81–90 of 123 posts
One technique mentioned was delaying access to common timewasting sites. That is way too complicated and doesn't get the job done. Just put it in your hosts file and "block" it by pointing it at 127.0.0.1. If you really need access, "unblock" it by undoing that. This sounds stupid, but it really helps. Everytime you waste time at a site, add it. That works for most sites- not all, but enough. Another technique mentio…
I am a remote worker and suffer from chronic procrastination. "Understanding emotions" is an oversimplified solution because many are addicted to procrastination. It's like asking an alcoholic to understand the emotions of why he drinks. I have procrastinated as a student and my entire career and have always gotten away with it. I've been rewarded with praise of my great work, higher paying positions, and bonuses. I…
I don't mean to sound flippant, but it seems like AD/HD to me. No real concern for due dates far off in the future: "Look, it's either due now or not now ." Describes me perfectly. :)
But when it's stuff I don't enjoy or I'm a bit down, it's a totally different ball game.
I also tend to not be concerned about dates far in the future because I secretly believe I can pull a rabbit out of the hat whenever I want and get the 1 month task done in a day, I'm that fucking good. Of course, I'm not.
ADHD is not something to be flippantly tossed around on not being able to do stuff until a deadline, that's just classic procrastination. I know you didn't mean to sound flippant, but you are being flippant and also I don't think it's a good idea to start conflating ADHD with procrastination.
The main emotion involved in procrastination is disgust. A basic emotion that is as strong as fear, but is completely learned and can be attached to every kind of situation, activity or just the thought of starting them. Procrastination is protecting yourself from feeling the upcoming revolting disgust these activities can bring. You avoid feeling it, like you avoid touching a hot plate, that's why the disgust never…
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I like the idea. It reminds me of something I want for myself but can't really formulate well. For example, let's say I'm working on a paper and while writing, I encounter a latex problem that I want fixed so I go off and look it up on stackoverflow (instead of making a note that I need to fix this later). Ideally I'd go right back to working on my paper after solving the issue. Unless I can't solve it and have to do…
So you want to build a tool/data-structure to track your yak-shavings [0] ? [0] : http://www.hanselman.com/blog/YakShavingDefinedIllGetThatDon...
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I like the idea. It reminds me of something I want for myself but can't really formulate well. For example, let's say I'm working on a paper and while writing, I encounter a latex problem that I want fixed so I go off and look it up on stackoverflow (instead of making a note that I need to fix this later). Ideally I'd go right back to working on my paper after solving the issue. Unless I can't solve it and have to do…
I had the same idea! I've used Emacs org-mode to keep the "stack trace" in a tree. Still, it's hard to keep the discipline to actually use it.
I am a remote worker and suffer from chronic procrastination. "Understanding emotions" is an oversimplified solution because many are addicted to procrastination. It's like asking an alcoholic to understand the emotions of why he drinks. I have procrastinated as a student and my entire career and have always gotten away with it. I've been rewarded with praise of my great work, higher paying positions, and bonuses. I…
Well in this case are you really procrastinating? Clearly your brain is making relatively solid decisions, considering how your career is moving (upward). In this situation I'd like to recall Bertrand Russel's great dictum: "Time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time". :) Totally changed how I think about my "procrastinating" time when I read that.
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addicted to procrastination. Close. We're addicted to all manner of other things that give us that instant dopamine hit. When you ask somebody what do they do when they procrastinate, they rarely say they do something productive[0]. Instead, it's an activity that's designed to trigger that instant high: browsing the web, playing video games, eating, smoking. My reward system is completely divorced from reality. I get…
I'm trying the whole "surf less, meditate more" thing but I find motivation to meditate quite low on "good" days. When I feel like crap for having procrastinated, sure, give me some of that meditation, but on a day where I feel fine, I easily persuade myself I don't need it. One thing I've tried to do is do household chores when I feel the procrastination urge. It's still procrastination but at least it's a bit more…
I am a remote worker and suffer from chronic procrastination. "Understanding emotions" is an oversimplified solution because many are addicted to procrastination. It's like asking an alcoholic to understand the emotions of why he drinks. I have procrastinated as a student and my entire career and have always gotten away with it. I've been rewarded with praise of my great work, higher paying positions, and bonuses. I…
I guess, if you are like me, the problem is in your head and you are thinking about it all the time - until you achieve the clarity on what exactly to do OR you are forced to start since the time is fast running out. You may be browsing HN, but, the problem solving is happening in your brain as a background thread. ie., some amount of procrastination is required for some of us. But, it is debatable how much of this is necessary.
I am a remote worker and suffer from chronic procrastination. "Understanding emotions" is an oversimplified solution because many are addicted to procrastination. It's like asking an alcoholic to understand the emotions of why he drinks. I have procrastinated as a student and my entire career and have always gotten away with it. I've been rewarded with praise of my great work, higher paying positions, and bonuses. I…
Maybe procrastination ain't that bad. Maybe its the 8 hour day of continual focus, 5 days a week, for 2000 weeks that is unrealistic, give human nature.
Repetitive factory workers probably don't procrastinate near as much because once they learn the job, the decision-making aspect goes way down. Plus, they'll get fired.