativity, ultimately paving the way for improved productivity.

Harnessing AI to address software engineer burnout 

AI has emerged as more than a tool for automation—it serves as a strategic partner in tackling software engineer burnout. AI-driven algorithms discern work patterns, identify stress triggers, and recommend customized strategies to improve the work-life balance for software engineers.

Here are some methods with which you can leverage AI.

Automation of routine tasks

One of the main causes of burnout is repetitive tasks. AI can free up software developers from these mundane tasks and allow them to focus on more meaningful and creative work. This allows teams to achieve more in the same portion of time while lessening the risk of software engineer burnout.

Tailored work environment

AI can help personalize work environments to individual needs. With advanced analytics and machine learning, AI can study individual patterns and preferences to allow organizations to optimize employee workloads. This optimal distribution of tasks makes sure that every engineer’s capabilities are properly utilized, leading to better job satisfaction.

Predictive well-being

AI can predict potential burnout by analyzing data related to the behavior of the software engineer, work patterns, and other stress indicators. Through this, organizations can take preventive measures to make sure the well-being of their software engineer workforce reduces the risk of software engineer burnout.

AI-driven collaboration

AI offers intelligent collaboration tools that offer seamless collaboration, knowledge sharing, and project coordination among project teams. This provides a foundation for a more collaborative work environment.

Shaping the future of work culture with AI

As AI continues to expand its impact on the tech landscape, the workplace also continues to transform significantly. This evolution, ranging from addressing software engineer burnout to fostering breakthroughs, is driven by AI’s contributions. It  improves employee well-being, customizes experiences, and creates a collaborative environment tailored to the specific needs and challenges in software development.

At Turing, we recognize the critical importance of prioritizing the well-being of software engineers in this evolving technological landscape. Our AI-driven solutions are designed not only to address burnout concerns but also to empower you, ensuring a balanced and fulfilling work experience. 

Join us in shaping the future of work culture, where innovation and employee well-being coexist harmoniously. Let’s revolutionize your development journey together — explore the possibilities with Turing today!

At Turing, we go beyond simply looking for top developers to fill roles. From the beginning, we’ve embraced a new approach that goes beyond finding the right people—it’s about ensuring our developers thrive. Recognizing the challenges posed by software engineer burnout, we prioritize workplace well-being initiatives to ensure that our developers not only excel in their roles but also maintain a healthy work-life balance.

This article delves into our journey of cultivating a work culture at Turing where the emphasis is not only on the work but also on the well-being and development of our professionals.

Developer well-being and productivity

• To ensure our developers remain at the forefront of the ever-evolving tech landscape, Turing fosters a culture of continuous learning. We have even launched a range of strategic initiatives to equip our team with the latest skills and knowledge. 
• To make our developers excel in work rather than merely enduring it, we’ve developed strategies specifically designed to address the common team challenges.
• To provide our developers with a supportive environment, we have open communication channels, virtual hangouts that emulate the warmth of a casual coffee break, and activities dedicated to fostering a healthy work-life balance. Through this proactive approach, we aim to build team cohesion that enhances the overall satisfaction and mental health of our developers.

By incorporating all these elements, we aim to not just navigate work but to flourish in it, all while ensuring our team’s well-being and sustained productivity.

Elevating developer well-being: Inside our supportive ecosystem

Virtual wellness programs

It’s more than just code; it’s about the coder, too. We offer mindfulness sessions and stress-busting webinars to ensure our developers are not just writing code but also taking care of themselves. We even organize meditation sessions under developer well-being initiatives that help reduce stress, increase calmness, and boost happiness. 

Support networks

Think of them as virtual hangouts for developers! We have mentorship programs and support groups where devs connect, share stories, and learn from each other’s experiences.

Recognition initiatives

We celebrate wins, both big and small. Our recognition initiatives regularly shine the spotlight on our developers to try to appreciate their efforts. We also collect developer feedback through in-person meetings and try to provide every necessary support and resource to help employees achieve goals. If someone is facing a work-related problem, the manager and executives can address their concerns. 

Flexible work arrangements

We believe in work-life balance. We collaborate with our developers in establishing tangible and attainable goals to ensure the smooth execution of these schedules. By prioritizing goal-setting, the organizational emphasis shifts from tracking the weekly hours to evaluating the tangible output they consistently deliver. It not only enhances productivity but also cultivates a positive results-oriented work culture.

Virtual team-building activities

We’re not just colleagues; we’re a team! Through virtual team-building events like online games, trivia nights, and virtual coffee breaks, we prioritize workplace well-being initiatives to strengthen our bonds. We conduct virtual hours where employees build social connections. Building a positive communication platform can help developers build a positive engagement in the workplace.

Open communication channels

Communication at Turing goes beyond information exchange; it’s a platform for sharing ideas and thoughts. With our transparent channels, we encourage open dialogues to ensure that every voice is heard.

We also understand that sharing thoughts can be easier when done anonymously. Whether expressing concerns or sharing brilliant ideas, we’ve established a safe space where everyone can speak up without the fear of being identified.

Vacation policy

Turing encourages developers to take breaks from work at regular intervals. By doing this, we have seen improvements in developers’ job satisfaction, energy levels, and overall creativity at work.

How Turing addresses and prevents software engineer burnout

We acknowledge that software engineer burnout is a common concern. At Turing, we proactively tackle this issue right from the beginning to ensure a better experience always. Our approach entails keeping developers feeling good, including realistic timelines, providing a supportive environment, and offering various opportunities for breaks and relaxation.

What’s always added is our unwavering support, celebration of achievements, and emphasis on progress over perfection. At Turing, we also empower our developers with autonomy within reasonable limits, supported by clear communication and regular reviews. This ensures they not only have the freedom to shape their work but also receive guidance to chart their path to success.

Moreover, we ensure our teams are well-equipped with tools, training, and additional members when needed. Actively countering isolation, we promote collaboration and offer social opportunities, fostering an environment where developers at Turing aren’t just content but genuinely happy.

Celebrating diversity at Turing: A year of success in work

Looking back, Turing has strived to make itself a place where everyone feels welcome. Global collaboration is more than a mere concept. Our diverse team spans continents, so we don’t just work from different places—we have friends all over the world. We host virtual parties where we play games and learn cool things about each other. 

At Turing, we know a happy work-life balance is important for our developers’ well-being, so we let all our developers work freely for half of their daily working hours as per their schedules. This is what keeps Turing at the top of their game.

Conclusion

Wrapping up, we can say Turing goes beyond being just a workplace.  It’s a global community where success isn’t just about tasks but also about the connections we make in the process. Looking to the future, we will remain steadfast in what makes us great by taking care of our team, working together, and aiming for the best.

Turing isn’t just a company—it’s a story of growth, shared victories, and a team that transcends borders.

Turing is proud to hire remote developers from over 150 countries worldwide. If you’re eager to be part of the Turing developer team, kickstart your application now. Visit the Turing jobs page for more information and take the first step toward joining our global community.

What is programmer imposter syndrome? How can you deal with it? This blog post aims to help developers understand imposter syndrome and the steps they can take to overcome it.

Do you ever feel like you’re not good enough as a developer? Do you feel incompetent in doing your job?  Whether you are fresher or experienced, there will come a point when you compare your performance to other developers. You may feel that it’s a matter of time before you are exposed as incompetent and shown the door. This fear can affect your productivity and slows down your career growth. If you have ever questioned your capabilities as a developer and wondered whether you’re qualified for your job, you are not alone. Many talented developers experience programmer imposter syndrome at some point in their careers. 

