The best programmers I know

I want to add another one, ability to handle emotions (mentioned but mostly in terms of patience) and ability to stay focused.

Two programmers that start with similar levels at the thing that OP listed, but one able to stay focused and productive and the other jumping on YouTube, HN half the day (yes, that's me in many periods) etc are gonna have different impact and progression with time.

Do you think there's a way to train focus?

It is uncanny how well this describes me. I've been trying all kinds of things, like website blockers, timeouts, breaks, etc. nothing's stuck.

And it's all about "getting in the zone". Once I'm there, things fly, but the sputtering engine of editing 3 lines then alt-tabbing to youtube for 20 minutes makes progress very slow.

It's weird, I know exactly what to do, or what to look into, but just "don't want to?"

I have noticed one thing, namely evenings are my golden hours. I'm trying to do all of my shopping, chores, etc during regular working hours, and then actaully working 5pm-?am. Maybe this will fix it.

You can lose your concentration skills by not using them. I would expect the reverse is true as well.

No and it's pointless to force yourself to focus. If it's not natural, it's not worth it. Do things for fun and stop taking yourself too seriously

For me what has helped is to realize the triggers that make me distracted which is why I emphasized the emotional part.

I tend to distract myself under stress/boredom e.g., when I realize this is happening I get back to working and resist the urge of distracting.

In time, you get better, you need to train it till it starts being more natural.

Can't tell if you are being sarcastic, but yes of course there is.

I did pomodoros for years to recover my productivity after time in academia.

Now I’m the most focused person in the office. But it took a very very long time.