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Why I Procrastinate (2019)

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Re: Why I Procrastinate (2019)

#111

Post by milesvp »

spawarotti wrote: post #81

TL;DR: "Most people don't have problems with procrastination" I’ve read the article. I would caution against labeling yourself as having ADHD, IMO it is very dangerous. Every high-achieving person I know has major problem with procrastination. I was nodding while reading the article until the ADHD part. Does it mean we all have ADHD? Consider an alternative: our brains have to operate nonstop at near max capacity jus…

So to call ADHD defective is definitely a huge problem. It ignores any and all advantages of having brain differences. I saw a study a few years back that suggest ADD was highly correlated with the ability to focus under intense short term pressure. It’s very possible that this is an actual genetic tradeoff, the ability to think and act under pressure is a hugely valuable skill to society, so who cares if a person can’t help but chase butterflies the rest of the time?

I think the bigger problem we have as a society is that we don’t do a good enough job identifying people’s strengths and finding ways to leverage them while downplaying their weaknesses. It’s something that I think exceptional managers do with their teams, but I suspect is a rare skill.

Re: Why I Procrastinate (2019)

#113

Post by InvisibleUp »

spawarotti wrote: post #94
InvisibleUp wrote: post #84

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hi, author here. Since I wrote this article, I got professionally diagnosed and treated. Turns out, yeah, I'm doing a lot better now. On most days I don't have these symptoms, I can in fact study for classes and work, while also doing the things I love. I'm getting back into doodling, I've schedules all the appointments I need to, I have a great friend group, etc. etc. It's not perfect, I relapse sometimes, but I'm d…

Thanks for the reply! Let me elaborate on my point. Consider a thought experiment: If you would spend 3 months in the woods, do you think it is plausible your symptoms would disappear? If you don’t think this as being plausible (likely even) then we have to agree to disagree and that’s it. Not enough data. If you do agree that might cure you then what does it mean about your ADHD diagnosis? It means that you have ADH…

Would my symptoms disappear? Unlikely. They've been with me my whole life.

Would my symptoms be an issue? Possibly not, depending on how brutal the camping experience is.

I will concede that this semester I've reduced my workload and it's helping me avoid burnout and stress. Stress makes my symptoms significantly worse. I'd bet most people don't do well under sustained pressure, though.

That said, my problems aren't just limited to classwork and such. Doing laundry and cooking and other stuff I'd always have to do can be a genuine struggle for me. Even on the weekend, even on holiday break. Even with no pressure, I have these symptoms.

I only went on the ADHD route after exhausting all other alternatives. As I gain more responsibilities in life it's becoming obvious that I need treatment. And it works for me. Maybe something else is better for you. IDK. But don't write off ADHD. Nobody would go through these tests and take these medications if it wasn't genuinely helpful.

Re: Why I Procrastinate (2019)

#114

Post by keyle »

1999 - the GTD method

2019 - everyone thinks they have ADHD on some level

Constant: you're human and you are a fine human. Hormones and interests fluctuate throughout the weeks, months, years. Pursue what feels right. The human brain wasn't designed to pursue long term goals, it takes an extraordinary interest in something for it to be a life goal. Nothing is ever finished, it's just tabled for now. One day you'll be old and leave all that crap behind for the next generation. It's nature.

Re: Why I Procrastinate (2019)

#115

Post by ncfausti »

As a 33 year old who was just diagnosed with ADHD, a few minutes into reading this I knew exactly where it was going.

For me, it was when I watched Dr. Russell Barkley's talk[1] and halfway through, it brought me to tears. No one before then had described exactly the way I felt on a daily basis.

Since going through a full day of neuropsychological testing and being diagnosed with ADHD-I and starting medication, I feel like the me I think I am, naturally curious, optimistic, and actually following through with the things that interest me. Planning and grad school assignments just click so effortlessly now, and my stress is way down, as I am completing things in a timely manner and not fighting myself at every step of the way.

If any of this resonates with you, please talk with a psychiatrist to see if this is something you're unknowingly (and unnecessarily) struggling with.

