Tricks to start working despite not feeling like it • Hacker News Board

Re: Tricks to start working despite not feeling like it

#261

Post by LeftHandPath » Tue, Jan 21, 2020, 5:40 PM UTC

Scarblac wrote: post #130

yodsanklai wrote: post #123

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sometimes I have a really hard time to start working on some tasks and I think it is linked to anxiety and stress, not mere laziness . As long as there are no big expectations (like when exercising), I have usually no procrastination issues.

Sometimes I'm kicking myself that I should really start work on this now, and it doesn't work, and I get more and more anxious. Upon reflection (sometimes I get to that point sooner, sometimes later) the problem is usually that the task is too vaguely defined to start working on it.

I’ve dealt with this as well, particularly with programming. At least with programming, what I usually wind up doing is raising an issue on Github about the feature I’m trying to implement or the bug I’m trying to solve. It helps me actually start working, keep track of my thoughts, and define the problem well enough that I can ultimately begin working on it.

With other things, usually it’s best to run to google, or send an email to your boss or professor, or just pull out a notepad and start jotting things down. Sometimes it also helps to take a quick break - exercise, take a shower, etc - and then come back.

Although the irony is that I’m typing this comment out as a form of procrastination when I should be pulling out my laptop to do some remote work...

Re: Tricks to start working despite not feeling like it

#262

Post by tripzilch » Tue, Jan 21, 2020, 5:41 PM UTC

Aeolun wrote: post #108

e19293001 wrote: post #29

I'd like to share this post[0]: The last two weeks I made it a goal to run 5km every morning. A few times, particularly today, I felt lazy and run down, but I got out of bed anyway and told myself that I'll at least walk. The next thing I know I'm running and feeling amazing and on to set one of my better times. The point: When you tell yourself "just one more game" or "just one more post", or "just one more video" a…

Just one more line of code always leads to me leaving work at 20:30 :/

If you can pull it off and restrain yourself, there is this trick of leaving one easy bug (or task) open, to get a nice start of the next day. You could start looking out for that task or bug half an hour before quits, maybe?

Re: Tricks to start working despite not feeling like it

#263

Post by Zenst » Tue, Jan 21, 2020, 5:42 PM UTC

I always used to leave myself a few simple tasks at work ready for the start of the next day, so I could ease myself into the day.

Nowadays email has helped with that, at least reading it. Learned best to draft reply and then after lunch go thru and edit/rewrite before sendings.

Worked well for me. Though the biggest issue (and gift) I have is actually over-thinking and with that, seeing the bigger picture can be darn depressing on so many issues that I often find my zest for life lacking that anything else struggles to stand a chance of having a shot. But, just one more day has worked for decades.

Re: Tricks to start working despite not feeling like it

#264

Post by m3kw9 » Tue, Jan 21, 2020, 5:43 PM UTC

cjfd wrote: post #144

It may not always be wise to start working despite not feeling it. One could burn out that way. Scott H. Young write an article about this recently. https://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2020/01/13/too-tired/ I have also experienced this. When I got my first job I actually tried to work all the time, besides the occasional breaks, ignoring feelings of tiredness. This got to the point where I was feeling tired pretty much…

Agree, the way should be instead how to make myself feel like starting that task. Ask yourself why you are not feeling it, but obviously it’s because there are more fun tasks, so you need to solve why it isn’t fun, and devise a way to make it fun for you. As opposed to treating the task as torture.

Re: Tricks to start working despite not feeling like it

#265

Post by pjot » Tue, Jan 21, 2020, 5:47 PM UTC

echelon wrote: post #19

I have ADHD, so this is a constant struggle. Make sure the thing you have to do is something you want to do. While you can procrastinate on the things you're truly interested in, ultimately you're more likely to follow through with the things that interest you than the other random tasks that require doing. Writing that design doc, report, or review at work? Meh. I drag my feet until I'm the last person in the office…

Your post resonates with me greatly - often I'll find myself making up _new_ side projects to take the place of the things that actually need to get done.

