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Ask HN: Feeling guilty for doing the bare minimum at work

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Re: Ask HN: Feeling guilty for doing the bare minimum at work

#211

Post by anonuser123456 »

treesrule wrote: post #129
anonuser123456 wrote: post #115

If your employer is happy with you, there is no reason to 'feel guilty'. Being competent (top 20%) and working 3hrs / day is way more productive than a middle performer working 12 hrs / day. In my personal experience: I work with people that, in 5 minutes, I can accomplish more than they can in a day. And those people are not stupid / unmotivated. I also work with people that, in 5 minutes, can accomplish more than I…

> Being competent (top 20%) What sort of toxic exceptionalism led you to think that only 20% of workers are suitable for their jobs....

I would say that for the first 10 years of my programming career I was not competent. The next 5, I was marginally competent.

I like this essay on the topic:

http://www.norvig.com/21-days.html

Re: Ask HN: Feeling guilty for doing the bare minimum at work

#212

Post by granshaw »

meowface wrote: post #99

This is exactly why I've concluded trying to go my own way is the best long-term plan for me. Before learning about YC and HN and such, the thought never really occurred to me. When I'm working on a personal project I'm really passionate about, my productivity is literally orders of magnitude higher than at any day job I've had. Months or years are compressed into days. For any ambitious personal project that I'm int…

This is me, but maybe to a lesser extent.

I tried doing my own thing but couldn’t keep at it after about 8 months.

I think the key is to at least have your expenses covered by your business. I couldn’t stand seeing my savings and retirement-fodder continue to dwindle even though I had plenty left in the bank.

Found a part-time job and now my days are less fun but also less stressed

Re: Ask HN: Feeling guilty for doing the bare minimum at work

#213

Post by edoceo »

andi999 wrote: post #176
masukomi wrote: post #171

Earlier quoted context omitted.

it's not about not getting excited. It's the result of being "not excited". Neurotypicals can work on things that are uninteresting to them. ADHD people can sit there yelling at themselves to "do the thing" that they _know_ they need to do and still be completely incapable of starting regardless of how "easy" it is to actually do it once something forces them to actually start. this video does a good job of explainin…

You mean people can fill out their tax forms before the due date?

No joke. I pay my CPA extra to nag me.

Re: Ask HN: Feeling guilty for doing the bare minimum at work

#214

Post by TrackerFF »

uh_uh wrote: post #170
borski wrote: post #150

Read up a bit on ADHD. That 'hyperfocus' that occurs either with deadlines or on a passion project is a symptom, as is the inability to get excited about projects you simply don't want to do - especially given your otherwise positive reviews and your ability to clear your mind and hyperfocus near a deadline, it's something to consider. I was diagnosed at 33, and it changed my life infinitely for the better. YMMV, and…

Isn't it just rational not to get excited about boring stuff that is rewarded by a fix monetary ceiling? Economically it completely makes sense: why put more energy into something that yields the same result either way? Or maybe I have ADHD too.

With ADHD, for many it's nigh on impossible to get focused, no mater how high the stakes are - to the point where it seems extremely irresponsible and downright irrational to normal observers.

Imagine that almost everything in your life, is the equivalent of starting on a test/exam 2 hours before the deadline, even though you've had a week or two to finish it.

Re: Ask HN: Feeling guilty for doing the bare minimum at work

#215

Post by granshaw »

gryn wrote: post #161
macu wrote: post #107

I work 7-hour days, but I might work 2 or 3 hours during that time. A lot of the time I find the work unbearable and can only bring myself to do it in short intervals. When the task is interesting, involves my skills, and I'm making progress, I can work for hours with almost no breaks. It really is an emotional thing. I won't force myself to do anything that is really painful because it ruins my mood for the whole da…

work from home has been great for me in that I can compress work into non 9-5 bursts. instead of slacking trough 8hours per day with an effective 2-3 hours of work for 5 days I take the 1 day(and/or night) were I work full concentration until exhausted (with small breaks) and take next day "off" (I'm connected still reachable in communication tools) to do personal stuff, side projects, watch TV, exercise, or just cho…

Daily stand ups that ask for updates kindof kills this, unless you purposely have uncommitted work and suddenly commit+push it during your “off” days

Re: Ask HN: Feeling guilty for doing the bare minimum at work

#216

Post by conductr »

borski wrote: post #199
williamtwild wrote: post #183

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"as is the inability to get excited about projects you simply don't want to do - " Why is this ADHD and not just being human? This sounds so basic I have a hard time believing this is because of a condition.

It's not about not getting excited; it's about literally being unable to. Someone with ADHD can sit there and really mean to get excited, and yell at themselves to, and they simply can't do it; their brain won't let them. Someone neurotypical can usually convince themselves to at least do it, and "will" themselves into it. But you're somewhat right, and this is why getting a real diagnosis from a professional is so i…

That helps a lot. I know I'm 100% able to do the thing, I'm just a lazy bastard some days

Re: Ask HN: Feeling guilty for doing the bare minimum at work

#217

Post by hda111 »

borski wrote: post #209
hda111 wrote: post #200

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Medication could also change the life for worse because one risks getting psychosis.

This is simply false. Please read up on it before making claims that are unfounded. Medication saves lives.

No, this is not false. Reddit is all over posts about this. Any medication has risks how can you deny this? If you take it you accept this (admittedly) small risk.

Re: Ask HN: Feeling guilty for doing the bare minimum at work

#218

Post by stavros »

masukomi wrote: post #171
uh_uh wrote: post #170

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Isn't it just rational not to get excited about boring stuff that is rewarded by a fix monetary ceiling? Economically it completely makes sense: why put more energy into something that yields the same result either way? Or maybe I have ADHD too.

it's not about not getting excited. It's the result of being "not excited". Neurotypicals can work on things that are uninteresting to them. ADHD people can sit there yelling at themselves to "do the thing" that they _know_ they need to do and still be completely incapable of starting regardless of how "easy" it is to actually do it once something forces them to actually start. this video does a good job of explainin…

Oof, this video makes me think I may have ADHD. I just cannot get boring things done, and I get more stressed the more I procrastinate, and it just spirals.

What has helped me is something that the video mentions too, and that's working with a coworker. Not so much pairing (as in, looking at each other's screen), but just saying "I'm working on X now" and feeling like someone else is working on their thing alongside you/simultaneously. That has produced great results for me.

Re: Ask HN: Feeling guilty for doing the bare minimum at work

#219

Post by 6t6t6t6 »

If you work 3 hours a day but you deliver decent code and you are not on the way, you are not a problem for your manager. He knows that you are slow, but you don't give him problems, so he is ok.

A hyper motivated developers who starts lots of projects and don't finish them, or who writes buggy code, or who creates social problems in the team, will raise more red flags than a "slow but consistent developer".

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