Focus by Automation

Automation is more than writing scripts; it is any habit that conserves mental energy so you can stay in the zone. The author argues that the real value of automation is the ability to focus on solving problems rather than juggling repetitive tasks, and cites John D. Cook as an example of this mindset.

Distractions come from both the environment and internal thoughts, and they erode the fragile mental models engineers build. By adopting personal organization systems such as Getting Things Done, Zettelkasten, and tightly integrated tooling like Emacs with Org-mode, you can keep notes and tasks out of the way. Mastering editors-whether Vim, Emacs, or shell readline-turns common actions into muscle memory, eliminating micro-interruptions that would otherwise pull you out of flow.

When your tools become transparent, the brain can devote its limited capacity to the hard parts of software development. Faster typing, modal editing, and well-practiced shortcuts reduce cognitive load, lower burnout risk, and let engineers deliver more while spending less mental energy on low-level mechanics. The piece shows that intentional practice and tool mastery are concrete ways to boost productivity and maintain focus.