How I got to 200 productive hours a month • Hacker News Board

Re: How I got to 200 productive hours a month

#261

Post by valuearb » Sat, Sep 23, 2017, 4:44 AM UTC

flyinglizard wrote: post #158

ulkesh wrote: post #118

> Caution: The mentioned amount of hours is not advisable for people working on someone else's business for illusory stock options, with no payment for overtime. There's also no point in going beyond this number because working over 50 hours a week actually decreases productivity. Life should come first in the "work-life balance." Great disclaimer in the article. The only problem is that many employers will be quite…

I'm thankful for working at a position where I enjoy putting in hours above and beyond what's required by contract. I'd advise anyone to prioritize having a work they thoroughly enjoy well ahead of a work that requires less hours. When you enjoy something, it makes sense to want to be doing that something for a prolonged duration.

I work around 50hours a week on salary, and always productively. I do it because I enjoy programming, I like making our products better, and want to be recognized for being a key employee. I also work out 5 Times a week, and spend every evening and weekend with my family.

Re: How I got to 200 productive hours a month

#262

Post by dsenkus » Sat, Sep 23, 2017, 4:45 AM UTC

graeme wrote: post #247

dsenkus wrote: post #51

Thanks for great article, I found some good ideas how to optimise my workflow. I think everyone should spend some time adopting these techniques, instead of relying on "autopilot" mode. Here's my mindmap of this article if anyone is interested: https://imgur.com/a/RnRgV

Nice mind map. Is there a larger version? It is very blurry when viewed on my ipad.

Sure no problem, here's the larger one https://imgur.com/gallery/Nc2MP

Re: How I got to 200 productive hours a month

#263

Post by samzhao » Sat, Sep 23, 2017, 5:34 AM UTC

mbrock wrote: post #209

samzhao wrote: post #186

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How did you get your employer to agree to 4-hour work days? The first half and one of your comment replies spoke to me deeply - especifically the part about having the feeling of never having done enough, haunts me everyday, but also pushes me. So thanks so much for writing this! Just wish you could speak more about how you were able to negotiate your current work schedule.

I don't have an employer that cares about my schedule. It's literally never come up. My daily productivity has increased noticably since this regimen, and if my employer didn't understand that as a benefit, they'd be silly. By the way I'm active for more than 4 hours a day, and after the morning sprint I'll spend some time chatting about business, reading and learning, triaging issues, etc. It's just that I don't spe…

Great response, thanks!

Re: How I got to 200 productive hours a month

#264

Post by samzhao » Sat, Sep 23, 2017, 5:35 AM UTC

dboreham wrote: post #193

samzhao wrote: post #186

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How did you get your employer to agree to 4-hour work days? The first half and one of your comment replies spoke to me deeply - especifically the part about having the feeling of never having done enough, haunts me everyday, but also pushes me. So thanks so much for writing this! Just wish you could speak more about how you were able to negotiate your current work schedule.

I'm guessing that his employer is agreeing to take the 4 hours of productive work he achieves, which is likely much more than the average "sit in front of the keyboard for 8 hours" worker.

Yeah, that must be the case: a smart employer and demonstrably productive employee.

Re: How I got to 200 productive hours a month

#265

Post by fouc » Sat, Sep 23, 2017, 6:55 AM UTC

deepGem wrote: post #29

kobeya wrote: post #8

> Two years ago I could spend a week not working because I was avoiding some task. This is a great article and there’s plenty to talk about in organizational systems, even if this seems to be subtly pitching his own products in places. But if anyone reading this identifies with this sort of chronic procrastination, consider seeking psychiatric help. This is a giant red flag for adult ADHD, which is a serious and ofte…

Can I ask what is considered chronic procrastination. For instance, I am sitting on a tax filing task for almost 2 months now. It's not gonna endanger my life, but it's one of those things I can't get my mind to do.

A few years ago I finally filed my income taxes, all 15 years of it that I had been procrastinating on since I was 18 years old. Achievement unlocked!

Re: How I got to 200 productive hours a month

#266

Post by bunfunton » Sat, Sep 23, 2017, 8:42 AM UTC

kazagistar wrote: post #149

scottLobster wrote: post #136

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How is it ignorant to suggest behavior change as a first option? If the person can't make it stick then sure try the drugs, but if they don't need the drugs they're likely better off without them. Add in the fact that ADHD is commonly over-diagnosed and yeah, I'd try behavior modification first. People can display the "signs" of ADHD for a whole host of non-ADHD reasons.

