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Ask HN: How does one overcome the need for instant gratification?

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Re: Ask HN: How does one overcome the need for instant gratification?

#121

Post by Dowwie »

chrishynes wrote: post #64
strawcomb wrote: post #16

Some things I'd recommend, off the top of my head: - Do not grab phone/computer etc. and mindlessly browse first thing in the morning. (Or before bed. Or at any time really.) But doing it first thing really starts your day on the wrong foot. - When seeking to relax, do not mindlessly browse the internet/social-media/tv. Read an enjoyable book. This is an order of magnitude more fulfilling and beneficial to you. And g…

"Do not grab phone/computer etc. and mindlessly browse first thing in the morning..." Expanding on this... Don't use mindless browsing as a filler at all. Ever. If your build is gonna take a minute, don't reflexively switch over to Facebook/email. Sit there and think/meditate. Stand up or do some pushups. Browsing Facebook is fine when that's the activity you're doing. Set aside some Facebook browsing time, timebox i…

This is great advice.

Re: Ask HN: How does one overcome the need for instant gratification?

#122

Post by Handuka »

basdevries wrote: post #55
strawcomb wrote: post #16

Some things I'd recommend, off the top of my head: - Do not grab phone/computer etc. and mindlessly browse first thing in the morning. (Or before bed. Or at any time really.) But doing it first thing really starts your day on the wrong foot. - When seeking to relax, do not mindlessly browse the internet/social-media/tv. Read an enjoyable book. This is an order of magnitude more fulfilling and beneficial to you. And g…

Really good advice. I tried blocking some sites but whenever my 'bad side' comes up again, I always find a way to get around the block and visit the site anyway. Any recommendations on blocking a site indefinitely?

Another story here, when I started working in an internship, the environment was conducive for me to work but I still didn't. What saved me, was a repetitive strain injury preventer app. Whenever it said to take a break I would sincerely take a break. This makes your mind more relaxed and I could work for 8-10 hrs a day without any mindless browsing. Hope this helps :)

Re: Ask HN: How does one overcome the need for instant gratification?

#123

Post by yrio »

charsifood wrote: post #114
brango wrote: post #111

Earlier quoted context omitted.

More likely what lottery numbers I should pick for the week since they must be psychic to diagnose a guy on the Internet after just a few sentences.

Right. So regardless of his qualifications, you would have objected to his suggestion. So why ask at all?

I think brango's point is that it can be dangerous to give medical advice if you are not qualified / not a MD, & even then, it should be given only after proper examination

Re: Ask HN: How does one overcome the need for instant gratification?

#124

Post by nequalstim »

kichuku wrote: post #27

I too second the recommendation for "Deep Work" by Carl Newport ( http://calnewport.com/books/deep-work/ ). This is one book which is a must-read for all the current generation technology workers like us. I started reading this book about two weeks back and I have finished reading 90% of the book. Already I am seeing tremendous improvement in my day-to-day life.

that book is incredibly good! Especially, since he earned enough street credibility as a Computer Science professor compared to other self-help/productivity/life coach gurus

Re: Ask HN: How does one overcome the need for instant gratification?

#125

Post by vanderreeah »

andai wrote: post #36

I'm surprised no one mentioned meditation yet! A regular meditation practice helps with impulse control (sitting still for X minutes requires exercising self control) and that will help with resisting the urge to do tasks which are immediately gratifying, which will free up time and energy for activities which lead to long term growth. Two things really helped me with meditation: setting a timer, and meditating every…

Insight Timer looks good but - to hijack a little bit - how does it make money?

Re: Ask HN: How does one overcome the need for instant gratification?

#126

Post by maneesh »

013 wrote: post #119
maneesh wrote: post #73

Pavlok allows you to add a slight punisher (uncomfortable negative stimulus) when you do activities like load up Facebook/reddit, use your phone, or sit for too long. The whole design is structured around removing instant gratification. Bias: I'm the inventor. http://pavlok.com/break-habit

Is this similar to how an electric dog collar works?

like a smart dog collar for humans :)

Re: Ask HN: How does one overcome the need for instant gratification?

#127

Post by [deleted] »

013 wrote: post #119
maneesh wrote: post #73

Pavlok allows you to add a slight punisher (uncomfortable negative stimulus) when you do activities like load up Facebook/reddit, use your phone, or sit for too long. The whole design is structured around removing instant gratification. Bias: I'm the inventor. http://pavlok.com/break-habit

Is this similar to how an electric dog collar works?

[deleted]

Re: Ask HN: How does one overcome the need for instant gratification?

#128

Post by kerbalspacepro »

codingdave wrote: post #99
thinbeige wrote: post #84

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I so much agree wih your post. All your advice is right and should help but there is one thing I am wondering: Why are you on Hacker News? Reading and in particular commenting which is an instant gratification activity (quick post, many likes paired with non-stop checking of the thread). Is this not against your advice or is it the end of the work day in your time zone?

I don't feel HN is about instant gratification at all. I come here to see more about what is going on in the tech community. For me, it is about awareness of what is going on, reflection and analysis of where I currently fit and where else I may want to go. If you are constantly non-stop checking for responses and your scores, that doesn't match what I do. I tend to comment, then come back a couple days later, and se…

HackerNews doesn't have a message notification system, right? You have to purposefully look at your older comments to see what transpired? That's probably one of the saving graces of this community.

Re: Ask HN: How does one overcome the need for instant gratification?

#129

Post by t0s »

chrishynes wrote: post #64
strawcomb wrote: post #16

Some things I'd recommend, off the top of my head: - Do not grab phone/computer etc. and mindlessly browse first thing in the morning. (Or before bed. Or at any time really.) But doing it first thing really starts your day on the wrong foot. - When seeking to relax, do not mindlessly browse the internet/social-media/tv. Read an enjoyable book. This is an order of magnitude more fulfilling and beneficial to you. And g…

"Do not grab phone/computer etc. and mindlessly browse first thing in the morning..." Expanding on this... Don't use mindless browsing as a filler at all. Ever. If your build is gonna take a minute, don't reflexively switch over to Facebook/email. Sit there and think/meditate. Stand up or do some pushups. Browsing Facebook is fine when that's the activity you're doing. Set aside some Facebook browsing time, timebox i…

// If your build is gonna take a minute ...

Same applies if you read a tutorial post while you wait your build to finish ?

Re: Ask HN: How does one overcome the need for instant gratification?

#130

Post by ethbro »

kerbalspacepro wrote: post #128
codingdave wrote: post #99

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't feel HN is about instant gratification at all. I come here to see more about what is going on in the tech community. For me, it is about awareness of what is going on, reflection and analysis of where I currently fit and where else I may want to go. If you are constantly non-stop checking for responses and your scores, that doesn't match what I do. I tend to comment, then come back a couple days later, and se…

HackerNews doesn't have a message notification system, right? You have to purposefully look at your older comments to see what transpired? That's probably one of the saving graces of this community.

Absolutely agreed. @dang, please never implement a notification system.
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