Prayush Adhikari

Posted on Oct 15

7 Productivity Hacks That Changed My Life (And Will Change Yours Too)

#linux #tutorial #beginners #productivity

Hey there! I am glad you ended up here. Look, I've tried every productivity hack under the sun, and most of them? Complete garbage. But the ones I'm about to share? These actually work. And I'm using them right now as I write this.

Let's Talk About Productivity (The Real Deal)

I like to be productive and who doesn't? But wtf is productivity in the first place?

Here's the thing most people get wrong: productivity isn't about grinding 16 hours a day or having 47 tabs open while pretending to multitask. It's about doing things more efficiently or better yet, doing repetitive things more efficiently.

And no, efficiency isn't just speed. It's about finding the best approach to get the best possible result. Sometimes that means slowing down to automate something that'll save you hours later.

Since we have gone through some of the basics, lets dive into the actual hacks that have transformed how I work.

The Hacks That Actually Matter

1. Ditch Chrome, Seriously

One of the unavoidable things in our life is a web browser. We're constantly living in our browsers when we're online. I have tried almost all the web browsers out there and have finally settled on one that doesn't make me want to throw my laptop out the window.

Enter Vivaldi.

Yeah yeah, it eats 2-3gb of RAM like it's nothing, but hear me out. If your computer has 16gb+ RAM or you're already using Chrome (which is basically a RAM black hole), you need to try this.

Why Vivaldi slaps:

It's chromium based so all your favorite extensions work
Mouse gestures that make you feel like a wizard
Keyboard shortcuts for literally everything
Multiple workspaces to keep your 600 tabs organized
Themes that don't look like they're from 2010
Zero bugs in my experience (and I push software to its limits)

The customization is insane. You can make it look and work exactly how your brain operates. And that's the key to productivity, working with tools that match your workflow, not against it.

2. Automate Your Social Media Like a Boss

Social medias like Discord and Telegram are goldmines for automation. And no, you don't need to be a coding wizard to make this happen.

I've been running self-hosted n8n on my VPS and it's changed the game. Here's what I've built:

Stream Suggester - Because decision fatigue is real
Gemini in Telegram - My AI buddy on the go
Techy - Sends me tech news from multiple RSS feeds automatically

The best part? You set it up once and forget about it. While everyone else is manually checking feeds and posting updates, you're three steps ahead.

Want me to drop a full tutorial on setting up n8n locally or on a VPS? Drop a comment and let me know because this deserves its own deep dive.

3. Command Line Assistant (This One's Wild)

Alright, here the things go pure wild. I have a command line assistant that basically runs my digital life. I'm talking:

Creating Google meetings with a single command
Adding calendar events instantly
Scanning my Gmail for important stuff
Sending emails without opening a browser
Managing all Google services from the terminal

This setup is chef's kiss level productivity. Here's the quick rundown:

The Setup (Simplified):

Install gemini-cli (the MCP server integration is smooth)
Create a Google Apps Script (hit me up if you want my exact script)
Configure Google Cloud Console permissions
Grab your Gemini API key
Authorize and boom, you're living in the future

This needs its own blog because the full process is meaty, but trust me, once you have this running, you'll feel like Tony Stark.

4. Your IDE Matters More Than You Think

Hot take: Your code editor can make or break your productivity.

I use Neovim and yes, I know what you're thinking. "Oh great, another Neovim evangelist." But hear me out.

I felt the exact same way when people recommended it to me. Thought they were just trying to be elitist. But after customizing it with the right plugins, I'm never going back.

Real talk though: Don't just jump into Neovim cold turkey. Use VS Code AND Neovim side by side at first. Slowly transition when you're comfortable. The learning curve is real, but the productivity gains are worth it.

Want a Neovim setup tutorial? Let me know and I'll break down my entire config.

5. Build Your Second Brain

Obsidian has changed how I think.

No, seriously. Having all your knowledge in one searchable, linked system is like having superpowers. And the best part? It's completely free if you set up sync yourself (I wrote a whole blog about this).

Why Obsidian wins:

Massive community plugins
Works on all devices
Free sync if you're smart about it
Everything is markdown (lightweight and future-proof)
Themes that don't hurt your eyes
Integration with everything

Your brain isn't meant to remember everything. It's meant to make connections. Let Obsidian handle the storage, you handle the thinking.

6. Your Terminal Shouldn't Suck

One of the biggest headaches was my terminal. I wanted it to look cool, suggest past commands, and generally not feel like I time-traveled to 1995.

Solution? Zsh with oh-my-zsh.

The productivity boost is subtle but massive. Auto-suggestions, better history, plugins for days, and honestly, when your terminal looks good, you want to use it more. And the more comfortable you are in the terminal, the more powerful you become.

It has surely helped me become more productive without even realizing how much I've improved at command line.

7. Make The Switch to Linux (Yes, Really)

I would highly recommend all of you to switch to Linux on your personal computers. And no, I'm not one of those "I use Arch btw" people (okay maybe a little).

Here's why Windows is holding you back:

Less secure by design
Bloated with stuff you'll never use
Ads in the START MENU (seriously Microsoft?)
Limited customization
Constant forced updates at the worst times
You don't actually own your OS

Linux gives you:

Complete control
No bloat
Better security
Customization freedom
Better performance
Actually free (as in freedom)

Need help choosing a distro? Want a full guide on making the switch? Drop a comment. I can write a whole series on this.

The Real Secret

Here's what nobody tells you about productivity: it's not about the tools. It's about designing systems that work FOR you, not against you.

Every hack I've shared comes down to one thing: removing friction. The less mental energy you spend on repetitive tasks, the more you have for what actually matters.

So start with one hack. Just one. Get it working. Then move to the next. Don't try to overhaul your entire workflow overnight because that's how you end up productive for exactly two days before burning out.

Let's Connect

I'm Prayush Adhikari, currently grinding through computer engineering and building my online presence one blog at a time. I'm bringing more content like tutorials, deep dives, and honest takes on tech.

If this helped you (or if you think I'm completely wrong about something), let's connect:

DEV Community