Ozric Tentacles. Psychedelic Space Rock. Maybe two songs with lyrics in 30 years of albums.
Thanks for the suggestion. I've never heard them before, this is great focusing music.
Ask HN: How do you focus at work?
51–60 of 84 posts
Re: Ask HN: How do you focus at work?
#52Addy. 5 mg. Every other day. I know this will be down-voted, but I've been having issues focussing at work and completing projects for the last 10 years or so. Visited a Psychiatrist (in Palo Alto). After listening to my situation, she followed it up with a detailed Q & A. She then prescribed 5 mg XR (extended release) of Adderall. Apparently "mild ADHD" is a thing with software engineers in their 30s and up... The d…
Doesn't it leave you shaky? I had similar results but the comedown and the tolerance were deal-breakers. I am completely absent minded but when I take those stimulants it allows me to focus which, I feel, finally puts me on a level playing field with everyone else. It sucks that the drugs have side-effects.
> Doesn't it leave you shaky
The 5 mg IR (Instant Release) did leave my a little shaky, and I also felt 'high' as opposed to feeling focused. I also felt the 'come down' you mention.
You should try the Adderall XR (Extended Release). Shire, the company that made the original Adderall IR, sold it's IR forumula and now in many ADD forums, people are complaining about the efficacy, salt concentrations etc. The Adderall IR are now manufactured in India, and the Pharma has standing FDA complains against it w.r.t. Quality Control, salt composition and concentration etc.
Shire makes the XR version now. You should try it if your doc can prescribe it for you. My Psychiatrist had me try the IR and then the XR in the lowest possible dose i.e. 5 mg, and it works for me.
Like I said, if you do end up on the Addy XR, do take complete breaks every few weeks. This helps with not developing tolerance, and staying with the lowest does, which will, in turn, keep side effects and long term changes (if any) to an acceptable level :)
Re: Ask HN: How do you focus at work?
#53Addy. 5 mg. Every other day. I know this will be down-voted, but I've been having issues focussing at work and completing projects for the last 10 years or so. Visited a Psychiatrist (in Palo Alto). After listening to my situation, she followed it up with a detailed Q & A. She then prescribed 5 mg XR (extended release) of Adderall. Apparently "mild ADHD" is a thing with software engineers in their 30s and up... The d…
I take xenadrine + b12 sublingual w/ similar benefits...
I've tried other caffeine heavy weight loss supplements with greentea and stuff, but apparently the key is (i believe) Caffeine + l-theanine. Together that helps with focus, I generally feel better if I can keep my Vitamin D up as well, as that's linked to depression and I'm deficient because of weight loss surgery.
Note: I do not use Xenadrine as a weight loss supplement, only for the energy aspects and not on a regular basis, only when I feel I have 0 chance of focusing and really need that boost.
Re: Ask HN: How do you focus at work?
#54Addy. 5 mg. Every other day. I know this will be down-voted, but I've been having issues focussing at work and completing projects for the last 10 years or so. Visited a Psychiatrist (in Palo Alto). After listening to my situation, she followed it up with a detailed Q & A. She then prescribed 5 mg XR (extended release) of Adderall. Apparently "mild ADHD" is a thing with software engineers in their 30s and up... The d…
Adderall works but I find Vyvanse to be less intrusive and allows for greater behavioral flexibility which is a must if youre doing any kind of teamwork Its been around for a while but compared to dexmethylphenidate, or Adderall proper, it doesnt have as much of the euphoria that makes it difficult to objectively assess work output, what with the slower acting formulation (but this seems kind of a given, since its a…
Thanks for sharing.
Do you get good sleep with Vyvanse? The only -ve side effect I'm feeling from 5 mg XR Addy is that I fall asleep somewhat late (like mid-night or later) and wake up a couple of times, and get only 7 hours of sleep. Don't have headaches though, but I would love to get a deep sleep while on it.
Re: Ask HN: How do you focus at work?
#55I hope that this isn't the culprit for you, but I was having a lot of trouble focusing. I kept finding lifestyle reasons for it (a life of attention issues plus a newborn baby were near the top of the list), but then my health went to hell.
Turns out that my blood pressure was through the roof. I fixed that and I can focus again.
I genuinely hope that your blood pressure is fine, but seriously, if this is a new thing, it might be a good idea to see a doctor for a checkup. From experience, it's far better to catch blood pressure early than when you end up in a cardiac unit...
Re: Ask HN: How do you focus at work?
#56Re: Ask HN: How do you focus at work?
#57Earlier quoted context omitted.
Many have said that noise cancellation does not work for coworkers' voices. Is that your experience or are these for another reason?
On a plane I find that I can actually hear voices better, because the background of the plane is gone. I don’t believe people who say “noise canceling headphones”, because they just don’t work that way. You’d need both the headphones and music or something, and having to listen to music all day can be just as fatiguing.
I have been having this problem too
Re: Ask HN: How do you focus at work?
#58Addy. 5 mg. Every other day. I know this will be down-voted, but I've been having issues focussing at work and completing projects for the last 10 years or so. Visited a Psychiatrist (in Palo Alto). After listening to my situation, she followed it up with a detailed Q & A. She then prescribed 5 mg XR (extended release) of Adderall. Apparently "mild ADHD" is a thing with software engineers in their 30s and up... The d…
Woah. 5mg XR is an extremelyyy low dosage. For comparison I’ve been taking 20mg XR and 10mg IR daily since I was 16 I believe. I also try and take breaks as often as possible. Definitely keep your dosage low like you have if you continue taking it. If you feel like you need a booster pill in the afternoon don’t increase your XR dosage, just add a 2.5 IR pill to some of your afternoons.
Re: Ask HN: How do you focus at work?
#59Get a Bose QC 35, it will change your life and also your future flights.
I own the Bose QC25 and have never really been happy with its capability to block human voices. Perhaps the QC35 are better. I also read that the Sony noise cancelling headphones (MDR-1000x and successors) have eclipsed the Bose ones in noise-cancelling quality. Anyhow, having to charge (or change batteries) for headphones every day is really annoying. My current setup involves in-ear monitors (Massdrop x MEE Audio P…
The QC25’s are on sale right now for $120 which I’ve heard is insanely cheap. Do you still not recommend them for that cheap of a price? I was just about to bite the bullet on it.
Re: Ask HN: How do you focus at work?
#60Playing London Calling, on repeat. Turning the volume up to 9, not 11.