According to a recent survey conducted by Blind, as many as 58 percent of tech workers feel like impostors. What’s more, this number includes employees from tech giants like Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Meta, and many others. If you are wondering what imposter syndrome is, why it is common to developers, and how to deal with it, you are at the right place. Keep reading to know ways to maintain good mental health as a software engineer or developer.

What exactly is programmer imposter syndrome?

Programmer or developer impostor syndrome is the feeling of self-doubt that many software developers experience, despite possessing excellent skills and several years of experience. This syndrome is prevalent in many high-skill industries, especially software development, due to high competition and new technologies. Moreover, the expectations of high performance while delivering high-quality software products on tight deadlines create pressure on developers. 

As a result, many developers start comparing themselves to their colleagues. They feel like they aren’t good enough and develop an inferiority complex. These developers fail to recognize their abilities and are unable to concentrate on their jobs. This further leads to insecurity and anxiety, adversely affecting developers’ confidence and motivation. This feeling is nothing but programmer imposter syndrome. 

 This syndrome is common among many developers, especially early in their careers. Recognizing these feelings early can help you to take effective steps to overcome them. 

How does imposter syndrome affect developers?

Imposter syndrome can adversely affect developers who have just started their careers or working in a highly competitive environment. Let’s look at how this syndrome impacts developers.

• Fear of getting exposed as an imposter 
  

  Developers experiencing imposter syndrome may feel they are not as competent as their colleagues, despite having the same skills. They may also feel whatever they achieve is a result of luck rather than their abilities. This often leads to self-doubt and a fear of being caught as a “fraud.”

• Affects career growth 

  Programmers battling imposter syndrome may lose self-confidence and the motivation to work. They shy away from taking on new challenges or opportunities because they fear failure and suffer from negative thoughts and emotions. As a result, the syndrome significantly impacts their career growth.

• Dissatisfaction at work 
  

  Imposter syndrome causes anxiety and stress, and quite often, developers are unable to leave these feelings behind. In addition, these feelings often lead to a sense of dissatisfaction, and they are unable to concentrate on their work.

• Many developers quit their job
  

  Developers suffering from this syndrome struggle to share their thoughts with others and hesitate to ask for help or guidance. They desperately look for a way to escape this situation. Quitting jobs seems to be the easiest option for many. 

Why are developers prone to imposter syndrome?

Software developers are prone to imposter syndrome due to the tough competition at work and the pressure to learn and adapt to new technologies. They work on projects with high stakes, which creates stress to perform at the highest level, leaving very little room for error.

Moreover, tight deadlines worsen the situation as they don’t have much time to solve complex coding problems. And so, many programmers develop feelings of inadequacy or self-doubt when they encounter a problem and don’t know how to solve it. They doubt their abilities and feel like a fraud. These factors contribute to imposter syndrome and many highly skilled developers are unable to shake off this feeling.

How to recognize imposter syndrome?

Recognizing imposter syndrome at an early stage can help you get rid of it with the right steps. 

Here are some signs that can help understand if you suffer from programmer imposter syndrome. 

• Persistent feelings of not being fit for the job
• A constant fear of getting exposed as a fraud
• Fear of communicating with fellow developers as it may expose your knowledge gap
• Unable to match your colleagues’ performance
• Doubts that you made the wrong career choice

Please note that the above list is not exhaustive. Different developers may notice other signs of imposter syndrome depending on factors like their work-life balance, mental health, and more.

How to deal with developer imposter syndrome? 

Programming is a highly rewarding career, but it comes with its own challenges. Programmer imposter syndrome is one of the most glaring ones. As you read above, almost 58 percent of software engineers struggle with this imposter syndrome. 

So you shouldn’t panic and get overwhelmed. Instead, you must focus on how to overcome it. Here are some solutions to help you deal with programmer imposter syndrome.

1. Accept that you’re dealing with imposter syndrome
   

   Recognizing the problem is the first step toward finding a solution. The earlier you identify this syndrome, the sooner you can get over it. Many developers ignore the signs initially only to find themselves deep into the problem later. So be on the lookout for any of the programmer imposter signs discussed above.

2. Learn to be comfortable with the uncomfortable
   

   Here’s the thing: technology is never constant. And nobody’s an expert in every technology stack. The most successful developers are the ones who keep learning always and adapting to the changing industry needs.
   
   Maybe you have a colleague who is an expert in a language you know nothing about. Now this situation might may you uncomfortable. It may even make you believe you know nothing.
   
   However, the reality maybe be different. Your colleague may know nothing about a technology you are proficient in. So, instead of underestimating your potential, try venturing into unknown territories. Expand your skill set. 

3. Stop comparing yourself to others 
   

   Constant comparisons often lead to programmer imposter syndrome. Many developers look down upon themselves thinking they have limited knowledge compared to others. But they forget that every developer is different and has different skill sets.
   
   So the next time you find yourself making such unhealthy comparisons, remember: you have worked hard and deserve to be where you are now. You don’t need to be the best to deserve your position but you can always learn and acquire the skills you don’t have now.

4. Give yourself the credit you deserve
   

   Developers suffering from imposter syndrome often believe that their achievements are driven by luck and not skill. This is a negative approach that belittles your achievements and breaks your confidence. Whatever you have achieved in your professional life is because of your efforts, and you should take credit for your success. Be happy about your achievement and believe in your capability.

5. Reach out to your seniors 
   

   Your seniors can be of help if you are suffering from imposter syndrome. It’s highly likely that they faced the same challenge as you back in their time. So don’t hesitate to bring up this topic with them if you’re comfortable enough to do so. Ask them questions. Reach out to them if you’re stuck with a code or need help finalizing a design. Remember, it is natural to stumble along the way when working on a new project. And asking for guidance only shows your willingness to learn and do better. 

6. Develop a ‘never give up’ attitude 
   

   Success never comes easy and fast. It demands hard work, determination, discipline, and persistence. If there’s something you cannot do as a developer, that’s just all the more reason to go ahead and learn it. If you look back at your journey, you will realize you have worked hard to become a software developer. It was not easy, but you did it with flying colors. Cultivate self-compassion. Learn to believe in yourself. Reframe your failures as opportunities to grow. Focus on progress instead of aiming for perfection. 

Conclusion

Suffering from programmer impostor syndrome can be exhausting but remember, you’re not alone. The majority of developers experience this syndrome somewhere along the line in their careers. Keep Richard Branson’s brilliant quote in mind: “If someone offers you an amazing opportunity and you are not sure you can do it, say yes. Then learn how to do it later.” Believe in your capability, give yourself the credit you deserve, and allow yourself to grow.

If you’re a developer looking for a remote job that enables you to enjoy an excellent work-life balance and salary, try Turing. Turing developers earn higher than the market average in most countries and work with top US companies. Check out the Apply for Jobs page to know more. 

Transitioning from a software developer to a team lead or manager is a critical part of one’s software development career. To get this change right, you must make the right professional decisions, upskill, and, more importantly, avoid career-threatening mistakes to ace each role. 

This blog post will cover the software developer and software manager mistakes you must avoid in navigating each role efficiently. Both roles have their unique challenges, as your contributions and duties are different when you’re an individual contributor and a team lead. Hence, this post will discuss both roles separately, where we will highlight the common mistakes you need to steer clear of.

What are the most common errors made by developers?

Common errors made by developers

The software development landscape is challenging and constantly evolving, which is why even the most experienced developers make mistakes. However, certain common errors developers make can severely impact their career opportunities in software development. Moreover, these mistakes can even hamper the quality, security, and efficiency of the applications developers work on. Hence, developers should avoid these errors to be adept at their role. 

Not focusing on soft skills

 Writing clean code is no longer enough. As a developer, you may think that having a strong suit of technical skills will do the job. Well, that’s one of the most common mistakes in a software developer career path. Being able to thoroughly communicate with team members, stakeholders, and other organization members is key to understanding business objectives, speaking with clients, delivering quality products, and even improving your technical skillset through group discussions and learning.

