Ask HN: I am wasting so much of time, what can I do?

You could even use (gasp!) a real notepad. The tactile effect of writing down (and especially, crossing off) the tasks and intermediate steps by hand is not to be underestimated. In addition, you get the benefit described by ktrgardiner above, that switching to your task list doesn't obscure your productive work. You always have that piece of paper staring at you reminding you what you're working on.

My standard answer for these type questions: Look to your health. Eat right, exercise, consider that you may have hidden health issues. Getting healthier has done a lot for my ability to focus, be productive and all that.

Best of luck.

Second this. I do the above when I feel scattered. When done with an item, I just tab it. And when I have tabbed them all, you get this sense of pleasure :)

I've been struggling with my studies for years. I was supposed to graduate as civil engineer.

Now I'm finally getting better, but it took several things:

1. Baby steps. Spring 2010 was the first time that I understood that taking less courses means that I have more energy per course. So I started with one, then two, then three. Now I have five ongoing courses at the same time, and I don't (quite) feel overwhelmed. My studies progressed last year at modest speed that is about 1/3 of the speed usually recommended, but my grades improved significantly.

2. Seeing psychologist. She told me about the benefits of taking it easy at first. And my friends didn't have to listen to all of my troubles.

3. Doing something really interesting. I switched to mechanics. I'm particularly into product development. I really don't seem to mind a single course that is not so interesting if it gets me closer my goal (this was actually a big surprise to me).

4. No TV. But movies with friends is a big YES.

5. Getting good IRL friends. I don't feel the need to IRC anymore.

6. Clear shift between work and leisure. If I walk 800 meters to school and spend there 8 hours I can count that I get something done. I might check HN few times, but I just cannot browse the Internet for the whole day.

7. Might seem counterintuitive, but no work on Sundays. Jews we're right. Having at least one day a week when you just don't do anything productive can boost your productivity a lot. And it surprisingly helps to actually have really good time when you're not working, you might think that it drains your energy, but it doesn't.

8. I don't really know if it truly helps or not. But I often think about what I want in life, and how I'm going to get there fastest.

9. For some reason, it seems that getting older helps a little. Maybe it's because you get a stronger feeling about wasting your life.

10. There is no word "should". You either do, or you don't. Sometimes you might do something. Some stuff you haven't yet started, but it's stuff you're going to do, not something that you should do.

11. & 12. Make starting easy for yourself and plan what you're doing. I find it easiest to start by planning. So I plan what I do today and I actually start doing it tomorrow. Planning what I'm going to study tomorrow takes like 30min so it's not a biggie. I feel like I have started so it's easy to continue. And I get sense of control of what I do. Planning counts as doing!

13. Don't ever plan to grind through everything at one go. Those 14 hour work days are going to ruin your motivation to the next job.

14. Get a calendar and a clock. Use them. Then get completely rid of them when you have a day off.

Everything here actually just boils down to three things. Remember to have free time and make it good and remember to plan really well what you're doing.

Read EAT THAT FROG by Brain Tracy, it would surely change your life.