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Ask HN: Can't concentrate to focus, until it's last minute or later

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Re: Ask HN: Can't concentrate to focus, until it's last minute or later

#131

Post by ljf »

bkovacev wrote: post #123
ljf wrote: post #79

One thing I've noticed is that in some people procrastination is some sort of protection system. (Not saying this is what op has, just a discussion point) They seem to feel that most tasks in life are a bit beneath them (of course I can do this course work / assignment / deliver this project / get great grades / ace this interview - I don't really need to try). Then they keep waiting and waiting until there is little…

You have described me perfectly. However, I have an adrenaline rush when I have to do things that are close to the deadline. What do you think would be a solution to this - since you did observe it from a side and how does this behavior differ from your own behavior?

My advice is not to look at the whole but to look at pieces that you can do, make public commitments to doing them and the just do it, don't care at first if it is good or even right, just do it. Then review it (if possible review it publicly with someone you respect and trust) and then adapt it and continue.

You have to commit to starting it and being clear about what else you have on at the time and where this sits it the priority. Classic Scrum, but it works for me (mostly...)

Re: Ask HN: Can't concentrate to focus, until it's last minute or later

#132

Post by [deleted] »

bkovacev wrote: post #123
ljf wrote: post #79

One thing I've noticed is that in some people procrastination is some sort of protection system. (Not saying this is what op has, just a discussion point) They seem to feel that most tasks in life are a bit beneath them (of course I can do this course work / assignment / deliver this project / get great grades / ace this interview - I don't really need to try). Then they keep waiting and waiting until there is little…

You have described me perfectly. However, I have an adrenaline rush when I have to do things that are close to the deadline. What do you think would be a solution to this - since you did observe it from a side and how does this behavior differ from your own behavior?

[deleted]

Re: Ask HN: Can't concentrate to focus, until it's last minute or later

#133

Post by smonff »

Wait... You should take a look to The Definitive Guide To Procrastination (involving a monkey, a monster and a darkwood) : http://waitbutwhy.com/2013/10/why-procrastinators-procrastin...

Part 1 gives you a reasonnable understanding of the issue. Part 2 include practical advices.

Re: Ask HN: Can't concentrate to focus, until it's last minute or later

#134

Post by lisivka »

daxfohl wrote: post #98

Five lines of code. Each day, just get to the point where you've written five lines of code, immediately when you get to work, before looking at twitter or news or whatever. Tell yourself that once you get those five lines in, even if it takes two minutes, you can take the rest of the day off. Justify it because ultimately five lines is better than the zero lines you'd have written otherwise. Likely, once those five…

Great recipe to burnout yourself.

Re: Ask HN: Can't concentrate to focus, until it's last minute or later

#136

Post by gonehome »

ljf wrote: post #79

One thing I've noticed is that in some people procrastination is some sort of protection system. (Not saying this is what op has, just a discussion point) They seem to feel that most tasks in life are a bit beneath them (of course I can do this course work / assignment / deliver this project / get great grades / ace this interview - I don't really need to try). Then they keep waiting and waiting until there is little…

I think this has to do with a mixture of fear of failure, having "smart" be part of your identity and having somewhat of a fixed mindset instead of a growth mindset.

The procrastination protects your self identity because you can discount failure as having not tried that hard.

It's better to keep your identity small and value continually learning over "being smart".

Re: Ask HN: Can't concentrate to focus, until it's last minute or later

#137

Post by 9erdelta »

nbcesar wrote: post #51

You might be a scanner. Read this book: Refuse to Choose!: A Revolutionary Program for Doing Everything That You Love It is an interesting perspective on a particular personality type.

Now see, if not for procrastination, I may never have heard of this book.

Re: Ask HN: Can't concentrate to focus, until it's last minute or later

#138

Post by midnitewarrior »

I've been down your road.

That's a bit of ADD. You need the stimulation of the excitement of the moment to get your focus. You can self-medicate with alcohol (in moderate intake will help you focus in a non-distracting environment). Not a great lifestyle choice, but occasionally it's not a bad thing.

You can also try ADD meds (Concerta, Ritalin), but I went down this route, it's not a good solution because the ADD meds are stimulants and they just get your brain racing and make you exhausted at the end of the day. You can be productive though, but this is also not a great way to live.

I was most productive when I was biking / running daily and experimenting with meditation. I would use my bike rides to visualize getting done what I needed to do for the day and it would bring me greater focus.

Re: Ask HN: Can't concentrate to focus, until it's last minute or later

#140

Post by amelius »

gt565k wrote: post #12

Take a step back and think about the environment you were in when you were the most productive. When your mind was the sharpest it has ever been and you were knocking shit out left and right. Maybe that was in high school or college, or during your first few years in your career. Ask yourself: What was different back then? What was your daily routine? What did you eat? Did you play sports or stay active? A lot of peo…

Perhaps his work is not rewarding as it was, say, 5 years ago. I can certainly relate that myself. When I was a kid, making new stuff (e.g. computer programs) and showing them to my family and friends was rewarding, and addictive in a certain way. But, of course, at a certain point hobby becomes work, and things are less exciting. Perhaps time to find more interesting work and/or hobby?

Another explanation could be the anxiety that is involved in doing anything new. You have this great idea, but you are not sure if it will succeed once you start implementing it. So the mind figures it is better to just dream on a little (and imagine that what you want to do will work), rather than have anxious feelings while entering the code.

The latter explanation, if true, makes me wonder if anti-anxiety drugs could help with procrastination.

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