The latest data also suggests that every developer needs soft skills—be it for their in-person or remote software jobs. As per West Monroe’s survey, 78 percent of recruiters actively seek IT professionals with robust soft skills. 43 percent of the surveyed HR professionals have also said that tech roles have become harder to fill as candidates lack good soft skills. Hence, you must hone your soft skills, along with your technical skills to secure your desired position and move ahead in your software development career. 

Not taking ownership of mistakes

More often than not, developers simply say, “It’s not in my code,” when a bug or error is found. This is a major mistake in the software development career path as it’s important to leave arrogance at the door. 

As a developer, you must take ownership of your mistakes to show professionalism, which will ultimately impress your manager. Irrespective of your responsibility for the mistake, your manager or team lead is sure to receive criticism from their higher authorities. Knowing that you stepped up, acknowledged the issue, and said you would go back and thoroughly evaluate your work to resolve the issue quickly will make a strong impression. Needless to say, maintaining such an attitude is critical to climbing up the ladder in your software development career.

Misunderstanding software requirements

When discussing the most common mistakes in your software development career, misunderstanding software requirements can’t be overlooked. That’s because many developers with little experience tend to do this when working on a project.

The penultimate goal of establishing a software specifications document ahead of time is to test the process and its results continuously against a user’s expectations. Since requirements are unique, developers must stick to them and ensure that the product matches what a user expects. However, misunderstanding the requirements and not checking them from time to time causes errors that can spread to the end of the SDLC (software development life cycle). 

Hence, at every stage of development, developers must thoroughly understand the requirements and verify them with the concerned stakeholders and end-users.

Not asking for help

Even the most seasoned developers can feel they’re at their wit’s end with certain projects in their software development career. Sometimes, you simply won’t know where to start on a new task or what you’re doing. Here, not asking for help and taking it upon yourself to get the task done will be simply counterproductive, as you may make costly mistakes or waste the team’s resources. 

Instead, reach out to your manager, team lead, or even coworkers. Chances are, someone in your organization has experience in what you’re doing and can guide you. Send them an email, drop by their desk, or ping them in a chat. Whatever the method, be respectful and tactful of their time as you request some guidance in tackling the project or task, and they will probably help you out.

Also, read: How to Simplify Code Complexity? Avoid These Complexity Pitfalls

What are some common mistakes managers make in their software development careers? 

Common mistakes managers make in their software development careers

Once you transition from an individual contributor to a team lead, like a software manager, you will quickly realize how the responsibilities change. Your job will involve dealing with multiple resources, technologies, and people, pushing you to tackle several tasks simultaneously. Thus, it’s not surprising that even effective engineering managers make occasional errors. However, knowing and avoiding these are key to being efficient in your role. Here are the most common mistakes you must avoid when working in software development manager jobs.

Prioritizing the project over the people

As a developer, your focus is streamlined on delivering projects and deadlines. This means ensuring committed deliveries to prove your mettle to your boss, team lead, or manager. 

However, once you become a manager yourself, carrying that mentality can be a brutal mistake in your software manager career. Yes, projects are indeed important. However, if you focus solely on them without worrying about the people working on them, you’re on the wrong path. 

As a manager, it’s your responsibility to not only meet project deadlines but also contribute to the individual growth of your team members. You must build them, connect with them, and understand their character traits to make project deliveries more natural and effective. Maintaining this people-first focus will allow you to grow your team members, connect with them deeper, and ensure seamless project deliveries for overall company growth. Automatically, being a manager with people-first focus will also help you be efficient in your role, allowing you to progress well in your software development career. 

Also, read: The 6 Best Project Management Tools for 2023

Poor task division 

One of the most vital software manager duties is properly delegating tasks within the software development team. If tasks aren’t divided well, the entire team can become counterproductive due to confusion, ultimately leading to poor product quality, compromised deadlines, and programmer burnout. 

Therefore, as a manager, you need to avoid poor task divisions to not make a harmful software development career mistake. For this, you must establish a strong control mechanism in your team to avoid delegation-related mistakes in development. Every team member should know what task they’re responsible for, and you must divide tasks based on their strengths. 

Being hesitant with constructive criticism

Not giving constructive feedback is one of the most common software manager mistakes. As a first-time manager, you may shy away from having candid conversations about a team member’s performance and providing them with constructive criticism. While not having the tough discussion may be the easy way out, it will ultimately result in your team’s poor performance and you being responsible for it. Instead, use these tips to deliver effective and constructive feedback, and avoiding this critical mistake in your software development career: 

• Earn their trust – Every great relationship is built on trust, and the same goes for the one between you and your team. Have one-on-one conversations and be yourself with your team members. Without trust, delivering criticism would be useless, as your team members won’t receive and work on it.
• Prepare for the session – It’s always a good idea to prepare before beginning a feedback session. Start with ensuring that you’re in the right mindset to have the conversation so that it doesn’t stray from what needs to be discussed. Next, check with the team member if it’s a good time for them to discuss the feedback. Offer to reschedule the session if they want to. Lastly, try to have this conversation as soon as possible.
• Discuss the problems jointly – Ensure that your constructive criticism doesn’t make it an ‘us vs. them’ discussion. The feedback session must involve both you and the recipient on the same side, jointly discussing the concerns. 
• Discuss expected outcomes – After viewing the situation holistically and agreeing on the concerns, you can discuss future expectations, which should include exploring actions to mitigate similar problems and one or two actionable items for the team member to work on.

Not having one-on-one conversations

As we mentioned earlier, having one-on-one conversations is a great way to build trust between you and your team members. However, many first-time managers consider this a waste of their time, which can not only hurt their software development career but also create a toxic work culture. 

As a manager, you are responsible for identifying blockers and clearing them, improving your team’s productivity, and ensuring it runs optimally. This will be possible when you thoroughly know your team members, and they trust you enough to discuss concerns.

Therefore, have regular one-on-one meetings with your team members. When you schedule the first one-on-one with each member, use it to explain why you’re scheduling the call and what your expectations are. Once these discussions become regular, you can check weekly how your team members are doing, if they’re facing bottlenecks, and how you can help them with their tasks. This will end up optimizing project cycles and ensuring timely deliveries consistently. 

Establish a ‘sharing culture’ by encouraging feedback to occur both ways. Ask your team members what they think about the one-on-ones, if they think you can improve, or if more topics should be covered in them. This way, you will learn more about the team members, establish trust, identify problems sooner, and boost engagement.

The bottom line

While there is no cookie-cutter approach to being an efficient software developer or manager, there are certain mistakes you must avoid to advance in your software development career. The errors we have shared above are some of the most common mistakes in software project management and development. Understanding and working on avoiding these errors can not only help you be an effective individual contributor, but also a robust leader who optimizes reportees to be a high-performing team. 

If you’re looking for high-quality software development jobs, apply at Turing. Choose from various high-paying remote software development jobs that can match you with top U.S. companies in just 4 easy steps. Click on the Apply for Jobs button below.

If you’re a developer, having a solid understanding of how to use an IDE can significantly improve your workflow and speed up your coding process. Different IDEs have various shortcuts and plugins to enhance the programming experience; for example, Eclipse shortcuts can assist Java developers in increasing productivity and speed while using Eclipse IDE for Java development.

In this blog, we will uncover some of the best Eclipse shortcuts and productivity tips that can help you save time and increase your coding efficiency. So, let’s get started!

What is Eclipse IDE used for?

Eclipse is a popular Java IDE for software development, specifically for Java language. It provides an integrated development environment for widely used languages and frameworks. Like other IDEs, it is well equipped with a built-in editor, debugger, and code control system.

