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Ask HN: How do you create productive habits?
71–80 of 104 posts
Re: Ask HN: How do you create productive habits?
#72Earlier quoted context omitted.
I use and iPhone 4 (conveniently my mic is also broken) and I am not upgrading since I get /so/ much use of it. I feel it can run everything I would want from a smart phone. My battery lasts like 10 minutes though, and the camera is kind of broken.
I swear every iPhone 4 has their home button and mic broken eventually. I think the battery life dives dramatically after some point which I haven't reached. Will probably upgrade after that happens.
Actually the mic works, I just get/give no sound when in a call. Works perfectly everywhere else. Home button works as well, but I mainly use something like Assistive Touch anyways.
Re: Ask HN: How do you create productive habits?
#73Personally speaking, no apps helped me beat procrastination. What actually helped me a lot is figuring out that I am unhappy and depressed in my life and why is that. Once I figured that out I set for big changes, and stopped caring a lot for things that made me unhappy. I appreciated things I got, I started going on trips around the world and met my wife. After being happy in life I found my self in a very positive…
I absolutely agree with you. I downgraded to a smart phone that only runs maps and has a camera and this has forced me to semi switch off tech when I'm away from my computer. My friends think I'm crazy (mostly because I'm a developer who doesn't have a "smart" phone).
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Re: Ask HN: How do you create productive habits?
#74Block the "Hot Network Questions" div on Stack Overflow using a little browser script. Saved hours per day...
Re: Ask HN: How do you create productive habits?
#75Earlier quoted context omitted.
I absolutely agree with you. I downgraded to a smart phone that only runs maps and has a camera and this has forced me to semi switch off tech when I'm away from my computer. My friends think I'm crazy (mostly because I'm a developer who doesn't have a "smart" phone).
I'm genuinely curious to know what phone or plan you use that only runs maps and camera. Google Maps or soemthing like openstreet map? I'm looking to do something similar. Any info would be appreciated.
I did this also. Switched from a best of breed Android phone, to a Blackberry.
Yes. A Blackberry. One of newer ones that runs BB10. It supports just enough to enable me to read mail, and message my friends, but there are hardly any useful apps for it, and most of the Android apps that you try to install on it barely work either.
Added bonus - The built in Facebook app no longer works either.
End result, the Blackberry sits in my pocket 99% of the time. My phone is now a tool again, and not a distraction.
It's perfect for me - but your mileage may vary, of course.
Edit: like Fratlas, I also get about 2-3 days of usage out of one charge.
Re: Ask HN: How do you create productive habits?
#76My solution is to embrace procrastination. Just makesure your procrastination tasks are worth doing. If its the TV or reddit thats bad. If it's housework thats a step up. If it's a side project you would otherwise procrastinate starting thats actually perfect. Ive been my most productive when I was procrastinating trying to avoid writing my PhD thesis. I ended up with more research I had to write about which was the main danger!
Re: Ask HN: How do you create productive habits?
#77The following applies to all methods:
1. Keep in mind that "forcing" yourself to do something takes considerable energy.
You can imagine a second inner you, that's, for one reason or another, actively sabotaging your efforts to get something done. Now you can barter with that second you and get it to agree to work, but if you push it too far it will relapse.
So: It's important to get a feeling for your motivational energy. If you managed to overcome procrastination successfully yesterday, don't expect the same today.
Just like in sports, give yourself a rest when needed and be realistic about your daily potential.
2. Not all work is created equal. There is more creative and more repetitive work. If you don't feel productive, do the chores.
Re: Ask HN: How do you create productive habits?
#78Personally speaking, no apps helped me beat procrastination. What actually helped me a lot is figuring out that I am unhappy and depressed in my life and why is that. Once I figured that out I set for big changes, and stopped caring a lot for things that made me unhappy. I appreciated things I got, I started going on trips around the world and met my wife. After being happy in life I found my self in a very positive…
I absolutely agree with you. I downgraded to a smart phone that only runs maps and has a camera and this has forced me to semi switch off tech when I'm away from my computer. My friends think I'm crazy (mostly because I'm a developer who doesn't have a "smart" phone).
I just use my iPhone 4S with IOS9, which is too slow to be used practically :).
Re: Ask HN: How do you create productive habits?
#79Can I hijack and ask, how do I become a "determined" person with grit? Is it learnable? If something becomes too hard, I just convince myself the success is not worth it or not attainable. I might actually be right. Success might not be worth it. It seems winners are usually more motivated by hatred and fear of losing / failure than the joy of winning. You see this with sports stars all the time (MJ).
It's your life, and you define what success means for you.
How can it possibly be "not worth it"? Do you really just want to go through the motions until you die, without caring about achieving even the tiniest thing in the time you have?
Re: Ask HN: How do you create productive habits?
#80Constrain the time you have to do something. Work often fills the time you give it. If you try to achieve something in a short amount of time, you'll be forced to work at 100% with full focus to get it done ASAP. I'm always amazed at how sometimes a dreadful task takes 10-20 minutes when I'm forced to do it in that timespan, but if I have an hour to do it, it'll take an hour. To make the constraint feel real, put you…
When I had a kid, this definitely happened to me. While he's awake, there's a lot of time spent watching/minding him, however, while you're not actively doing anything it gives you time to plan. When I next get some free time, I find myself working at 100% without having to put much mental effort into it.