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Ask HN: How do you stay disciplined in the long run?

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Re: Ask HN: How do you stay disciplined in the long run?

#71

Post by mezod »

mi100hael wrote: post #61
mezod wrote: post #28

Shameless plug - I work on https://everyday.app (simple and beautiful habit tracker for the web/ios/android) and seeing the colourful board filled with 2 years of data is hugely motivating to keep me going and stay on track with the SAME goals. For example: https://app.everyday.app/2/5 :)

Having a list somewhere like an app or a little notebook is hugely helpful in keeping you accountable every single day. I use a different app but I'll check out everyday.app :)

Definitely, the sole fact of reading every day what I want to do every single day already makes a huge difference!

Awesome, feel free to shoot me any feedback! ;)

Re: Ask HN: How do you stay disciplined in the long run?

#72

Post by tvanantwerp »

As many others here have recommended, read Atomic Habits for a good idea of how to go from goal-oriented action to process-oriented action.

> I have strongly come to perceive myself as being driven by external accountabilities which makes me good at work at office but bad at executing personal projects.

I'd also recommend reading The Four Tendencies by Gretchin Rubin, which is an interesting framework for how different people respond to both internal and external expectations. Based on your own personal observation, you'd fall into the most populous category: obliger, i.e., good with external expectations but not internal ones.

Re: Ask HN: How do you stay disciplined in the long run?

#75

Post by bbx »

Pick a smaller project, something you can finish in a few days or weeks.

For years I was thinking of creating video tutorials to teach CSS. I would sell these videos online, either as a subscription model or as a downloadable package. I spent months creating design templates that I would teach how to code. I also looked into screen recording software. I bought a microphone stand. I did some tests. But in the end, I hadn't written any content. I had only worked on the side aspects.

So one day I decided to just make the smallest project I could think of: a small ebook to teach CSS. The result was this: https://jgthms.com/css-in-44-minutes-ebook

I managed to write and launch it within a few months because the scope was way smaller, which allowed me to be more focused on the task because I could see the end of it.

As of now, I’m actually writing my second ebook, focused on advanced CSS techniques and concepts. It will have a lot more content, because I’ve learned how to launch something. The only difference is the amount of time I’ll have to spend writing. But in the end you realise that most projects scale linearly. You just need to learn how to finish a project before building bigger ones.

Same happened with Bulma: https://bulma.io

The initial idea was actually way bigger. But in the end, I launched it with the basic features I had in mind. It’s now grown a lot.

Re: Ask HN: How do you stay disciplined in the long run?

#76

Post by johanek »

Haul4ss wrote: post #3

I'm convinced that almost nobody is good at the whole cycle of creating/maintaining something. Some people are great at coming up with new ideas but quickly bore with the implementation. Some people can relentlessly improve on an existing thing but can't come up with the initial idea. Some people are great stewards of an established program but don't thrive in the chaos of rapid iteration. I think instead of trying t…

I think Simon Wardley's concept of Pioneers, Settlers and Town Planners matches nicely with what you're saying about different types of people: https://blog.gardeviance.org/2015/03/on-pioneers-settlers-to...

Re: Ask HN: How do you stay disciplined in the long run?

#78

Post by jrumbut »

StephenCanis wrote: post #8

I just wanted to point out it's totally normal to go through waves of interest or motivation for various things in your life. Especially if these are things unrelated to your career or work you should consider becoming less outcome focused. You mention 25%-50% of the journey - how do you define the 100%? For something like running I think it's common to get very interested and the interest to fade out over time. This…

I used to get this advice a lot, and I need reminders sometimes. What I only recently figured out is what process means here. I thought it was generic "enjoy your life" stuff, but you really are going through a specific process.

These projects are the process of you growing, maturing, getting seasoned. It sounds like you aren't quite ready for your big break yet, which is fine, especially because you are doing exactly what you should do.

Congratulate yourself for any time you spend creating, you're learning tools and techniques and mental habits and what doesn't work. Soon, maybe tomorrow or maybe a decade from now, you'll start to develop a vision of what your life's work really is.

My advice is to keep following your ideas, doing active creation whenever you can, and most importantly seeking out good people and letting them help you.

Re: Ask HN: How do you stay disciplined in the long run?

#79

Post by gshdg »

runjake wrote: post #46

I am not a disciplined, ruthless executor but I do know a couple things: 1.) Stop reading productivity porn. If you must pick a productivity approach, pick something low friction that doesn't have you jumping through meaningless hoops. (Some hoops are good, like the one in #2). 2.) Do daily/weekly reviews. Even monthly, if that's all you can manage. Every week, developer your situation report: what do you have on you…

How do you focus on planning while running? My mind always goes totally blank except for awareness of body and surroundings.
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