Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

I trick my well-developed procrastination skills

wolfgang.gassler.org

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

21–30 of 158 posts

Re: I trick my well-developed procrastination skills

#21

Post by non-entity »

dijit wrote: post #15

I'm a master procrastinator. Mostly because I have so many things I could do that I have this background feeling that I'm neglecting everything else if I focus on one thing. And I get distracted easily and I hate trying to come back in the middle of something. However, for some things, I have systems to cope. I make -very- simple unbreakable rules. I got fat, decided I needed to fix it, so now I set an alarm at 6am e…

See, I'm good at making "unbreakable" rules, but I'm much better at breaking them.

Re: I trick my well-developed procrastination skills

#22

Post by dijit »

non-entity wrote: post #21
dijit wrote: post #15

I'm a master procrastinator. Mostly because I have so many things I could do that I have this background feeling that I'm neglecting everything else if I focus on one thing. And I get distracted easily and I hate trying to come back in the middle of something. However, for some things, I have systems to cope. I make -very- simple unbreakable rules. I got fat, decided I needed to fix it, so now I set an alarm at 6am e…

See, I'm good at making "unbreakable" rules, but I'm much better at breaking them.

See my advice about trying to make it a chain.

Once you've done it twice maybe three times, you don't want to reset the progress. Over time it gets easier (because you're making a habit) and because there's even more of a ritual involved.

You'd be undoing all the hard work you've done. You won't break it.

Just get 2-3 iterations of the rule under your belt..

Re: I trick my well-developed procrastination skills

#23

Post by Cerium »

dijit wrote: post #15

I'm a master procrastinator. Mostly because I have so many things I could do that I have this background feeling that I'm neglecting everything else if I focus on one thing. And I get distracted easily and I hate trying to come back in the middle of something. However, for some things, I have systems to cope. I make -very- simple unbreakable rules. I got fat, decided I needed to fix it, so now I set an alarm at 6am e…

I find rules helpful. When I had a rigid schedule I had an alarm clock rule: "When the alarm clock rings you get out of bed. No snooze. You can sit on a chair, but you can't be on the bed." Sometimes I would sit on a chair and fall asleep and then end up on the floor. Generally, once I was out of the bed the day would just start.

Re: I trick my well-developed procrastination skills

#24

Post by grawprog »

Tade0 wrote: post #3

I read the whole thing, but knew from the get go that these tricks wouldn't work on me. Mostly because I know the source of my procrastination and it boils down to two things: 1. I've gotten away with a lot of stupid shit in the past. 2. Because of that I think too highly of my skills. I have no incentive to start preparing tasks or being organised because I've come to enjoy the thrill of doing everything in the last…

>I have no incentive to start preparing tasks or being organised because I've come to enjoy the thrill of doing everything in the last minute.

I tend to do this a lot and so far it's managed to work for things that actually have deadlines, though it always ends up being more stressful. I find though, with things that don't have deadlines it kind of falls apart and last minute just becomes never happens.

Re: I trick my well-developed procrastination skills

#25

Post by XCSme »

Tade0 wrote: post #3

I read the whole thing, but knew from the get go that these tricks wouldn't work on me. Mostly because I know the source of my procrastination and it boils down to two things: 1. I've gotten away with a lot of stupid shit in the past. 2. Because of that I think too highly of my skills. I have no incentive to start preparing tasks or being organised because I've come to enjoy the thrill of doing everything in the last…

Same, I usually procrastinate a day or two, and then binge-work out of guilt for 1-2 days. I manage to get a lot done this way while avoiding the burn-out.

Re: I trick my well-developed procrastination skills

#26

Post by lowdest »

robmerki wrote: post #19
lowdest wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Seriously. After 15 years of struggling with various self help programs, an ADHD-PI diagnosis and medication fixed 90% of my problems. I feel like that movie Limitless was inspired by someone who really needed ADHD medication and finally got it.

Other than meds, did you do anything else that was helpful?

Yes: Hydration is a little important. Sleep is very important (white noise machine, blackout curtains, melatonin when needed, regular schedule, no alcohol near bedtime on work nights.) Exercise is a little important, but too much is detrimental. Learning meditation, specifically body-scan, was really helpful for me though indirectly. It helped me better notice my internal states, which then helps me remove blockers to focusing. A low-carb diet also helped, but is rather high-effort to maintain so I don't follow it anymore. I make great use of reminders on my phone, and appointments on my calendar, because I have no faith in my ability to remember things at the right times despite having a great memory.

Re: I trick my well-developed procrastination skills

#27

Post by dnh44 »

When I’ve done a great job of procrastinating, I normally have a lot anxious energy that I feel I need to get rid of so I go for a 30 minute walk or run. During this outing I repeat the Mentat Mantra from the Dune film to myself the entire time.

"It is by will alone I set my mind in motion. It is by the juice of Sapho that thoughts acquire speed, the lips acquire stains, the stains become a warning. It is by will alone I set my mind in motion."

I then arrive home ready to work, feeling like I can accomplish anything. I take a quick shower if I’ve been for a run then go to the kitchen and go through the ritual of making a cup of tea. I sit down at my desk, finally ready to begin. Then I’ll pick one last HN comments section to read. I normally pick the one that has the most comments. After that’s done I desperately search for anything else that I could justify doing. Then I’ve got a pretty good chance of starting unless it’s close to lunchtime.

In all seriousness though I’ve learned to just accept it without guilt and stop torturing myself. I’ll spend a couple days out of the office and not even try being productive, maybe have a long weekend. There’s no point in suffering in front of a computer screen if I’m not going to be productive anyway. Might as well sit in the sun with a cup of tea and listen to the birds.

Re: I trick my well-developed procrastination skills

#28

Post by moreaccountspls »

Tade0 wrote: post #3

I read the whole thing, but knew from the get go that these tricks wouldn't work on me. Mostly because I know the source of my procrastination and it boils down to two things: 1. I've gotten away with a lot of stupid shit in the past. 2. Because of that I think too highly of my skills. I have no incentive to start preparing tasks or being organised because I've come to enjoy the thrill of doing everything in the last…

That sounds like a rationalization. If there was a gift box sitting on your counter that when opened would make all of your wildest dream come true, would you procrastinate opening it? Again, all you would have to do is take 10 seconds to open it.

Re: I trick my well-developed procrastination skills

#29

Post by errantmind »

Only one approach to procrastination has worked for me: lack of rational thought. The only conscious deliberation I allow is the decision of whether or not I should do something, after that i just _do_. No further thought required. If I catch myself thinking about it, I stop myself and just act, the decision was already made. Sometimes, rational thought is overused.

Re: I trick my well-developed procrastination skills

#30

Post by tra3 »

dijit wrote: post #18
cgriswald wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have a lot of similar rules for mundane tasks and it shows when I've slacked. In addition, I also take time to verbalize how much I appreciate having (say) a clean kitchen, both immediately after the task, and whenever I actually appreciate it (like, say, first thing in the morning when I'm moving slow and just want some coffee). For things that require focus, I do pomodoros. Knowing I have a break of X minutes com…

I keep hearing about pomodoro as a method of helping people focus, but part of my current fears are being 'removed' from the topic I'm working on mid-way. I get the feeling that if pomodoros worked, then by the same logic knowing that I have a meeting in 30 minutes would aid my focus, but instead it's the complete opposite, I consider that I can't fill a 30minute window meaningfully and thus do nothing. Maybe there's…

Same trick as gp, you don’t wanna break the chain. If you’re interrupted whether self imposed or external, the Pomodoro doesn’t count. If you procrastinate, it doesn’t count.
Post reply on HN