How do you push yourself to get the right things done now, that is, until you get rich enough to do otherwise?

Re: Tricks to start working despite not feeling like it

#266

Post by m3kw9 » Tue, Jan 21, 2020, 5:47 PM UTC

I think one of the best trick is to split out the work into super small pieces of meaningful work. And treat that as the work it self. Most times it’s because there is no fun in looking at the huge task and getting stuck On where to start. This is why working at a corporation is easier, there are leads and managers Already divided up the work for you to do.

Re: Tricks to start working despite not feeling like it

#267

Post by tripzilch » Tue, Jan 21, 2020, 5:48 PM UTC

cgriswald wrote: post #232

Valakas_ wrote: post #160

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For me that doesn't work because then I learn that "yeah you say just walking but we both know it will end up in running." What works instead is I promise I will walk. And then I actually only walk even if I feel like running. That way you will trust yourself. If I say "ok i go to the gym 30 mins. just for a quick training." Then even if I'm in the flow at minute 30, I stop and go home. Next time I remember that and…

I think the problem you have is that you don't know which 'you' is making the decisions. Let's call the 'tricking' you 'You' and the one you are tricking 'Body-You'. Then here is how the conversation goes: You: "Time to get up and run." Body-You: "Oh hell no. I'm tired. Plus we did a good job yesterday. And we have a lot to do today. Also, we don't want to over do it do we?" You: (sighs) "Fine. Let's at least walk fo…

I feel the same thing Valakas is describing. Which of the "you"'s is remembering the next time, "yeah but 30 minutes that's not how it went last time"?

(also, I don't think body-you would say "we have a lot to do today"?)

Re: Tricks to start working despite not feeling like it

#268

Post by m3kw9 » Tue, Jan 21, 2020, 5:54 PM UTC

kuu wrote: post #18

Funny to read as we are probably procrastinating.

This procrastination is actually probably useful. If I go on other social networks the probably of usefulness or random items that an Algo targets me approaches zero

Re: Tricks to start working despite not feeling like it

#269

Post by lemofo » Tue, Jan 21, 2020, 5:57 PM UTC

kitd wrote: post #66

e19293001 wrote: post #29

I'd like to share this post[0]: The last two weeks I made it a goal to run 5km every morning. A few times, particularly today, I felt lazy and run down, but I got out of bed anyway and told myself that I'll at least walk. The next thing I know I'm running and feeling amazing and on to set one of my better times. The point: When you tell yourself "just one more game" or "just one more post", or "just one more video" a…

Agreed. I have found myself paralysed by procrastination at times (normally when whatever project I'm currently on has lost its initial zing). My strategy has become: Just do one task today, that's all. Doesn't matter how small. Leave the office feeling like you've done something productive. My thought process then becomes, OK, let's do my one task early then I can browse Reddit/HN/wherever. And of course, what happe…

I hit a really hard wall when trying to learn for school for things I already understood.

It was very frustrating time because knew exactly that I wanna do it. Like I like doing something like it and saw clear benefits doing it.

I tried everything from the procrastinator handbook.

Ritalin helped immediately

Re: Tricks to start working despite not feeling like it

#270

Post by monktastic1 » Tue, Jan 21, 2020, 5:57 PM UTC

MadWombat wrote: post #258

monktastic1 wrote: post #244

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> not because I cannot do anymore. Then it sounds like you don't actually believe you're at 0% remaining. What your parent is saying, and what I've observed myself, is that most people really believe they physically cannot (say) run any further.

> most people really believe they physically cannot (say) run Do they? I would expect that when you "physically cannot run", it means you are collapsed in a pile on the ground unable to stand or move. People might say things like "I cannot run another step", but that is not the same as actually believing it. That said, unless you are very fit and very young, it might not be a good idea to get yourself to the point wh…

Without getting philosophical about the definition of "belief," the point I took away was that people have a hell of a lot more left than they normally admit to themselves, even when the bar is merely "I'd be injured" rather than "I literally cannot." This may be more true for cardio than weights.