You seem to be doing something, since you are reflecting about your own problems and making this little post about doing nothing.
Do you read HackerNews all day and never actually do anything?
131–140 of 149 posts
Re: Do you read HackerNews all day and never actually do anything?
#132If your problem is spending too much time on HN, do you really think the solution involves posting on HN?
If this is really a problem, close your browser and never come back here and you'll have a much more productive life. If you find yourself coming up with substitutes, do the same with them. Think of this as your alcoholism, and realize that moderation, while it works for some people, is not an option for you.
Re: Do you read HackerNews all day and never actually do anything?
#133I've never been at the stage where I don't do _anything_, but I'm often frustrated that I don't do _enough_. I went through a stage of spending way too much time on Reddit - on the order of 4-5 hours a day. This has been discussed often, but it can be crippling - as soon as you hit the tiniest mental roadblock, you switch your browser to Reddit, next thing you know it's 20 minutes later and not only is your roadblock…
very good chrome equivalent: StayFocusd https://chrome.google.com/extensions/detail/laankejkbhbdhmip...
I concur, StayFocusd is good. Now, if only it could prevent me from using firefox as well...
Re: Do you read HackerNews all day and never actually do anything?
#134Hacker news has wasted a lot of my time.
But it has also provided a lot of information that constitutes authentic "professional development" - links to important algorithms, debate over software process and similar things.
I don't know have any idea how the equation balances but if I didn't read Hacker News I'd have to find some more active way to make sure I read enough papers.
What seems like an opportunity would be to build a discussion forum where the posts and discussion was at a high enough level that the time essentially wasn't wasted. HN isn't there yet but it's a hint about what might be...
Re: Do you read HackerNews all day and never actually do anything?
#135Solution I found (globally, in a lot of scenarios, not just related to HN) is: Don't do anything unless it's specific.
I try to only sit at the PC if I'm "doing" something on it. Even in micro bursts. Shortlist of examples:
- If I'm thinking, I'll stand up away from the station
- If I need to code, I'll sit down with the purpose of coding to a goal / time window
- If I'm stuck, then again, I'll get off the station / away from the keyboard and think
- If I fire up HN, its specific - I'm checking HN for 20 mins to see whats happening, browsing some articles, then stopping.
- I try to avoid randomly tabbing back into mail clients and etc, I'd rather tackle it as a distinct thing as well
It applies pretty much everywhere though. If I want to game, I don't just sit down and play, I'll decide - take a break, 20 mins, gaming, do it. Done is done, get back on task.
The higher level thing is to hit your day / hour / afternoon period etc with a clear idea of what you actually want to get done. I find when you're carrying a bigger idea (eg, shit, i need to get this document out today!), it automagically structures your time a bit more.
Re: Do you read HackerNews all day and never actually do anything?
#136Simple hack: 2 computers, one for work and one for the internet. Different workstations, preferably in different rooms. It's a lot harder to get up off your ass than to hit alt-tab. Harness that laziness to your advantage.
you need internet for work.
Re: Do you read HackerNews all day and never actually do anything?
#137I've never been at the stage where I don't do _anything_, but I'm often frustrated that I don't do _enough_. I went through a stage of spending way too much time on Reddit - on the order of 4-5 hours a day. This has been discussed often, but it can be crippling - as soon as you hit the tiniest mental roadblock, you switch your browser to Reddit, next thing you know it's 20 minutes later and not only is your roadblock…
I experienced your same situation but with "get shit done": http://userstyles.org/styles/28042
Re: Do you read HackerNews all day and never actually do anything?
#138Me weekend, full of plans, ended in only reading HN (except when I went out)...
Re: Do you read HackerNews all day and never actually do anything?
#139I've never been at the stage where I don't do _anything_, but I'm often frustrated that I don't do _enough_. I went through a stage of spending way too much time on Reddit - on the order of 4-5 hours a day. This has been discussed often, but it can be crippling - as soon as you hit the tiniest mental roadblock, you switch your browser to Reddit, next thing you know it's 20 minutes later and not only is your roadblock…
But what if I miss out on an insightful "How to get on TechCrunch" article or fail to provide my $0.02 advice for a "Ask HN" post?
Re: Do you read HackerNews all day and never actually do anything?
#140Count me in.