I haven't resonated with any article so much before as with this. I literally quit my job, because of these reasons.
I'll sign myself up for a therapist now. Thanks.
Why I Procrastinate (2019)
41–50 of 166 posts
Re: Why I Procrastinate (2019)
#42Standard counterpoint objection here that I'm not sure I "buy" ADHD. How much of it is just "being human" (and in particular "being a young human") in a world that's inhuman? Is it a coincidence that the condition was first "observed" around the onset of industrialization a couple hundred years ago? There are numerous evolutionary advantages to being tuned-in to your environment. Certainly every tribe could've used a…
> Standard counterpoint objection here that I'm not sure I "buy" ADHD. How much of it is just "being human" (and in particular "being a young human") in a world that's inhuman? Is it a coincidence that the condition was first "observed" around the onset of industrialization a couple hundred years ago?
To some degree, you are right. Many illnesses are defined by "suffers from ___ to a degree that it interferes with their ability to function effectively". The latter half of that means that mental illness really is affected by our surrounding culture and institutions.
You need food to live and in our world you need a job to buy food. In a world where all the jobs require effective social interaction, even mild autism could be debilitating. But in a world where there are jobs that mostly involve working with machines or animals, it could simply be within the realm of healthy mental variation. So is being on the autism spectrum a disorder or just a difference? Depends on what's on the classified page today.
But it's also important to realize that for ADHD, ASD, and other mental conditions, many people are far enough along their respective spectra that these are unequivocally real diseases that cause them profound suffering in ways that can't be blamed on "society".
Watching someone with untreated ADHD fail to hold down a mind-numbing meaninless dystopian capitalist hellhole job is one thing. Watching them struggle to reach their own personal goals ("just one more YouTube video and then I'll work on that novel"), take care of their physical health ("I'll start exercising tomorrow"), and build healthy long-term personal relationships is another ("I'm so sorry I forgot to call you back, again").
ADHD fundamentally interferes with a person's ability to enact long-term planning over time. This is a fundamental human need independent of the effects of industrial civilization.
Re: Why I Procrastinate (2019)
#43EDIT: My apologies. I was overcome with a bout of head-in-ass-syndrome.
Re: Why I Procrastinate (2019)
#44I'm procrastinating so hard today that I don't even feel like reading procrastination articles on HN!
Yesterday was decent, I started off a bit sluggish but okay, but by mid afternoon I really got going and got a bunch of good things done. I was actually on a productivity high!
Today I came in with that same good energy, and then an alert came in: "user suchNsuch has been blocked due to high volume of suspicious emails sent!" Damn! Total derail. I've been able to do the basics to mitigate that situation, but lost all of my enthusiasm for other projects.
Maybe getting out of the office for a second lunch will help! If I feel like reading these articles after, I will know some progress has been made.
Re: Why I Procrastinate (2019)
#45The post linked within this post was really illuminating for me: https://gekk.info/articles/adhd.html The section on why notecards and todo lists have never worked for him (and for me) was particularly salient: "The problem with "systems" is that they are authorities. They have to be. If you decide "I'll prioritize things with a stack of notecards" then you are telling yourself the following: "The notecards replace m…
I have used the note system (with google calendar) and it worked for me in meeting deadlines(most of) and being objectively more productive. I am currently a graduate student and it has helped me to maintain good grades and complete assignments.
The trick is not to let the notes and calendar act like a "master". I usually view it as a friend who suggests things to do in a given time frame. The friend(calendar with notes) and I are symbiotic, our interests are linked.
Changing the view from an "authoritative master" to a "benevolent friend" would help. Sometimes I would discard the note and keep binging youtube video/or hackernews. Other times, I would reschedule the work for some other time. But most of the time I am able to get things done on time, without any help.
It does require some discipline, but once you get a hang of it, it becomes easy.
Re: Why I Procrastinate (2019)
#46Earlier quoted context omitted.
I have the exact same thing, but I always thought of it as a brilliant feature, not as a problem. As soon as I sit around and get bored, my brain will make up absurd daydreams and stories. Usually they are pretty funny, so afterwards I feel relaxed and happy. Isn't that the whole point of taking a break?
Imagine that brilliant feature isn't just "a break" but the norm... it's not just "when I get bored," it's: - In the middle of flow - Trying to fall asleep - Trying to go back to sleep - In the middle of important conversations - During meetings - even one's you're leading - When you're getting dressed - When you're making breakfast (where the hell did I put the 3rd spoon I've pulled from the drawer) - When you're in…
That would be super annoying, I concur.
I would say the article nicely highlights the problems with ADHD diagnosis, because when I read it, I thought for pretty much every point "oh I also do that sometimes"
Re: Why I Procrastinate (2019)
#47Best advice I've ever gotten: don't overthink it (procrastination, ADHD, productivity systems, etc). Trying to fight the mind with more concepts is like trying to fight the wind with a kite.
Re: Why I Procrastinate (2019)
#48I have the exact symptoms and behavior as this person.
I found that 10mg of desipramine once a night obliterated most of the procrastination.
Re: Why I Procrastinate (2019)
#49EDIT: My apologies. I was overcome with a bout of head-in-ass-syndrome.
Actually, I think it's your tone. There are other people who are expressing similar ideas in this thread and are being upvoted. I'll also correct you, since your last statement is wrong.
I procrastinate a lot. I am also extremely successful by most measures. I have a lot of education and an advanced degree. I have started companies and sold them. I have worked for VCs. I consult. I make a lot more money than almost anyone else in the world by percentage.
I did ALL of those things while fighting with and tackling procrastination. And sometimes, I lose. I lose really hard. I procrastinate for weeks on important things that could take minutes.
I am glad you don't have these social anxieties and disorders. But they are quite real and take real work to get past. Successful people are not those who don't procrastinate. Successful people are those who take challenges and find ways to work around them.
Re: Why I Procrastinate (2019)
#50Procrastination has a good return on investment. You invest nothing and you get nothing.
Unlike every other investment where you give up your time, your health, your optimism and you get nothing.