Hi all,
I'm pretty new to game dev, but I've done a fair bit of dev work in general. I wanted to share two things that have become an integral part of my workflow, in the hope it'll help some of you all.
Git
Git is a free source control platform. Source control is the process of making changes to your project in an isolated way, so you can roll it back if there are any problems, (it's also a great way to make everything available to your team if you have one.)
Git can be pretty intimidating, but you really only need to know the basics.
This awesome guide should tell you everything you need to know: http://rogerdudler.github.io/git-guide/
I use local Git via Bash, and maintain a design brief on the Git Hub repository. Every time I start a new feature, I create a new branch, merging it back in only once it's complete.
Pomodoro Time!
Pomodoro is a super effective time management practice. It's based on the idea that the longer we work on something, the more unfocused we get. You decide on a task you'd like to work on, then set a timer for 25 minutes. Take a five minute break at the end of the 25 minute session, then start again, taking a longer break after 3 or 4 sessions.
It's amazing how effective this technique is, and as an added bonus, the five minute breaks are great for clearing your head when you've been dealing with a stuborn bug (often solving it as a result!) I use an excellent and very flexible pomodoro timer app on my phone called Brain Focus.
Anyway, I hope this helps. Let me know if you have any questions, and good luck with the Jam :)