21–30 of 198 posts
Firstly make a list of all the tasks. Then of the big task you're putting off, split it into loads of small component tasks. Smaller the better - even if it is is 'make a GitHub repo'.
I then find that I do the first small component tasks and after marking them off start ploughing through the rest of the stuff.
That serves two purposes -- you get to futz around with something before doing work, but you can also set deadlines for each task to give yourself some urgency.
http://www.seeker.com/how-electronic-heroin-is-affecting-chi...
It's a common problem. Watch this TED Talk about why we procrastinate by Tim Urban and read his articles. They're both funny and insightful. https://www.ted.com/talks/tim_urban_inside_the_mind_of_a_mas...
It's pretty bad for me, I dream about bailing to a blue collar life because then I can focus and work with my hands, and not click around online procrastinating. All that talk did was talk about the symptoms of what it's like to be a procrastinator. Including the link in another comment. Who wants to talk about how to fix it other than "stop procrastinating!"
Now do the easy things to shrink the list.
Now work.
That said, there are things that I want, and since I want them I take the steps toward achieving those things.
Here is an example:
Goal: I want to eat. Steps: 1. Get money. 2. Get food. 3. Make food. 4. eat it.
However, each step may need to be broken down as it is accomplished. 1. Get money. a. Look in couches; b. Look in floors. c. Try to get gigs on freelancer. d. Apply to McD's. e. Apply to YC. f. Sell WoW gold, items and services with Bitcoin.
Either way, once you know what you're doing and why you're doing it, it makes it a lot easier to do it. If you don't know why you're doing something - or more importantly - can't figure out why you CAN'T do something, it might be pertinent to explore what that something is and if you really want to be doing that something.
Lastly, one word of advice, every day when you wake up and every time you go in the bathroom or are in front of a mirror, look at yourself and say:
I get it in. I get it done. I am a champion. I am a winner. I am beautiful. Everyone loves me. I love everyone. I am a billionaire. I am so smart. I never procrastinate.
If you say that to yourself every single time you're in front of a mirror, you'll slowly never procrastinate. You don't even have to believe the things you're saying either. Just say it to yourself anyway everytime.
Hope someone finds value in this comment. Going back to WoW now.
edit: if interested, im hanging out in goldshire. im horde. ;)
One way I get round this is make lists (I use clear for mac because it is so simple. Otherwise I end up procrastinating making overly complex plans in JIRA etc). Firstly make a list of all the tasks. Then of the big task you're putting off, split it into loads of small component tasks. Smaller the better - even if it is is 'make a GitHub repo'. I then find that I do the first small component tasks and after marking t…
If we complete things that are not on the list, go note it on the list even though you've done it.
I get frustrated whenever I end up doing things that are not on my list which throws everything out of kilter and I stop doing my list ... which is a disaster. So I found that I feel better whenever I add a completed item to my list. :-)
The lengths we go to trick our mind.
1. Programming is a completely mental/brain activity as you know, requiring no real physical exertion. So it should be easy to work on code problems all day right? Wrong.
2. The body requires physical exercise of some sort, it is literally how we are architectured, and if you don't move about then the immune system can't function properly [1]. This can quickly cause feelings of anxiety, depression and a lack of wanting to do anything. And because our brains are inference machines, you instead associate these bad feelings with your current thoughts ('need to get this coding work done'), leading you to where you are now, unable to face the problem out of fear of the bad feelings.
3. The solution I have found is Yoga! You can buy a mat for something cheap, and can keep it unrolled in the house. Then every time you have feelings of stress, go and do some poses on the mat. Specifically downward dog [1] [2], also Cobra Pose. Ideally watch a yoga video that goes though a set of poses and then pick the ones you feel most comfortable with and do those throughout the day.
4. The productivity increases I have got from this are ridiculous, and this all stems from me feeling relaxed. Programming can be full of frustration, and letting it build up can cause real physical problems. But once you incorporate yoga, and take care of your body, suddenly those challenges will no longer feel insurmountable, and instead of worrying about everything, your brain will work on finding solutions instead.
[1] http://www.livestrong.com/article/422920-how-to-cleanse-lymp...