Becoming an ethical hacker isn’t easy, and your daily workload might be both stressful and challenging. But you probably got into this line of work because you genuinely enjoy it, so you don’t have to worry about finding your passion or motivation.
What you do have to worry about is improving your overall productivity. All of us strive to be as effective as possible, getting as much done as we can in the time constraints set for us. So what steps can ethical hackers take to boost their productivity on a daily basis?
Choose the Right Workspace
Everything starts with choosing the right workspace. As you likely already know, different workspaces lend themselves to different levels of productivity. What you may not realize is that different people thrive in different conditions; while some ethical hackers love the noisy hustle and bustle of a busy coffee shop, others can’t stand it and would much rather work in total silence and isolation.
What’s really important is that you choose the right workspace for your mentality and your specific individual needs. Consider the following:
Devices and accessories. You need a setup that allows you to conveniently access and use all the devices and accessories necessary to do your job well. If you’re forced to clumsily fiddle with a laptop on a small desk in a library, you’re probably not going to get your best work done.
Furniture. It’s also helpful to invest in better furniture. Sitting with proper posture (or standing) can help you remain comfortable and healthy, while allowing you to focus all your attention on the work at hand.
Lighting. You’ll also need to think about lighting. While it may seem like a small detail, the brightness and color of lighting in your surroundings can have a major impact on your productivity. Strive for natural lighting whenever possible, and dim the lighting at night to reduce eye strain.
Overall atmosphere. Finally, think about the overall atmosphere you want to develop for your workspace. Do you like background noise? Do you like your background to be busy or still? Do you like the idea of having music to listen to? Do you prefer fresh air or specific scents, like lavender?
Even if you’ve put together the perfect workspace for your needs, it’s a good idea to change things up from time to time. For example, you might be interested in working outside, setting up your laptop next to a fire pit, or people-watching in a busy park. This breath of fresh air can help you from feeling stagnant or trapped in your workspace, and shake up your routine so you can think more creatively. Strive to work in a new location at least once or twice per month.
Understand Your Sleep/Wake Cycle
Did you know that some people are genetically predisposed to be night owls or early birds? It’s true. We all have different, arguably innate preferences for when we work. Some of us reach peak productivity right when we wake up, while others need time to warm up. As an ethical hacker, you should have plenty of flexibility with the timing of your work; you don’t necessarily need to follow a strict 9 to 5 schedule. Accordingly, you should experiment to figure out which times are most productive for you, and schedule as much of your work as possible for those hours.
Block Distractions and Interruptions
Distractions and interruptions can compromise the productivity of even the most dedicated ethical hackers. Thankfully, there are many ways to deal with these, such as reducing their influence by tinkering with the settings on your devices, changing your location, and blocking off time every day to ignore distractions entirely.
These are some of the common culprits affecting ethical hackers:
Chat messages and questions. If you’re working in a team, you might be faced with constant chat messages and questions. Consider blocking off some “heads down” time, during which you’ll be unreachable. It can help you focus on your most important tasks without having to deal with other people’s requests.
Notifications. Notifications, both personal and professional, can pull your attention away from your most important work. Simply disable them, or reduce the number of notifications you receive per day.
Websites and entertainment. Are you the type of person who goes down internet rabbit holes instead of working? Don’t worry. It happens to most of us. In your browser, you can block certain websites or use apps and add-ons to limit the time you spend on certain websites.
Take Breaks
People tend to think of breaks as unproductive or counterproductive, but they can actually help you work more productively when you come back to work. The 52/17 rule recommends taking a 17 minute break after 52 minutes of work, as this has been calculated to be a reasonable average for productivity and recharging. However, it’s important to experiment with different intervals to see what works best for you.
Fuel Yourself
Finally, make sure you take the time to fuel yourself. Getting plenty of rest, water, and nutritious food can help you maximize your productivity.
You may already have talent and experience as an ethical hacker, but there are always ways to boost your productivity. These strategies can get you started on optimizing your efforts – and getting more done daily.