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Procrastination is about managing emotions, not time

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Re: Procrastination is about managing emotions, not time

#62

Yesterday I had a bit of a talk with myself about my behavior pertaining to procrastination. I am addicted to: - YouTube - Gaming Worse, I have quite a runway due to low living expenses. I came with a new idea today, I hope it helps anyone else. I need to get good at generating my own feelings. This is why I play games and watch videos. I do it to feel something. In order to do that I need to stay as close as to the…

>to feel something

This is a phrase I hear in American discourse a lot. What does it mean?

Re: Procrastination is about managing emotions, not time

#63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Interesting, did you just start doing it or has been on it for some time?

Just started so in that sense this idea hasn’t been battle tested. But replacement addictions work quite well with me (eg coca cola —> green tea). So the fact that this is a replacement scheme as well does give the idea some promise for me.

Hat tip: reddit/r/writingprompts. A poster provides a single line describing a premise and commenters write short stories. It's a great way of getting triggered to be creative.

The difference between gaming / youtube is that writing is producing. You're creating something. And that triggers different parts of your brain making you feel like you're accomplishing something.

Beware though. Writing short stories can become a procrastination in itself! For instance, instead of doing homework, you write a short story.

Managing yourself is also being aware that your mind works at different speeds. Read up on Kahneman's Thinking Fast and Slow to get the idea. The big challenge each of us faces is learning to live with yourself and striking the right balance.

Re: Procrastination is about managing emotions, not time

#64
post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not always true. I frequently procrastinate on things that I actively enjoy doing and want to do. There are times when I want nothing more than to be doing something and I still procrastinate doing it. This applies to things that aren't work or aren't productive just the same, things that take little effort like watching a series or playing a video game. Medication does make it a lot better and I don't procrastinate…

Have you considered meditation?

I'd pay some seriously good money for some information about how to efficiently meditate with ADD. From my experience, it is a poor tool to improve one's condition, and ADD makes it nigh impossible to efficiently meditate anyway. I have done some googling on that topic and only find lame "meditation for wellbeing" BS all around, but nothing clearly targeted for ADD.

Re: Procrastination is about managing emotions, not time

#65

Yesterday I had a bit of a talk with myself about my behavior pertaining to procrastination. I am addicted to: - YouTube - Gaming Worse, I have quite a runway due to low living expenses. I came with a new idea today, I hope it helps anyone else. I need to get good at generating my own feelings. This is why I play games and watch videos. I do it to feel something. In order to do that I need to stay as close as to the…

> I need to get good at generating my own feelings. This is why I play games and watch videos. I do it to feel something.

I'm also videogame addict.

I've found that listening to game music/soundtracks (mostly instrumental) while programming really helps me achieve the similar feelings and even motivates me to get stuff done.

Re: Procrastination is about managing emotions, not time

#66

Yesterday I had a bit of a talk with myself about my behavior pertaining to procrastination. I am addicted to: - YouTube - Gaming Worse, I have quite a runway due to low living expenses. I came with a new idea today, I hope it helps anyone else. I need to get good at generating my own feelings. This is why I play games and watch videos. I do it to feel something. In order to do that I need to stay as close as to the…

>to feel something This is a phrase I hear in American discourse a lot. What does it mean?

To feel excited, engaged.

Re: Procrastination is about managing emotions, not time

#67

Yesterday I had a bit of a talk with myself about my behavior pertaining to procrastination. I am addicted to: - YouTube - Gaming Worse, I have quite a runway due to low living expenses. I came with a new idea today, I hope it helps anyone else. I need to get good at generating my own feelings. This is why I play games and watch videos. I do it to feel something. In order to do that I need to stay as close as to the…

>to feel something This is a phrase I hear in American discourse a lot. What does it mean?

At the very least, to prevent boredom. Probably also something like, having an immediate sense of purpose. Or just experiencing strong emotion.

Re: Procrastination is about managing emotions, not time

#69
post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I disagree, I also procrastinate on things I want to do

Many of your desires may well be acquired preferences

Procrastination is and should have definitely more into it. Inaction brings convenience with it and inaction is the only child of procrastination. So, it's due to our inclination to convenience and doesn't say anything yet about the task at hand.

That's the reason people procrastinate on the things at one moment which they don't at others.

Re: Procrastination is about managing emotions, not time

#70
post #35

If you are going to procrastinate somewhere, you might as well do it here on HN. At least you can be inspired about other people's projects, tutorials and learn something etc. But reading generic news articles like this about procrastination? I don't think so.

Yea but ultimately no. Too much of anything screws you over. Too much HN feels like hoarding huge piles of clothes in your house. Except, the clothes are knowledge. The problem is that you’re not structuring the knowledge inside your mind. This can be fine when reading an article but not when you read 20 to a 100 per day. I’ve been there, I wouldn’t be able to remember what I read. With that said, you do learn someth…

the antidote presumably being whatever a capsule wardrobe is for information
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