You are right of course. The frustration comes because people with adult ADHD have likely had a lifetime of this suggestion, and a lifetime of failing to stick to such modifications, often to the point of developing comorbid issues like low self esteem. When medications finally open the door they have fruitlessly banging their head against, it's frustrating to hear people espousing that, actually, behavior modificati…

This is very accurate. Thanks.

Re: How I got to 200 productive hours a month

#267

Post by Broken_Hippo » Sat, Sep 23, 2017, 10:42 AM UTC

chromaton wrote: post #191

Broken_Hippo wrote: post #187

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not really. I'm currently working in a factory (Temporary job, but hey, it is the first one working in my non-native language, so it works out). For most employees, there is a set amount of work that can be done. The machines only go so fast, only need refilled so often, and so on. Gotta have enough truck drivers to comply with regulations. Mechanics sometimes have more work than they have allotted time for, but some…

Sweep the floor, organize your tools, take out the trash. Make coffee. See somebody else working? Find out what they're doing and ask if you can help.

That's already done. No need to organize tools since they are already that way simply by doing the job. Refilling things is part of the job and done in the natural course of things as folks shift positions and whatnot. Cleaning is similar. Trash? there isn't much need to change it unless full - otherwise, one is wasting trash bags and boxes. Where I am, that's once or twice a shift. Again, this is accounted for in the normal course of the job, just like breaks and lunches.

Coffee is in the cafeteria or filled/cleaned on breaks and lunches. The machine makes a cup at a time so it isn't sitting around. It can't be in the production area anyway since it has the possibility of either messing up the machines or messing up the actual product (chocolate and candy) and ups the chance of making a customer sick.

Yup, sometimes you see the mechanic working or someone fixing the machine. Untrained folks can't help. Sometimes the problem is in another section of the factory which you aren't trained on or even see. Can't exactly help that nor can you generally leave the production area without absolutely knowing you'll be down for some time. Then there are generally a few things to do, but since it requires moving staff, this is a last resort as it would negatively affect production.

The place is obviously designed for nearly 100% production during all shifts that are scheduled (not always 24 hours), obviously allowing time for startup, shutdown, and cleaning.

A well run factory doesn't have excess work for every employee every day. It will aim for as little downtime as possible and not having excess employees. Excess work, every day for every employee means some things just can't get done if you don't have downtime.

Re: How I got to 200 productive hours a month

#268

Post by phasnox » Sat, Sep 23, 2017, 4:35 PM UTC

"Procrastination itself can have different causes — maybe the task is too complex or too boring, fear of failure or simple laziness. Even a slight presence of these negative factors can make us go for instant rewards"

My entire life described in 2 sentences.

Re: How I got to 200 productive hours a month

#269

Post by dispo001 » Sat, Sep 23, 2017, 5:38 PM UTC

These type of articles are always shit, I expected it to be shit but clicked the link anyway. Imagine my surprise when it wasn't shit.

Now if only implementation didn't terrify me.... hah...

The big "trick" described seems to be an instance of: You are the product of your environment if you like it or not. There is very little you can do to fight its influences. The environment is there and you are becoming it. The only conscious remedy is to make the environment into what you want to be.

I think the article provides the means to do a check list that could convince companies to allow remote work.

Re: How I got to 200 productive hours a month

#270

Post by Joeri » Sat, Sep 23, 2017, 6:06 PM UTC

randallsquared wrote: post #192

albertgoeswoof wrote: post #128

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A well run company will always have more work for each employee than is possible for them to complete. This is because the employee is then forced to prioritise their work themselves and only focus on the pieces of work that align with their incentives. Which should align with the company incentivies. If this was not the case, then the organization would need to employ additional staff to plan work, in order to maxim…

> A well run company will always have more work for each employee than is possible for them to complete. In a high-level view, sure. But if the employee is given more to do than they could possibly do, it can be very damaging to morale. At review time of things one was expected to work on, there are things you accomplished, and things you failed to accomplish. In particular, if one responds to "I accomplished task1 a…

There's a difference between "must do", "should do" and "can do". The list of "can do" should stretch years into the future, but the list of "must do" should always be shorter than available labor capacity.