Ask HN: Tell me your biggest pain and I will try to solve it

I have a cycle of habits that revolves around reading the internet. It goes like this:

Have an idea -> google for its existence

If idea is novel -> Google to answer questions about implementation; Else -> come up with new spin on idea or stop

Confirm findings or test idea -> have a new idea or new questions

I also have ADHD & can sometimes (ok...often) hyperfocus when I catch this cycle. I can lose hours upon hours in it. But that's not the main problem...

There are numerous ways to enter this cycle (ie. Triggers for any of the habits) & they occur so frequently that they disrupt the development of new habits. The standard triggers are having/encountering a new idea, a question without an answer, or an answer that needs confirming. I can also jump into it accidentally through procrastination means (eg. reading HN) or just as a result of everyday work (eg. searching for something on stack overflow).

I'm a programmer without a support system to enable me to disrupt these habits without unplugging for months, which I can't afford to do.

That sounds like a tough situation. I believe there is plenty of meaningful work out there. So I'm curious to know what your profession is.

Find your market. Suss out the places online and IRL where people with your skill set congregate, and where buyers for your skills are looking for talent. Start a portfolio web site right away, and optionally a blog. Put yourself on the market right now.

If you get a good offer (on-contract, upfront deposit) consider taking the plunge. Have 3-6 months of cash for a fallback - in case you fail and decide to re-enter the traditional job market. Or more likely, when you encounter an extended dry spell as you learn to build and maintain cash flow.

Prepare yourself mentally for a greater level of uncertainty. Your next paycheck is not guaranteed. Not only do you have to do the work to get a paycheck, you also have the additional work of getting to the next paycheck: keeping a full pipeline of good-paying gigs. Always be marketing and selling yourself.

Not all customers/clients are created equally. Know what you're selling, set your price and stick to it. You're probably not in a position to work for equity. (Since most startups fail "working for equity" is the same as "working for free"). Be prepared to say "no". Be willing to gracefully exit a relationship with a troublesome client.

Stay away from odesk, elance, freelancer.com, etc. These are highly regulated, tightly controlled markets with enormous pressure to push timelines and costs down to the lowest common denominator. Unless you're in a country where bidding for $500 fixed price jobs and $20/hr contracts can make you a good living.

Were that all it takes for me, I wouldn't be posting here.

the last time someone said this to me they offered me weed