It is open-source software with large support from the community.

How to install Eclipse IDE for Java? 

To install Eclipse IDE for Java on your system, follow these steps:

1. Download the latest version of Eclipse IDE.
2. Unzip the downloaded file.
3. Navigate to the unzipped directory → install the Eclipse by clicking the “.exe” eclipse file.
4. Once Eclipse is installed, you can launch it.
5. After launching the IDE, select a workspace directory where your projects will be stored.
6. The Eclipse will now open, and you can start creating your first Java project by creating “src” file and Java package.

Important: Latest versions of Eclipse require Java SDK for its run time environment, so make sure Java is already installed on your system before downloading the Eclipse IDE.

Latest Eclipse shortcuts

One of Eclipse’s most useful features is its keybindings/shortcuts, which make coding easier and faster. Here’re some of the most useful Eclipse shortcuts for Java developers.

1. Change case: If you have some text in lowercase and want to change it to uppercase, simply highlight it and hit Ctrl Shift X; for vice-versa, click Ctrl Shift Y.
   
   
2. Autocomplete: If you want to print something in Java, you can type “System.out.println” and click Ctrl + Space. The Eclipse will automatically complete the code and put the cursor in between the two parentheses; here, you can fill in the content you want to print.
   
   
3. Main Method: Enter “main” and press Ctrl + Space; the first proposal will be the primary technique choice. With this Eclipse shortcut, you can write the main method with only a few keystrokes.
   
   
4. Loops: Simply write the loop (for example, “for,” “while,” or “do”) and press Ctrl + Space. The Eclipse will present you with many loop options from which you can select one and enter the conditions.
   
   
5. Conditional statements: In Eclipse, constructing an if statement is as simple as starting a loop. Enter “if” and press Ctrl + Space. Select the conditional statement from the options presented.
   
   
6. Try-Catch block: Eclipse makes surrounding your code with a try-catch block easy. Simply choose the code covered by a try-catch and press Alt Shift Z; many alternatives will show up for enclosing the code, including a try-catch block.

Eclipse Shortcuts for code editing

Whether you want to comment out code or jump to a particular line rapidly, these Eclipse shortcuts for windows will make your code editing smooth.

1. Use Ctrl + / for commenting, uncommenting lines, and blocks
2. Ctrl + Shift + / shortcut is used for commenting and uncommenting lines with block comments.
3. Alt + ↑ + R for renaming class, variable, method (function), etc. 

To format your code

1. Select text, then Ctrl + Shift + F for formatting.
2. Selecting class and press F4 to see its Type hierarchy

To handle the files

1. You can use Ctrl + F4 or Ctrl + w to close the current file
2. Click Ctrl + Shift + W to close all files.
3. Ctrl + F to find/replace in file
4. Ctrl + H to find and replace in file, project, or directory.

To migrate in-between lines

1. Go to the line (line number): Ctrl + L
2. To delete the line: Ctrl + D 
3. Press Ctrl + Q to go to the last edited place
4. You can quickly shift a line or numerous lines of code up or down in your application. Simply move the line by using Alt + up or down arrows. (This allows you to place the code anywhere you wish in your software.)

Shortcuts for quick navigation in Eclipse

Navigate through the Eclipse environment with ease using these Eclipse shortcut keys. These shortcuts will navigate you in a jiffy from switching between editors to jumping to a specific feature/location.

1. Ctrl + 3: Quick access to any menu item or feature in Eclipse
2. Ctrl + Shift + T: Open a type quickly
3. Open a resource (e.g., file, image): Ctrl + Shift + R.
4. Ctrl + O: Quickly navigate to a method in the current class
5. Ctrl + 1: Shows available code actions and quick fixes
6. Quickly navigate to the superclass or implemented interface of the current type with Ctrl + T.
7. Ctrl + Shift + L: Used for “Show Key assist,” previously used for Quicksearch
8. Ctrl + Q: Quick navigation to the last edit location (last edited line).

Also, read Best VS Code Shortcuts and Productivity Hacks for 2023

Eclipse shortcuts for debugging

Debugging can be time-consuming, but with these Eclipse shortcuts, you can streamline the process and get to the root of the issue quickly.

Debug mode

1. F5 (Step into): This allows you to enter debug mode.
2. F6 (Step over): This assists in moving to the next line without leaving debug mode.
3. F7 (Step out): This allows you to step out/return to the current method/caller in debug mode.
4. F8 (Resume execution): This allows you to continue executing the program without stopping debugging.
5. F9 (Toggle breakpoint): This allows you to set or remove a breakpoint on the current line of code. A breakpoint will cause the program to stop executing and enter debug mode.

Application debugging

1. Ctrl + F11: Use this to run the last application opened.
2. F11: Run the program in debug mode, where you can step through the code and inspect variables.

Show Perspectives 

1. Ctrl + Shift + B: This opens the Breakpoints view, which displays all the breakpoints set in your workspace.
2. Ctrl + Alt + R: This opens the Debug Perspective, a special view that provides tools and information specifically for debugging.
3. Ctrl + ↑ + I: Inspect the value of a variable during debugging.

In sum

Eclipse has a strong community and many experienced Java developers for support. Having know-how of effective Eclipse shortcuts and productivity tips can help you in making your coding journey on this widely used IDE efficient. So, try them out and see the change in speed and productivity yourself.

Are you a software developer looking for remote Us jobs that offer high salaries and flexibility to work from anywhere? Top US companies are hiring with Turing. Apply now!

As a developer, having the right tools at your disposal is essential. Visual Studio Code, or VS Code, is one such application that has become popular amongst developers. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced developer, VS Code is the editor that can fulfill every demand. Its flexibility and customization options make it a versatile tool that can be tailored to fit your specific needs.

Also, read: 7 Popular Front-End Tools to Check Out

However, having a product that can be customized for every line of code can sometimes be overwhelming. This blog post will help simplify the essential productivity hacks for VS Code to help you work more efficiently. We’ll review everything you need to know, from VS Code shortcuts to extensions and settings. So, whether you want to increase your productivity, improve your workflow, or simply learn new tactics and insights, this blog has you covered.

What is VS code used for?

Visual Studio Code (VS Code) is a robust, open-source code editor developed by Microsoft. It supports multiple programming languages and offers features like syntax highlighting, code completion, and debugging, which ease the process of writing and testing code. 

VS Code’s popularity arises from its ability to handle various software development activities such as web development, app development, and data science. Furthermore, its flexibility via plugins and extensions enables customization and optimization to fit unique project needs.

How do you VS Code effectively?

First and foremost, keeping track of official VS Code documentation for finding the updated VS Code shortcuts and tips is crucial; this can help you stay updated with the helpful practices you can follow to boost your productivity.

Another critical part of properly utilizing VS Code is learning how to navigate the UI. For this,  you need to understand the various aspects of the interface, such as the editor, sidebar, and status bar, and know how to use VS code keyboard shortcuts (which we will go over in more detail later).

Additionally, you can use features like IntelliSense for smart completions based on variable types, function definitions, and imported modules to write code more efficiently.

Also, read: Looking for Software Developer Jobs? Learn to Write Clean Code First

Each project in VS Code can be tailored according to your own requirements. You can customize most things, like

• Add your preferred color scheme
• Alter the text size. 
• Reorganize the interface’s structure.

What are some popular VS Code shortcuts? How do you use these VS Code shortcuts? 

Let’s dive in and learn about shortcuts and productivity hacks in detail!

The almighty command palette

Command palette is a powerful tool that allows you to access various commands and settings in VS Code quickly and easily. Press Ctrl + Shift + P to navigate through the command palette and perform the regular and complex functions. You can instantly access a variety of bindings and Visual Studio Code shortcuts that will make your workflow more effective by utilizing the command palette.

