Ask HN: Underperforming, feeling stuck • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: Underperforming, feeling stuck

#101

Post by Natsu » Wed, Oct 06, 2010, 1:15 PM UTC

aboodman wrote: post #59

I used to have something like this problem, and it turned out to be very simple: hunger. I had a bad habit of not eating when I was deeply into something (or deeply stressed), and my body would simply run out of fuel. I think there is something weird about my physiology that causes me to not notice hunger as much as others. So I wouldn't feel super hungry, but I'd get this spacey, apathetic, faded feeling and have tr…

I'm the same as you with respect to not noticing or responding to hunger.

I just worked for 16 hours on nothing but a hot dog, a candy bar, and a granola bar. Even though I feel almost dead right now, I'm still not very hungry.

Re: Ask HN: Underperforming, feeling stuck

#102

Post by hockeybias » Wed, Oct 06, 2010, 1:37 PM UTC

lawn wrote: post #88

Lot's of good responses but there's one thing I'm missing: working out. A few years ago I was playing icehockey maybe once a day or something and I felt great, school was easy and I had a lot of energy to spare (well, for a teenager anway). Then I quit hockey and I started doing nothing, just sitting in front of the computer and guess what happened? I got inexplicitly tired and burned out. I love math but it got bori…

I have noticed the same effect. ...Also, sometimes if I am struggling with a problem, I force myself to go get some exercise. This seems to inherently help me 'think outside the box' and I am surprised how often I come up with a new solution or approach to the issue at hand.

Re: Ask HN: Underperforming, feeling stuck

#103

Post by gaustin » Wed, Oct 06, 2010, 1:44 PM UTC

bluethunder wrote: post #43

I think this could be one of the 2 things: 1. There is something else which is pre-occupying your subconscious mind. Probably something which you are trying to sideline as not a big deal, but subconsciously it is a big deal. Find out what that is and take care of it head-on. This will fix itself after that. 2. You might not see yourself being 'successfull' in this job over a longer term. For example, you want to do a…

#2 is exactly what I've been going through for the past two years. I'm on my third job in that time, and I'm still miserable. All three jobs are ones most sane people would be THRILLED to have. Three very different environments, all with really great people. But it all comes back to the simple fact that it's not what I want/need/should be doing.

Re: Ask HN: Underperforming, feeling stuck

#104

Post by GBond » Wed, Oct 06, 2010, 1:58 PM UTC

Kinda scary how so many HN people are giving you armchair medical advice... if you think it even remotely physiological/bio-chemical, go see a REAL doctor.

>I'm doing that's burning up 8 hours a day without actually achieving anything.

If you're certain it is not... have you tried brain hacks like the The Pomodoro Technique? Also considering asking another hacker to mentor you. Simply sharing what you are working on is great motivation. I often tell my friends about the projects I am working on knowing that I will lose traction doing the low level stuff. Having someone you respect checking on progress goes a long way.

Re: Ask HN: Underperforming, feeling stuck

#105

Post by alttab » Wed, Oct 06, 2010, 2:24 PM UTC

I'm going to say what everyone else has said in way less breath: become action oriented and DO. Don't think about how you feel, how mushy your brain is, etc. Ignore obstacles and PLOW.

Get something done.

Re: Ask HN: Underperforming, feeling stuck

#106

Post by trustfundbaby » Wed, Oct 06, 2010, 2:37 PM UTC

I know you say you love the job, but how do you feel about the specific projects that you're asked to work on? Are they interesting to you?

Re: Ask HN: Underperforming, feeling stuck

#107

Post by sosuke » Wed, Oct 06, 2010, 2:42 PM UTC

lawn wrote: post #88

Lot's of good responses but there's one thing I'm missing: working out. A few years ago I was playing icehockey maybe once a day or something and I felt great, school was easy and I had a lot of energy to spare (well, for a teenager anway). Then I quit hockey and I started doing nothing, just sitting in front of the computer and guess what happened? I got inexplicitly tired and burned out. I love math but it got bori…

I've made working out a habit for a short while now and it really has done a lot for my attitude and energy levels. If you aren't already doing some regular physical activity I also recommend making a hobby out of something that keeps you moving.

Re: Ask HN: Underperforming, feeling stuck

#108

Post by krschultz » Wed, Oct 06, 2010, 2:51 PM UTC

aboodman wrote: post #59

I used to have something like this problem, and it turned out to be very simple: hunger. I had a bad habit of not eating when I was deeply into something (or deeply stressed), and my body would simply run out of fuel. I think there is something weird about my physiology that causes me to not notice hunger as much as others. So I wouldn't feel super hungry, but I'd get this spacey, apathetic, faded feeling and have tr…

I have a very similar problem, especially where you said "my body would simply run out of fuel ... I'd get this spacey, apathetic, faded feeling and have trouble focusing".

Somehow a doctor figured out I was mildly hypoglycemic, basically you have to eat consistently and everything, but if you haven't eaten in too long you get that long crash where you end up just being almost exhausted for no reason. I always make sure I eat at least something for breakfast lunch and dinner and grab a small snack in the afternoon, an it helps a lot.

Re: Ask HN: Underperforming, feeling stuck

#109

Post by someone_here » Wed, Oct 06, 2010, 3:31 PM UTC

edw519 wrote: post #94

Despite all this every time I sit down to code my brain turns to mush, somehow, and nothing gets done. I can always give my managers an intelligent explanation of why progress is so slow... Oh, so this happens at work...This exact same thing has happened to me many times and here is what I figured out... The problem is NOT with you, it's with the work. Like you I have scored excellently on interviews and tests and ha…

build something cool on your own time. It will get your juices flowing and you'll be your old self in no time. Of course, you'll want to work on your own project instead of your employer's, but that's another problem.

Another problem that's fixed by having a profitable side project ;)

Re: Ask HN: Underperforming, feeling stuck

#110

Post by djshah » Wed, Oct 06, 2010, 4:10 PM UTC

lawn wrote: post #88

Lot's of good responses but there's one thing I'm missing: working out. A few years ago I was playing icehockey maybe once a day or something and I felt great, school was easy and I had a lot of energy to spare (well, for a teenager anway). Then I quit hockey and I started doing nothing, just sitting in front of the computer and guess what happened? I got inexplicitly tired and burned out. I love math but it got bori…

Besides just discipline and energy, I also noticed one more thing working out helped me out with. It provides a way to push your limits without being afraid of failure - because there is no pressure to perform. You can't lift the weight, no worries, just drop down a plate this week and give it a go the following week! This attitude propagates to work - you tend to take away failure as an excuse not to get something done!