Study finds that mindfulness is associated with reduced procrastination • Hacker News Board

Re: Study finds that mindfulness is associated with reduced procrastination

#11

Post by sotsoguk » Sun, Jun 30, 2019, 10:19 PM UTC

faizshah wrote: post #5

I have tried to get started on meditation/mindfulness several times but I have never been able to stick with it. Any suggestions on a good way of getting started with it?

For me the headspace app worked wonders. It’s really only ten minutes a day to get started. Ten minutes, a comfortable rest and no interruptions. You don’t need more.

You can always go to other programs later.

Re: Study finds that mindfulness is associated with reduced procrastination

#12

Post by [deleted] » Sun, Jun 30, 2019, 10:24 PM UTC

[deleted]

Re: Study finds that mindfulness is associated with reduced procrastination

#13

Post by eswat » Sun, Jun 30, 2019, 10:24 PM UTC

faizshah wrote: post #5

I have tried to get started on meditation/mindfulness several times but I have never been able to stick with it. Any suggestions on a good way of getting started with it?

See if there's a Shambhala centre (https://shambhala.org/) or another place that has beginners group meditation sessions near you.

The sessions will likely be longer than what you’re used to. But there's less chances for you to bail out and you might grow to have a deeper appreciation for it so you can stick with it.

Re: Study finds that mindfulness is associated with reduced procrastination

#14

Post by cgoecknerwald » Sun, Jun 30, 2019, 10:54 PM UTC

amazingman wrote: post #10

faizshah wrote: post #5

I have tried to get started on meditation/mindfulness several times but I have never been able to stick with it. Any suggestions on a good way of getting started with it?

10 minutes a day is all you really need to get started. There is basically no way one can reasonably convince themselves that they don’t have 10 minutes to spare per day.

Well, procrastination can be pretty irrational, especially when combined with strong emotions.

Re: Study finds that mindfulness is associated with reduced procrastination

#15

Post by [deleted] » Sun, Jun 30, 2019, 11:03 PM UTC

[deleted]

Re: Study finds that mindfulness is associated with reduced procrastination

#16

Post by TimTheTinker » Sun, Jun 30, 2019, 11:26 PM UTC

0-_-0 wrote: post #2

I wanted to start meditating for a while but I keep putting it off. How can I stop procrastinating?

It sounds like a joke but it’s actually a pretty serious conundrum. Those who need the most help with procrastination very well might be procrastinating getting that help.

... Which underscores again the fact that all of us need at least one kind, honest friend and a dose of humility to listen to their feedback.

Re: Study finds that mindfulness is associated with reduced procrastination

#17

Post by klancaster » Sun, Jun 30, 2019, 11:56 PM UTC

sotsoguk wrote: post #11

faizshah wrote: post #5

I have tried to get started on meditation/mindfulness several times but I have never been able to stick with it. Any suggestions on a good way of getting started with it?

For me the headspace app worked wonders. It’s really only ten minutes a day to get started. Ten minutes, a comfortable rest and no interruptions. You don’t need more. You can always go to other programs later.

Headspace has been great for me as well. It has helped me in quite a few ways, including helping to reduce anxiety.

Re: Study finds that mindfulness is associated with reduced procrastination

#18

Post by andai » Mon, Jul 01, 2019, 12:01 AM UTC

faizshah wrote: post #5

I have tried to get started on meditation/mindfulness several times but I have never been able to stick with it. Any suggestions on a good way of getting started with it?

I've been struggling to do this for years. Previously, the longest I ever made it was 15 days with the Insight Timer app. Its shows you how many days in a row you did and it's very encouraging.

What actually got me to do it for longer, and without any willpower, was pirating Sam Harris' Waking Up course.

This is because I already had the muscle memory for going through audiobooks and podcasts on my phone, so I'd just open up VLC every night and instead of a book I'd listen to a guided mindfulness meditation. I did 150 days in a row.

The course is 50 days and I just started over when I was done because I liked it so much.

If I actually got his app, I don't think I would have been as successful, I think it was really the muscle memory in my thumb that opens VLC every evening to listen to some relaxing audio that got me through it.

The course itself is highly recommended: I've been meditating for years but with different methods. With Sam's guidance I made more progress in a few weeks than I've made in years.

Also worth mentioning, if you can't afford it, you can email him and he'll let you have it for free.

Re: Study finds that mindfulness is associated with reduced procrastination

#19

Post by spurgu » Mon, Jul 01, 2019, 12:16 AM UTC

faizshah wrote: post #5

I have tried to get started on meditation/mindfulness several times but I have never been able to stick with it. Any suggestions on a good way of getting started with it?

I can thoroughly recommended the book "The Mind Illuminated: A Complete Meditation Guide Integrating Buddhist Wisdom and Brain Science for Greater Mindfulness", by John Yates.

Re: Study finds that mindfulness is associated with reduced procrastination

#20

Post by lukasb » Mon, Jul 01, 2019, 12:29 AM UTC

spurgu wrote: post #19

faizshah wrote: post #5

I have tried to get started on meditation/mindfulness several times but I have never been able to stick with it. Any suggestions on a good way of getting started with it?

I can thoroughly recommended the book "The Mind Illuminated: A Complete Meditation Guide Integrating Buddhist Wisdom and Brain Science for Greater Mindfulness", by John Yates.

Seconded!