For example, you can use the command palette to open recently opened files without navigating through multiple directories in the file explorer. Additionally, you can use the command palette to start typing a file name and quickly find it within your project. This practice can save you time and make your work more streamlined.

Use VS Code keyboard shortcuts  

VS Code Shortcuts Keyboard Shortcuts

VS Code has a wide range of keyboard shortcuts to help you explore, modify, and organize your code more effectively. 

Using the mouse to perform regular tasks is appealing due to VS Code’s enticing GUI. But using the keyboard to perform the same functions is recommended because it is faster, efficient, and having your hands on the keyboard more than the mouse makes you a cool developer that everybody wants to hang around.

To traverse around the entire VS code, utilize the command palette (Ctrl + Shift + P). This can help you leave the mouse and rely more on the keyboard because everything can be managed via the single navigation bar in VS Code.

Here are the prominent VS Code keyboard shortcuts.

Best VS Code extensions to increase productivity

VS Code has a large library of extensions that can add new functionality to the editor, such as language support, debugging tools, and productivity enhancements. These add-ons transform VS Code into a robust IDE.

Quokka VS Code extension

Quokka VS code extension

Quokka is a real-time coding tool that lets developers see the outcomes of their code as they type it. It is very beneficial for testing code, and it can save developers a significant amount of time. Quokka is remarkable because it executes your JavaScript or TypeScript code in the background and then inserts the output straight into your editor.

Auto Rename Tag VS Code extension

Auto Rename Tag VS Code extension

This extension enables developers to rename HTML and XML document tags quickly. It saves time and decreases the possibility of errors. When you update the beginning tag, this plugin will automatically rename the closing tag, and it can function in languages other than HTML.

Also, read: Top 21 HTML Interview Questions and Answers for 2023

JS Doc Extension of VS Code 

This extension assists developers in inserting JSDoc comments into their JavaScript code. It includes a set of templates and VS Code shortcuts to help you document code faster and more efficiently. The link tag can be used to link to other symbols in your source code.

Also, read: 10 JavaScript Interview Questions and Answers You Must Know

Remote SSH VS code extension

Remote SSH VS code extension

Remote SSH helps programmers access servers and containers from a remote location. It is beneficial while working on projects hosted on distant servers or containers.

Paste as JSON VS code extension 

Paste as JSON VS code extension

This plugin makes it simple for developers to insert JSON data into their programs. It formats the JSON automatically, making it easier to read and comprehend.

Integrated terminal 

The integrated terminal in Visual Studio Code (VS Code) is a powerful feature that enables developers to perform command-line commands directly from the VS Code interface. It can be used to compile code, run tests, and manage version control systems such as Git.

One of the primary advantages of the integrated terminal is that it allows developers to work on both code and command-line operations in the same environment rather than jumping between distinct apps. Use VS Code shortcut: Ctrl + ~ or click on View → Terminal to open the integrated terminal.

To start a new terminal, use the shortcut: Ctrl + Shift + ~, and to concentrate on the terminal, use Ctrl + ~. One lesser-known approach is to divide the terminal into different panes using Ctrl + Shift + 5 and navigate to different panes using Ctrl + > or <.

Multiple terminals can also be launched simultaneously, allowing you to perform different commands concurrently. Overall, the integrated terminal in VS Code is a strong and adaptable tool that may significantly improve your development process.

Git Integration 

Git is a version control system that enables developers to monitor changes to their code over time and interact with other developers working on the same codebase. It enables developers to generate and maintain various versions of code, known as branches, and merge them once they are complete.

Visual Studio Code Git integration allows developers to do Git tasks such as committing, pushing, pulling, and branching within the editor. For example, Git integration in VS Code allows developers to manage their code repositories within the editor, speeding the development process and boosting team cooperation.

Some handy VS Code shortcuts for Git integration include “CTRL+SHIFT+G” (or “CMD+SHIFT+G” on Mac) to access the Source Control panel and “CTRL+SHIFT+9” (or “CMD+SHIFT+9” on Mac) to toggle the Git lens on the left sidebar. 

One lesser-known technique is that Git integration can be used to generate and switch between different branches, making it simple to work on numerous features or bug fixes simultaneously.

Use the VS Code debugger effectively

The Visual Studio Code debugger is a powerful tool that can help you increase productivity by allowing you to analyze and debug your code easily. One of the key features of the debugger is the ability to set breakpoints, which pause the execution of your code at specific lines and allow you to inspect variables.

To address the topic, “How to debug effectively in Visual Studio,” here are some strategies you can use.

• Use “breakpoints” to halt code execution and analyze variables at specific lines. To set a breakpoint, click to the left of the line number in the editor or press F9 while the cursor is on the line.
• To keep track of individual variables during debugging, use the “Watch” window: press Ctrl + Shift + D (Windows/Linux) or Cmd + Shift + D (macOS) to launch the “Watch” window and add variables to it.
• To understand the execution path of your code, open the “Call Stack” window by pressing Ctrl + Shift + C (Windows/Linux) or Cmd + Shift + C (macOS).
• Use “Step Over” to run the current line of code and advance to the next by clicking F10.
• By pressing F11, you can jump into a function or method and debug it line by line (Step Into). Press Shift + F11 to quit the current function or method and return to the calling function (Step Out). F5 will restart the execution of your code (Continue). 
• To switch between debugging environments, access “Debug” settings by pressing Ctrl + Shift + D (Windows/Linux) or Cmd + Shift + D (Mac) (macOS). 
• Depending on the language, you can use the “threads” command to display all threads and the “thread” command to switch to a single thread, and then use all other commands as usual to debug multi-threaded debugging.

In sum: what are the benefits of using VS Code shortcuts?

Incorporating productivity hacks into your daily tasks can be a game changer for you as a coder. You can get the most out of the editor by customizing your workspace, using and creating VS Code shortcuts, and employing extensions. The tips and tricks above can help you become more productive with VS Code. 

If you want to take your software development career to the next level, we can help you. We connect top developer brains like you with remote jobs in top US-based companies. Click on the Apply for Jobs button to know more. 

“

On this international programmers day, let’s focus on a vital issue – Programmer burnout. In this blog post, we will discuss the signs, causes, and remedies for programmer burnout.

Let’s get started.

Sometimes developers feel trapped, putting in a lot of effort over an extended length of time on projects that seem impossible to finish. Eventually, they get sucked deep inside their work, unable to escape. 

Such programmers may lose their enthusiasm for coding, or coding may no longer spark their motivation as it once did. Well, these are all mild symptoms of burnout in programming.

In the IT sector, burnout is a severe and pervasive problem. If developers don’t address this problem and take action at the right time, then they may have to face severe consequences. Quitting programming altogether can be one of them. 

What causes programmer burnout? 

Stress or overwork can lead to burnout – a state of physical, emotional, and mental collapse. Even though burnout is not a medical illness, it has a significant impact on the quality of life. 

Different people experience burnout in different ways. However, one thing is certain: burnout doesn’t happen suddenly; it develops over time. 

You must identify the signs of developer burnout early on and take immediate action to treat them. So, let’s look at some signs to identify programmers’ burnout.

Physical symptoms

• Physical fatigue
  

  It is unhealthy to spend more than eight hours a day at a desk in front of a computer. Long screen timings can lead to eye strain, headaches, and other health problems. Lack of physical activity makes fatigue and sluggishness a norm. Many developers indulge in energy drinks and stay up late to treat this ailment, feeling even more worn out the following days. 

• Mental fatigue
  

  Programming needs you to solve challenging problems, which is a mentally taxing task. Lack of breaks causes weariness to build up. If you don’t change your focus and give your brain a break, exhaustion will ultimately catch up to you.