Also,if you're like me and like listening to audio books at 2 or 3x speed, check out Speechify, it allows you to listen to any kind of text including rough scans of books/PDFs. It's been incredibly helpful for required readings in classes.

edit: wrong video url

[1] https://youtu.be/_tpB-B8BXk0

Re: Why I Procrastinate (2019)

#116

Post by rdiddly »

Afton wrote: post #99
rdiddly wrote: post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm not recommending anything. This isn't a charged environment like Twitter, where it seems 100% of statements are either recommendations that will FIX THE UNIVERSE, or attempts by opponents to misconstrue them as same, for purpose of finding fault (since no recommendation will ever be 100% valid in all cases). RE reading the article, that's where I'm getting it. "My mind flutters from the window to reading the litt…

Your first paragraph is strawmaning. At no point did I demand that you recommend a 100% fix. You made a claim about how the industrial age was the problem. I was trying to make a point that even if true, that doesn't really buy you anything, since we live in the age we live in. If I failed to communicate that well enough, I apologize. As for the rest, it's hard to know what to make of it. It's like you're building a…

Well yeah of course I know what age we're living in, and that it's a thing, otherwise I wouldn't be saying these things. We're saying the same thing basically, but you asked what I recommend and I'm just saying I don't have an answer, because that wasn't the point. In other words it's outside the scope of my comment to make recommendations of any kind, or try to state what an appropriate course of action might be.

It might've sounded like I was accusing you of something - I wasn't, sorry, just pointing out that rushing to a conclusion is part of why Twitter sucks. Nobody can just talk about an idea or let's say, one particular side of an idea, without it being construed as carrying a flag for that idea to take over the world and exterminate all other ideas. I'm only mentioning one thing, that doesn't mean all other things are false. But I'm focusing on this one side of it partly because nobody really needs me to enumerate the BAD aspects of having ADHD, I mean that's the side everyone has already heard!

Re: Why I Procrastinate (2019)

#117

Post by criddell »

kempbellt wrote: post #109
tiglionabbit wrote: post #90

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Definitely right. Sometimes I look at notes I made for myself, telling myself what to do, and then ultimately rebel against my past self because I don't want to do what I'm telling myself to do. Systems are better when they're an augmentation of your memory that you can appreciate. For example, I always put events in my google calendar so I can remember when they are and catch overlaps early. I've had a bad relations…

This is painfully relatable. "Screw you (me). You don't know what now is like. This is a priority now."

I think this is fair provided you also remember to thank past you for the things that are helping you today.

Re: Why I Procrastinate (2019)

#119

Post by InvisibleUp »

rb808 wrote: post #98

I could be ADHD, I hear a lot of stories about people diagnosed as adults. Surely everyone has trouble getting motivated for boring tasks. Surely everyone would benefit from stimulants though? I'm not sure how to tell the difference.

I (and other people with ADHD) have trouble getting motivated not just for boring tasks, but any task. Even things we want to do. I doubt you've ever procrastinated playing your favorite video game, but I do. A lot.

Stimulants also effect people with ADHD differently than those without. I won't pretend nto be an expert on the subject, but stimulants tend to make people with ADHD calmer, able to control their thoughts better, and sometimes even sleepier. People without ADHD tend to feel agitated and jittery and hyper.

Re: Why I Procrastinate (2019)

#120

Post by criddell »

Thorentis wrote: post #102
InvisibleUp wrote: post #84

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hi, author here. Since I wrote this article, I got professionally diagnosed and treated. Turns out, yeah, I'm doing a lot better now. On most days I don't have these symptoms, I can in fact study for classes and work, while also doing the things I love. I'm getting back into doodling, I've schedules all the appointments I need to, I have a great friend group, etc. etc. It's not perfect, I relapse sometimes, but I'm d…

As I said in my main comment ( https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22127841#22133387 ): Give up social media (all of it: Twitter, Reddit, Facebook, HN), porn, and TV (including Netflix) for a couple of months. Take up some form of exercise (lifting, running, even pilates or something), and re-evaluate your attention span. I'm not being flippant. If your therapist hasn't recommended this as at least a starting point…

I think rates may be skyrocketing because some of the stigma associated with the stuff you listed is finally started to recede. Now that people are being more open and honest with their doctors, more diagnoses are being made.
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