Ask HN: How to increase self-discipline as a self-employed person? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: How to increase self-discipline as a self-employed person?

#111

Post by lbrent » Mon, Dec 30, 2013, 2:00 PM UTC

Some things I have not found mentioned yet:

1) Changing places inside the house (or moving out to the garden if the weather allows it) sometimes really helps me to beat the monotony. I do have a special workplace reserved though where I spend most of my time.

2) Exercise has already been mentioned. Running works best for me, because it is done outdoors and therefore kills two birds with one stone (three if you have a dog).

3) Another thing that has made a big difference for me was starting a regular meditation practice. I have since noticed that it makes it much easier for me to control my focus and handle distracting thoughts. And there seems to be at least some evidence that I am not alone in this: http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2011/01/eight-weeks-to... Intensive Meditation Training Improves Perceptual Discrimination and Sustained Attention: http://pss.sagepub.com/content/21/6/829.abstract

4) Include relaxing activities on your daily agenda. Letting go is important for your wellbeing and therefore your work performance. Make room for it and allow yourself to enjoy it without feeling bad about it.

Re: Ask HN: How to increase self-discipline as a self-employed person?

#112

Post by dsuth » Mon, Dec 30, 2013, 2:13 PM UTC

dangrossman wrote: post #107

1337biz wrote: post #95

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If these are the core issues for you try working at a coffee shop or university library. Usually these tend to be interruption free zones. You might also try out one of the shared office spaces in your area They most likely understand your "transition" situation very well and can give you a desk for a day just to try it out.

> or university library. Usually these tend to be interruption free zones. My university's library was quite loud, and had a university-owned Taco Bell inside of it, complete with cashiers yelling out names of people to pick up their orders. Top-100 ranked by US News...

In... a library?

Re: Ask HN: How to increase self-discipline as a self-employed person?

#113

Post by fredr » Mon, Dec 30, 2013, 2:23 PM UTC

When I where running my own company, I rented a desk at an other company. Since every one else there had regular working hours, it was more natural for me to work regular hours too.

It also gave me "colleagues" to talk to, so I wouldn't be as lonely as I would be if I worked from home every day.

That worked for me

Re: Ask HN: How to increase self-discipline as a self-employed person?

#114

Post by dangrossman » Mon, Dec 30, 2013, 5:13 PM UTC

dsuth wrote: post #112

dangrossman wrote: post #107

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> or university library. Usually these tend to be interruption free zones. My university's library was quite loud, and had a university-owned Taco Bell inside of it, complete with cashiers yelling out names of people to pick up their orders. Top-100 ranked by US News...

In... a library?

Yep. It's baffling to me too.

http://www.library.drexel.edu/blogs/newsevents/2010/01/08/ta...

Re: Ask HN: How to increase self-discipline as a self-employed person?

#115

Post by shamp00 » Mon, Dec 30, 2013, 5:41 PM UTC

I spent 15 years working from home. Everyone I know who worked successfully from home had some sort of trick to get into work-mode.

I always went out for coffee first thing. While I was out my apartment would magically transform into my office and I would come back 20 minutes later ready to work.

I know a guy who always put on a suit and tie even though he was at home because it got him into the right frame of mind. Whatever works. You might say the whole point of working from home is NOT wearing a tie. But if you can't find a way to work well from home, you will eventually have to admit failure and go back to working from an office.

Tell you what though: once you find your start-the-day trick and you feel you are working productively, you'll have to find a similar reverse-trick to get out of work-mode at the end of the day.

Re: Ask HN: How to increase self-discipline as a self-employed person?

#116

Post by yawz » Mon, Dec 30, 2013, 6:24 PM UTC

EvanMiller wrote: post #33

I have to challenge the premise that most of the responders have taken, which is that working on a daily schedule is "better". On the contrary, I find that my work habits are a lot like yours -- and I think that's a good thing! Sometimes I will be possessed by a coding demon and crank out work for days (weeks?) on end. Other times I will putter around watching TV or brainstorming ideas. For me the whole point of bein…

This would probably work best if you enjoy every part of your work. However, I assume most of us have to do things that we don't particularly enjoy. Or, even more dangerously, we have lower-priority more-enjoyable things to do. Then a little bit of self-discipling and planning is necessary.