• Lowered immunity
  

  You become less productive due to physical and mental exhaustion, which raises your stress levels. Prolonged stress weakens your immune system and increases your susceptibility to colds and the flu. 

• Change in sleep habits and appetite
  

  The factors that can affect your eating or sleeping patterns are improper sleep and cumulative stress. You might, for instance, try to take away your anxiety by stress-eating throughout the day, which could result in overeating and weight gain, or you might sleep for 8 to 10 hours a day but still feel exhausted.

Emotional symptoms

• Feeling pressured
  

  Exhaustion on a physical, emotional, and cognitive level is the main burnout symptom that impairs productivity. These symptoms may surface due to internal forces. 

• Sense of self-doubt
  

  Picture this: Every time you open your code editor, you don’t feel like coding, and this has been going on for weeks. Such a fall in work performance may cause you to have negative self-talk, downplay personal successes, believe you are unqualified for the position, or even contemplate changing careers.

• Depersonalization
  

  Cynicism or depersonalization occurs when you are cold or even inconsiderate toward your clients, projects, and coworkers. The most frequent causes include a heavy workload, unfair treatment at work, and workplace conflict. If you continue to have this feeling, you may burn out and lose interest in your profession.

Behavioral symptoms

• Absenteeism
  

  You may be burned out if you have a tendency to arrive late for work or frequently take sick days or personal days. 

• Withdrawing from responsibilities
  

  You tend to put things off and avoid taking on responsibility when you are exhausted and unsure of your abilities to prevent a potential failure.

• Isolation
  

  To avoid social interaction, you no longer wish to speak to friends or coworkers, deny invitations, become upset when someone speaks to you, or even arrive early or stay late. 

• Food and alcohol abuse
  

  If you frequently eat snacks throughout the day or spend every evening at the bar, it’s time to take a break and deal with the issue.

7 tips to prevent programmer’s burnout

• Identify the signs
  

  Do you notice a loss of enthusiasm for coding? Does coding no longer spark your motivation like it once did? Do you end up doing nothing despite committing yourself to work? 
  
  Well, these are all symptoms of programmer burnout.
  
  If you feel like you are losing interest in your work or are feeling helpless about finishing a task, it is your time to take a break and work on mental renewal.
  
  Related post: 11 Ways to Motivate Remote Software Developers in 2022

• Take a break
  

  Self-care comes before work or money any day.
  
  So, it’s best to take a few weeks off and make up for your absence later rather than forcing yourself to finish the tasks every time you sit down in front of the computer. You can try another hobby that interests you instead of coding, such as swimming, football, or shooting while on a break.

• Include friends and family
  

  Talk to your friends and family about your struggle.
  
  For example, if a task at hand is causing tension among your team members, speak it out. Seek the support of your friends and family to prevent your emotions from evaporating.

• Rest, exercise, work, and repeat
  

  The importance of mental and physical wellness is equal.
  
  Starting to take care of your diet, health, and mental well-being is always a good idea if you want to feel good about yourself, be confident, and have a new outlook on any work.

• Try a different language/stack
  

  Working on the same technology can become tedious and exhausting. So, to break the monotony, learn a different in-demand programming language, framework, or stack.
  
  For example, JavaScript upgrades its database annually. Try working on other frameworks to maintain your interest.
  
  To maintain your enthusiasm for learning new coding and programming techniques, you can even experiment with some new languages and editors.

• Change your work environment
  

  You have the option to switch up your workspace, desktop, and even operating systems. For example, if you are using Windows, you can switch to Mac or Linux.
  
  You can also change your work location. Sit near a window or an open space to feel airy.
  
  If changing your setup and location doesn’t work, look for a remote development job with Turing. Turing provides high-paying, long-term remote work in elite US companies in 100+ tech stacks, such as React, TypeScript, Python, Java, Kotlin, AWS, and more. 

• Learn new things
  

  Spending time studying new languages and technologies or developing your idea will be beneficial. However, it can also consume a lot of your time. So, if you don’t want to invest a lot of time, try simpler things like pottery, wood carving, painting, cooking, and more.

Conclusion

You’ll breeze through burnout if you’re aware of its symptoms and prepared to tackle them. Please ensure you never downplay or ignore your burnout. If you do, you might get a chronic illness, and your health might deteriorate to a point where it’s difficult to recover. Therefore, consider the above-mentioned seven ways carefully. 

FAQs

1. Why do programmers burn out?
   

   One of the obvious causes of programmer burnout is a heavy workload. Software programmers frequently have a variety of programming projects with tight deadlines. As a result, they put in long hours at work, and the constant stress puts them at risk of burnout.
   

2. What is developer burnout?
   

   Developer burnout is when you start feeling exhausted, detached from your work, and incapable of performing your tasks with ease.

How do I detach from work while on vacation? How do I disconnect my phone while on vacation? What should I unplug when on vacation? How do you unwind from work while on vacation?

Looking for answers to these questions? Keep reading. 

According to a global study by Skynova, 91 percent of Americans claim that their workload prevented them from taking the necessary vacation time. Similarly, 88 percent of German employees, 87 percent of Spanish employees, and 81 percent of employees in France and the UK were unable to take time off due to workloads.

The ease of use and accessibility of technology makes it harder to disengage from work. According to a study by Passportphoto Online, 68 percent of respondents use their smartphones while traveling for business, and 62 percent claimed that using their devices for work, while on vacation, makes unwinding difficult. 

The respondents also found it necessary to check in due to obligations at work. Sixty percent of respondents claimed that their boss expected them to check in while they were not in the office, and 55 percent felt pressured to reply to work messages when away, even though official procedures did not mandate it.

But people regretted checking in at work when on vacation. Sixty-six percent of respondents stated they would have preferred to remain disconnected during this time.

The need to detach

Although staying connected is a strategy many people use to show their involvement, commitment, and high performance, it’s crucial to remember that taking a break is equally important for maintaining good mental health.

Regular breaks enable you to de-stress, improve your ability to think, and thereby enhance your performance at work. Additionally, breaks can also foster creativity and improve your problem-solving abilities. 

So, if you feel stressed and under pressure to work continually when on vacation and find it difficult to plug out, here are 10 ways to detach yourself from work.

10 ways to detach from work during vacation

1. Finish as much as you can before the time
   

   Before you even start packing, take care of any old emails, pending jobs, assignments, or any loose ends from ongoing tasks. If you don’t plan the ongoing projects and tasks at hand before the trip, they will probably slide through the cracks. 

2. Decide which sites and apps are still fair game
   

   Maybe you enjoy reading the news online every morning or keeping up with your friends on social media. Keep at it if that’s your thing. You can avoid feeling guilty about turning off your computer without checking in at the office by selecting which websites and applications are acceptable to visit before you leave.
   

3. Establish a clear code for emergencies
   

   Make sure the coworker handling your emails and calls while you are gone is aware of the situations that would warrant disrupting your vacation. Be specific about your unavailability beforehand to avoid needless calls for clarification on vacation.
   
   For the same, make a document, stating all probable emergencies and their solutions. Also, distribute dependencies ahead of time. 
   

4. Keep your documents in order
   

   Forward all emails about your trip to a different account that does not contain your work emails. Keeping important travel papers like flight schedules, hotel bookings, and rental car information in your personal email can stop you from getting pulled back into your work emails.
   

5. Turn off all notifications
   

   Make use of your phone’s ‘Do Not Disturb’ feature extensively. It can be wise to carry your phone with you in case of emergencies, but if you’re going to a spa or spending the day at the beach, feel free to turn off all of your notifications and just enjoy yourself.
   

