Act as if You Have Infinite Time…

Tick tock, tick tock… The clock is inevitably ticking, time is passing, the deadline is approaching, yet the tasks are not decreasing. The more you rush, the more shortcuts you take, the more problems arise. Meanwhile, the answer is simple: Act as if you have infinite time!

Alright, it’s not really that simple, at least not simple to implement. Usually, a manager, client, project manager, or analyst stands over your shoulder and mercilessly reminds you of the approaching deadline. They certainly do not expect you to start working as if you have infinite time. After all, they probably know Parkinson’s Law, that work expands to fill the time available for its completion! And they won’t allow you to have too much time. Hence the emphasis on deadlines and commitments.

Meanwhile, programming is a very sensitive matter… many variables, a lot of information, assumed architecture, project structure, a multitude of technologies and tools, all contribute to making it difficult for a programmer when there is no time. There are many parameters, and it’s easy to make mistakes, which are multiplied by haste. Taking shortcuts causes more harm than good, and paradoxically, temporary solutions born out of haste become the foundation of the production system.

That is precisely why you should act as if you have infinite time! At such moments, keep telling this to yourself relentlessly and believe me, it won’t make you lazy! Your manager, client, project manager, or analyst won’t let that happen. However, it is important to mentally slow down to protect yourself from self-destruction, sleepless nights, and strained relationships with family or friends… well, maybe I am exaggerating! But sometimes, a bit of a scare is necessary ;-)

(Text translated and moved from original old blog automatically by AI. May contain inaccuracies.)