Ask HN: Procrastination with AI?

#1

Post by caprock » Fri, Jul 03, 2026, 5:10 PM UTC

For software engineers and related fields, I know what procrastination has traditionally looked like, and how it manifests.

Now, things like codex, cursor, claude code can remove some kinds of friction but also change workflows.

So are you procrastinating less? More? Differently?

What does it look like?

Re: Ask HN: Procrastination with AI?

#2

Post by mmarian » Fri, Jul 03, 2026, 5:45 PM UTC

Used to in the past. Now use it as an opportunity to look out the window, or write something in my diary. Significantly improved my mental health.

Re: Ask HN: Procrastination with AI?

#3

Post by MCP123 » Sat, Jul 04, 2026, 5:40 PM UTC

Less. I created an "executive coach" with Claude Code that helps me prioritize, create plans, do daily check-ins. It's silly since I could do the same with pen and paper or Obsidian. But for some reason, it helps to have something that seems like a coach help me, even if I know it's just an LLM. I'm still pondering the why.

Plus it helped me understand how Claude Code works -- memory, limitations, losing context,forgetting, remembering (too much sometimes), and and so on. With NanoClaw, I can access it via Slack.

Re: Ask HN: Procrastination with AI?

#4

Post by caprock » Sat, Jul 04, 2026, 9:32 PM UTC

MCP123 wrote: post #3

Less. I created an "executive coach" with Claude Code that helps me prioritize, create plans, do daily check-ins. It's silly since I could do the same with pen and paper or Obsidian. But for some reason, it helps to have something that seems like a coach help me, even if I know it's just an LLM. I'm still pondering the why. Plus it helped me understand how Claude Code works -- memory, limitations, losing context,forg…

Sounds pretty cool!

Re: Ask HN: Procrastination with AI?

#5

Post by caprock » Sat, Jul 04, 2026, 9:34 PM UTC

mmarian wrote: post #2

Used to in the past. Now use it as an opportunity to look out the window, or write something in my diary. Significantly improved my mental health.

It's interesting how one AI approach is to do similar amounts of work with less intensity and energy. Glad it has improved your mental health.