6. Leave your work essentials at home
   

   Leave your business devices at home including work phones, tablets, laptops, wi-fi routers, projectors, and more. In this manner, you will only be reachable (on your personal device) in an emergency.
   

7. Explore the inside vs. outside rule
   

   Try the inside vs. outside rule if you want to feel a little more connected: You are free to check your business emails when you are inside your hotel. However, you must disengage from all forms of technology once you step outside. This way, you can check in just enough to maintain your sanity without sacrificing the purpose of your trip.
   

8. Plan your return
   

   When you return, get ready for the commotion. Don’t plan a ton of meetings on the first day back at work; doing so will only make the end of your vacation intolerable as you’ll be tempted to start going through all the accumulated emails before you even return.
   
   To catch up, schedule only a few hours for meetings and rest to work on pending jobs. This tip can save you from unnecessary workplace stress and anxiety upon your return.
   

9. Ask a colleague to fill you in
   

   Don’t hesitate to ask someone to fill you in on anything you missed while you were on your vacation. Ensure that miscommunication during your absence, if any, is dealt with upfront. For the same, arrange a meeting with the team, go through all messages from the company group, and review work emails.
   

10. Get everyone on the same page
    

    Regardless of your detaching technique, make sure everyone is on board before you leave so you don’t waste any of your vacation time bickering over emails. For the same, email your team members and manager, and remind them a day or two before the vacation starts. 

Bottom line

With easy access to the internet, taking a true vacation is challenging. However, you should not feel bad about taking a few days off from your work obligations. Keep in mind that doing so will improve your productivity, performance, and efficiency at work. 

If you are looking for a job that gives you complete work-life balance, try Turing.com. Turing provides high-paying, long-term remote jobs to software developers and engineers with some of the top US companies. 

FAQs

1. How do I detach from work while on vacation?
   If you struggle to switch off work while on holiday, here are a few tips for you:
   1. Finish as much as you can before the time
   2. Decide which sites and apps are still fair game
   3. Establish a clear code for emergencies
   4. Keep your documents in order
   5. Turn off all notifications
      
      
2. How do I disconnect my phone while on vacation?
   5 tips for letting go of your phone on vacation
   1. Switch to a feature phone
   2. Use the DND feature
   3. Use Zen mode 
   4. Turn off all notifications
   5. Disconnect from the internet

How does remote work increase productivity? How can you maximize your productivity when working from home? How do you stay motivated working virtually? 

Keep reading to find out the answers to these questions.

There are many benefits of distributed teams and remote work, including no commute, an improved work-life balance, better diversity and inclusion, and higher productivity. 

As per research, 77 percent of remote workers say that they are more productive, and 62 percent of the remote workforce believes that remote work improves engagement. But if you’re new to remote work, you may need to tweak your habits and routines to adjust to the remote setup.

Working from home requires figuring out when to work, where to work, and how to draw a line between work and personal life. So, here are nine ways to maximize your productivity while working remotely.

9 ways to improve remote work productivity 

1. Maintain regular hours
   

   Make a timetable and stick to it. Many remote workers define clear boundaries for when to work and when to call it a day. This practice helps them maintain a healthy work-life balance. 
   
   One of the best advantages of remote work is flexibility. However, to accommodate someone else’s time zone, you may need to extend your day or start early.
   
   Automatic time-tracking tools, such as RescueTime, allow you to check whether you’re work schedule is on track. These tools can also assist you to figure out when you’re most productive and most sluggish. 
   
   You can take advantage of this information by reserving the hours you’re most likely to complete challenging tasks. For example, if you are most productive between 8:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m., avoid meetings around that period.
   
   Related post: Remote Work Boosts Productivity & Innovation, Say Multiple Studies

2. Create your own warm-up routine
   

   When it comes to getting out of bed each day, a routine is more effective than a clock. Identify what helps you bring your A-game in the morning. Now, this could be brewing a coffee before getting started on your to-do list or a 30-minute run. Look for the right motivator to start your workday and establish a routine.
   
   Not everyone who works from home adheres to a 9-to-5 timetable, so it’s possible that you have a “getting started” routine at a different time of day. Choose the hours that work best for you and try to stick to them every day.
   

3. Schedule regular breaks
   

   If you work for a company, find out their break policy and use it. If you’re a freelancer, schedule any time during the day to take a break from your computer and phone.
   
   For full-time employees in the United States, a lunch hour and two 15-minute breaks are the norms. When working at a computer or doing other sedentary activities, it’s crucial to get up and walk every hour to keep your blood flowing. Moving your eyes away from the screen frequently is beneficial, even if it’s only for 10-20 seconds.
   

4. Go out
   

   Get out of the house. Your body needs activity and blood circulation to function properly. In addition, the fresh air and natural light outside will benefit you. So step outside for at least a few minutes before, during, and after your working hours.
   
   In addition, remote employees can also visit cafes, libraries, and coworking spaces to break the monotony of working from home.
   

5. Ask for what you need
   

   Request the tools and equipment you need as soon as you start working from home or within a few days of realizing you need something new. Now, this can be a computer, monitor, keyboard, mouse, chair, desk, printer, software, and so on. 
   
   Companies usually set up a budget for home office equipment for remote workers. Inquire about it from HR or your immediate manager. 
   
   It’s also a good idea to inquire about any loan agreements in place and who would pay for return shipping and disposal of outdated equipment. Also, some companies allow remote workers to bring in a design consultant to ensure that their workspaces are ergonomically designed. 
   

6. Create a dedicated office space
   

   In an ideal world, remote workers would have a dedicated office and two computers, one for business and one for personal use. However, not everyone has a spare space in their home to use as an office, and having two machines isn’t always feasible.
   
   Set aside a desk or table space and some office supplies, and utilize them solely for work. For example, it’s work time, when your laptop is connected to a display and an external keyboard, and when it’s on your couch, it’s personal time.
   
   You can also partition your hard drive and set up a different user account for work. Even minor distinctions between work and personal time help your brain recognize when you’re not on the clock, enabling you to achieve a better work-life balance.
   

7. Maintain an additional phone number
   

   Set up a separate phone number for calls from colleagues and clients. It doesn’t have to be a landline or a second phone, and it doesn’t even need to have a SIM card. It could be a voice-over-internet-protocol (VoIP) service like Google Voice or Skype.
   
   An additional phone number can help you manage your work-life balance better. 
   

8. Socialize with colleagues
   

   Companies with a remote work culture frequently provide opportunities for socialization. For example, they use a team messaging system like Slack to create channels for discussing mutual interests or scheduling events for remote workers in the same area.
   
   A few interactive activities with colleagues will help you cheer up and get a positive energy flowing. 
   

9. Look for training and learning opportunities around you
   

   When you’re not in the office with your coworkers, you can miss out on in-person training and skill development opportunities. It’s possible that your firm may forget to enroll you in one of their online training courses. 
   
   You can request online or in-person courses, training, and coaching in addition to top-down training. Numerous online learning sites offer courses in corporate soft skills, programming, technical skills, and other fields. Remote enterprises frequently fund learning and skill training. If your organization doesn’t, ask if they might add it.

Related post: Tips for Succeeding as a Remote Software Developer

Summing up

Figure out what works best for you. Sometimes the answer is obvious, but other times you may need some help from other remote workers in similar situations. Look out for a supportive community out there! 

You can also look for better remote work opportunities. Go to Turing.com. Apply to remote US software jobs from the comfort of your home. Turing’s developers earn better than market pay in most countries and grow rapidly by working on challenging technical and business problems with the latest technologies.

