Ask HN: How do you stay focused and get s**t done?

Another important thing is to remove interruption you control. I only check email once per day, reject or "forgot" to attend meetings I deem not important. I gave up on some social aspects like small talk or water cooler chats. I would interrupt people if they get sidetracked too much.

I am doing very good as IC but I would never get promoted in current role.

In my opinion the biggest productivity killers in dev project:

  1. Special/overhyped architecture
  2. homemade tools and anachronism
  3. in house frameworks 
  4. Lack of testing
  5. Red tape and compliance

* Turn off notifications on Slack, e-mail, etc., and only check those things periodically throughout the day. If you're cruising on some new feature, don't switch over to Outlook. Keep cruising.

* Don't be afraid to say "sorry, I'm in the middle of working on this thing -- I will follow up with you later." You are the only protector of your time. Everyone else will steal as much as you allow them to steal.

* Wear headphones. People are less likely to interrupt when you wear them.