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Tricks to start working despite not feeling like it

deprocrastination.co

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Re: Tricks to start working despite not feeling like it

#341

Post by kd5bjo »

triceratops wrote: post #290
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…

> because then I learn that "yeah you say just walking but we both know it will end up in running." And this doesn't motivate you? For me it's actually more motivating: I only have to muster enough willpower to start walking, not to run, but I'll end up having a good workout anyway.

That’s only a motivation if you viscerally believe running to be an enjoyable activity. I have found that when starting something new, the most important (and hardest) thing is to stop while I’m still having a good time so that I associate that good feeling with the activity instead of the pain that comes from overdoing it.

Re: Tricks to start working despite not feeling like it

#342

Post by onion2k »

qety wrote: post #28
onion2k wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Maybe this works for potters but I don't think it'd work for developers. If a compSci lecturer suggested one group would get an A for writing a perfect, bug free app and the other group would get an A for writing 50,000 lines of code, I wouldn't expect the group writing as much code as they could to make the best app.

This would be analogous to creating 1 pot using 10 tons of clay = writing 50,000 lines of code for 1 project vs writing lots of different projects = creating lots of different pots.

That only works if the second option is constrained to make all the projects approximately the same number of lines of code.

Re: Tricks to start working despite not feeling like it

#343

Post by teekert »

Mind over matter guys, "Screw it, lets do it." is the best advice: just start, anywhere. I've struggled with this my entire life and nowadays I just start writing (code or documents). It feels like getting out of bed after a night with a crying baby, but you know, have a coffee, stare into the bright daylight of a new day and that moment of actually deciding to push away the sheets is long forgotten.

Edit: I have two brothers, one with ADD one with issues with Alcohol. All three of us have issues starting and finishing things that are import for an orderly life. The one with the alcohol problem is (or was perhaps, he's ding pretty good now) really prone to feeling like a victim and just dropping everything when things don't go smoothly. The main difference between me and my brothers is my ability to kick my own ass into action. Other than that I recognize many aspects of their character in mine. Maybe the thought of the troubles they have had helps me.

Still, the most fun things always go first, but hey, I've earned that little pleasure, right? ;)

Re: Tricks to start working despite not feeling like it

#344

Post by raindropm »

preommr wrote: post #80

Here's something that I think works best: Detaching yourself from everything and writing things down. Either a piece of paper or a text document. Start writing concrete things that need to be reinforced, that are easy to answer and can be connected together. Things like the goal of the software, core modules, what you're working on now, etc. Expand to things like what new features would be nice, how to implement them…

This is also important. Some type of work need to have certain kind of plan of 'What's Next'. Even a simple checklist will do. Maybe some kind of simple month/week plan.

Some may argue that it may leads to overplanning, but I found that randomly do something everyday just for the sake of doing it but didn't move into the direction of your goal made you felt empty in the long run, because all those time you've spent lead to nothing worthwhile.

Re: Tricks to start working despite not feeling like it

#345

Post by Zod666 »

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 saying with running you might want to take at least a day if not two off for your knees to recover.

Re: Tricks to start working despite not feeling like it

#346

Post by quickthrower2 »

InvisibleUp wrote: post #202

Procrastination is a tricky beast. I'm not going to discount advice like this, because it is helpful. But it is only one piece of the puzzle. There's a stark difference between "I don't quite feel like starting this yet, so I'll put it off for a little bit" and "I absolutely want nothing more than to start this but I can't force myself to", between laziness and a genuine inability to begin. Not to give medical advice…

There is a third type of blocker. Being too sick or fatigued. Knowing when to push through but risk having less energy later or the next day, or hold back can be a challenge.

If you don’t get fatigue think of t like the decision to do an all nighter: you can’t do one every night!

Re: Tricks to start working despite not feeling like it

#347

Post by pferde »

DrOctagon wrote: post #314
JshWright wrote: post #230

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In my (totally unprofessional) opinion, C25K progresses too quickly for most people. It think the "None to Run" variant is better (and emphasizes that repeating weeks is normal, and even expected)

None to Run looks great! The slower the progression the better for beginning runners in my (also totally unprofessional) opinion too. As a general comment, shin splints is the classic beginners too-much-too-soon running injury. Experienced runners get a whole range of other injuries, but rarely shin splints. The only time is after they take a break and try and come back too quickly (notice the pattern).

Yep, with running as an absolute beginner, you really want to start slowly, both in terms of tempo and in terms of distance. The key is regularity and persistence.

By running slowly a lot, your body has time to learn how to run efficiently and safely simply by trial and error. By not overdoing it, you give your body time to recover from any errors made during the "trials", without injury.

Incidentally, lot of slow running is also a great way to build up base endurance, so it is not wasted time, and you will "recoup the investment" later, when you start running longer distances.

Shin splints suck, though. Even experienced runners get them from time to time. Probably best to switch it up a bit, include swimming or bicycle instead of some runs every now and then.

Re: Tricks to start working despite not feeling like it

#348

Post by sobani »

jriot wrote: post #304
MadWombat wrote: post #258

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> 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…

I have fallen over on the ground after 20 miles of running in both legs my quads and hamstrings were cramping. I got up and ran another 10 miles. Didn't have any choice, either run 5 miles back to the check-in table or 10 miles to finish the race.

A cramp is not being at your limits. A good stretch and your ready to continue.

This https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKWWRS9CpTY is being at your limits. But I'm willing to bet that a tiger would make her body remember that maaaybe there is actually (a lot) more energy left to keep going.

Re: Tricks to start working despite not feeling like it

#349

Post by AstralStorm »

K0SM0S wrote: post #280
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…

This is one of the most important empirical "truth" I've heard, now from several prominent people in the field¹. You are, in effect, prioritizing (self-)discipline over short-term performance, learning or productivity gains. I would surmise that your bodymind² has in effect realized, learned, that compound effect is the best strategy for long-term results; and/or that systems are better than goals. The invariant requ…

Then get ultimately crushed by the world because actually nobody but you cares about the results if the gain is small. Or you get a pat on the back, that's it.

Ultimately you might also find that the end result was totally not worth the effort sunk.

Or worse, there's no way to compare if you gained anything.

There are only relatively few ways that do change life significantly and most of them do not take intense effort or self discipline. (I'd love you to provide examples to the contrary. I know of two: training new skills when they matter and training children and pets.)

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