FAQs

1. How can you maximize your productivity when working from home?
   Here are nine tips to maximize your productivity when working from home:
   
   
   1. Maintain regular hours
   2. Create a morning routine
   3. Schedule regular breaks
   4. Go out
   5. Ask for what you need
   6. Create a dedicated office space
   7. Maintain an additional phone number
   8. Socialize with colleagues
   9. Look for training and learning opportunities around you
      
      
2. How does remote work increase productivity?
   Employees who work from home are often more productive than those who work in an office. This is because of the option to select their own work hours. This setup allows employees to work when they are most productive, rather than the usual 9 to 5 office hours.

It’s vital to learn ways to maintain good mental health as a software engineer. Here’s why.

Programming can take a toll on a software developer’s mental health because it demands a lot of thinking and concentration. Unfortunately, many software developers are unaware of the impact this intense cognitive activity has on their mental health because they are immersed in their jobs.

Stack Overflow’s Developer survey showed that 15 percent of 65,000 developers interviewed have a mental illness. Sadly, most of these developers don’t even know the state of their mental health because they are more concerned about work.

In any case, it’s necessary to have a healthy mind to function optimally as a software engineer. This post will take you through seven ways to maintain good mental health as a software engineer.

Let’s get started.

How do you take care of yourself as a programmer?

Here are a few tips to stay healthy as a programmer:

1. Handle imposter syndrome
   

   Impostor syndrome is a psychological pattern that makes you think you are not qualified for a position you have credentials for. This syndrome makes you believe that you don’t deserve your achievements, and people will soon discover you are not as intelligent as they think you are.
   Experiencing the imposter syndrome is a common challenge for software engineers due to the ever-changing nature of their job. When a programmer feels inferior to every other programmer, they are bound to take a hit on their mental health.
   
   So, how do you take care of yourself as a programmer if you have imposter syndrome?
   Track your achievements and efforts in real-time using a notepad or other note-taking software.
   
   
   1. Engage in stress-relieving activities, such as yoga, meditation, tai-chi, recreational sports, or exercise classes.
      
   2. Learn to appreciate your uniqueness and efforts by rewarding yourself with something you like.
      
   3. Focus on being a life-long learner – set a daily schedule for learning something new in your field.
      
   4. Finally, never think of yourself as an imposter.
      
      When you feel like you are not growing as a software engineer, pause for a moment, and look back to see how far you’ve come. Leverage the imposter syndrome to introspect and develop your skills even further.

2. Take breaks
   

   Programming requires intense concentration, patience, and knowledge. And you shouldn’t refrain from taking breaks when you feel frustrated because of errors and tricky bug fixes you encounter.
   Taking real breaks that do not involve screen time, such as going for a walk, calling a friend or family member, reading a novel, etc., makes a lot of difference in aiding productivity. And so, you should take breaks from time to time to recover from the mental stress at work.
   
   You can set hourly reminders on your phone to drink water, listen to your fave music or podcast, do a few stretches, etc. In simple words, this is the time to unplug from work. You can do anything within this period aside from work or looking at your screen.
   
   After the break, you can resume work refreshed and full of energy.

3. Practice meditation
   

   We live in a busy world. Think about this: you are coding while slacking, doing household chores while listening to music, reading a book while responding to text messages. We often lose focus of the moment while chasing tasks.
   
   Meditation is a simple practice that can increase calmness and clarity, reduce stress, and boost happiness. Mindfulness meditation involves focusing on the present moment and ignoring every other thing in your environment.
   
   Scientists have found that mindfulness techniques help improve physical and mental health. In addition, meditation can also lower blood pressure, help with depression and anxiety disorders, and improve sleep.
   
   Joining a virtual mindfulness meditation class is a great way to start. You can devote 5-10 minutes every day to meditating and set the alarm to remind you when it’s time constantly.
   Headspace, WildMind, Mindfulness for Creativity, etc., are all tools you can try to practice mindfulness meditation and maintain good mental health.

4. Exercise
   

   Exercising is an essential part of mental health, but how do physical activities improve mental well-being?
   
   Exercising requires discipline and consistency.  And sticking to an exercise routine can give a sense of accomplishment. Interestingly, this sense of accomplishment releases dopamine relieves stress and makes us happier.
   
   Exercising also improves mood, boosts energy, and keeps the heart healthy as it pumps blood through the body. Software engineers sit at a spot for most of the day, making exercise necessary to combat the effects of a sedentary lifestyle on their bodies and minds.
   
   Also, exercising is a way of giving your mind and body time to recharge. Routine exercises will help you focus better when you get back to work.

5. Develop a hobby
   

   The fundamental idea behind pursuing hobbies is taking a break from your job to do what you love. In other words, your hobby time is your guilt-free, do-whatever-makes-you-happy time of the day. You can use this time to read books, make music, play games, basically anything that makes you happy!

6. Reduce soda and caffeine intake
   

   Reducing or cutting out caffeine and soda intake is essential for mental well-being. Soda and caffeine block the A1 receptors necessary for neurochemical signals to work in the body.
   
   When the receptors are blocked, neurotransmitters like dopamine and glutamate cause people to feel active and deprived of sleep. But this sleep deprivation and a feeling of sudden ‘high’  are only short-lived and not good for mental health.
   
   Besides, this condition worsens when you develop a tolerance for caffeine. A higher tolerance paves the way for a higher dosage.  The higher your caffeine dosage, the higher the workload on your heart.
   
   Consistently taking caffeine and soda can induce high blood pressure, leading to serious health issues for software engineers.
   
   Tea, freshly-squeezed fruit juices, maple water, green smoothies, etc., are all healthy alternatives you can try instead of soda and caffeinated drinks.

7. Reward yourself
   

   Developers tend to get caught up in their workload and pay less attention to their health. Instead of following this unhealthy pattern, learn to commend and treat yourself at times.
   
   Buy that gadget you’ve been eyeing, plan a fun trip with your family or friends, and take a day off to pamper yourself and indulge in your favorite activities.

How to manage and prevent burnout as a software developer?

How to prevent burnout?

Maintaining a social life may be challenging for coders because they are immersed in their professional lives. However, having little or no life outside the coding circle can lead to fatigue, lack of interest, or reduced passion for your work.

If you see these signs, you are likely heading towards burnout. Other contributors to burnout include excessive workload, underpayment, feeling of isolation, cynicism, lack of sleep, exercise, censure from project team leaders, etc.

Wrapping up

It’s natural to desire a successful career as an engineer or developer. Just like any other job, programming can be pretty stressful at times. If you keep pushing through without breaks, you will soon be completely exhausted. That’s why it’s imperative to learn ways to maintain good mental health as a software engineer. If you feel your mental health is rapidly declining, always ask for help.

 Remember, mental health comes first. Work second. 

Are you a software developer looking for a high-growth remote job in a friendly work environment? Try Turing. Turing offers an outstanding work-life balance for its developers and prioritizes their mental health and well-being at every step.

Turing currently hires remote developers from over 150 countries in the world. If you want to be a part of the Turing developer team, you can start your application now. Click on Apply for Jobs button for more information.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Are software developers healthy?
   

   According to Stack Overflow’s Developer survey, 15 percent of the interviewed developers admitted struggling with mental health issues like depression and anxiety. A software developer’s job is stressful and can affect their mental health. However,  following basic health measures can help you stay healthy—mentally and physically.

2. Is Python developer a stressful job?
   

   Python developers encounter stress like most other developers. Stress for programmers is not exclusive to Python developers. Whether you’re a Python developer or not, it’s important to find ways to handle stress as a software developer.

3. Is programming stressful?
   

   Programming is stressful because it demands a high level of focus and concentration. Coding for long stretches of time without taking a break, trying to fix tricky bugs, and non-correlating learning material are the key factors leading to stress in developers. However, following a healthy work-to-break ratio can help developers combat stress.