Re: Ask HN: How to increase self-discipline as a self-employed person?

#117

Post by JohnBooty » Mon, Dec 30, 2013, 7:01 PM UTC

dangrossman wrote: post #107

1337biz wrote: post #95

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If these are the core issues for you try working at a coffee shop or university library. Usually these tend to be interruption free zones. You might also try out one of the shared office spaces in your area They most likely understand your "transition" situation very well and can give you a desk for a day just to try it out.

> or university library. Usually these tend to be interruption free zones. My university's library was quite loud, and had a university-owned Taco Bell inside of it, complete with cashiers yelling out names of people to pick up their orders. Top-100 ranked by US News...

Haha, wow. I live in Philadelphia as well and had no idea Drexel's library had that "interesting" arrangement.

Re: Ask HN: How to increase self-discipline as a self-employed person?

#118

Post by yawz » Mon, Dec 30, 2013, 7:03 PM UTC

thelogos wrote: post #65

Many people have already recommended exercise, but I would advise you not to jog or lift high rep. Why? It's repetitive and time consuming. It also doesn't do anything for your testosterone level. If you're a guy, you have to keep your testosterone high and that means short burst of high intensity exercise. That's the #1 priority. It will increase your willpower and ability to cope with stress. It'll also lessen the…

Agreed with testosterone... however:

Snacking is not a "bad habit". It is a healthy eating mode, especially if you incorporate exercise in your routine. Caffeine, OTOH, is bad for you in our generic context.

HIIT is a good way of doing cardio work (because it results in a greater turnover rate of free testosterone) but weight-lifting is best. Target bigger muscles, core exercises. Do super-sets if you don't want to stay too long at the gym.

My two cents.

Re: Ask HN: How to increase self-discipline as a self-employed person?

#119

Post by HNJohnC » Mon, Dec 30, 2013, 10:07 PM UTC

yawz wrote: post #118

thelogos wrote: post #65

Many people have already recommended exercise, but I would advise you not to jog or lift high rep. Why? It's repetitive and time consuming. It also doesn't do anything for your testosterone level. If you're a guy, you have to keep your testosterone high and that means short burst of high intensity exercise. That's the #1 priority. It will increase your willpower and ability to cope with stress. It'll also lessen the…

Agreed with testosterone... however: Snacking is not a "bad habit". It is a healthy eating mode, especially if you incorporate exercise in your routine. Caffeine, OTOH, is bad for you in our generic context. HIIT is a good way of doing cardio work (because it results in a greater turnover rate of free testosterone) but weight-lifting is best. Target bigger muscles, core exercises. Do super-sets if you don't want to s…

In my informed opinion snacking is indeed a very bad habit and it is not in any way a healthy eating mode.

It's contrary to all of human evolution and there are objective measurements that show the body needs rest from eating to heal and regenerate critical systems.

That's why intermittent fasting is such a proven benefit to health in people who have enough to eat.

Source: http://www.marksdailyapple.com/meal-timing/

Re: Ask HN: How to increase self-discipline as a self-employed person?

#120

Post by HNJohnC » Mon, Dec 30, 2013, 10:14 PM UTC

atmosx wrote: post #81

All you need to know is here[1]. It's called the "The Art of Self Discipline" and Brian Tracey is probably one of the best examples of self-discipline. Don't listen to this once . Listen to this Once every three days. If you manage to put in your life 1/10 of what is discussed in this audiobook, you'll see radical changes taking place very very quickly. I listen to this at least 1 every month by now, while running. I…

Brian Tracey! What a blast from the past. Many years ago I was sent on a course of his by my boss, nothing to do with self discipline, more like general 80's "empowerment" or some similar wish washy shit. The part I remember most is he advocated daily affirmations staring into a mirror and saying "I like myself" over and over. I came away with very negative impressions of Brian Tracey but he's certainly had time to get better, that was a long time ago.