Ask HN: I am wasting so much of time, what can I do? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: I am wasting so much of time, what can I do?

#71

Post by Hyena » Sun, Sep 11, 2011, 11:22 PM UTC

Lots of comments, but I didn't notice any questions. It would be ineffective to prescribe a solution based on what is said because there is not much information. All the proposals here seem to be for a problem diagnosed in the commenter.

Where do you work? (industry, firm size, position, geographic location, etc.)

What are your coworkers like? Do you enjoy being around them?

Has the problem come up lately or has this been ongoing? Did it start with a current project? Office organization? For as long as you remember in your life?

What are the consequences going forward? What have they been in the past?

How old are you?

Re: Ask HN: I am wasting so much of time, what can I do?

#72

Post by JonnieCache » Sun, Sep 11, 2011, 11:56 PM UTC

ktrgardiner wrote: post #10

acangiano wrote: post #5

Consider the following three steps: 1) Pomodoro Technique. Aim for something like 14-18 pomodori per day. (Assuming 25 minutes per pomodoro.) If you do the math you may think "oh that's not much" but you'll be exhausted by the end of it. 2) Install Rescuetime and religiously use it to track how your time is spent during the weekday. Use their "Stay focused" function when you are sprinting on a pomodoro. 3) Get a seco…

I second the third point. My most productive times are when I have my iPad right next to my laptop ready and waiting for me to need the internet. If I need to look something up I'll do so on the iPad and keep it open if I need to refer to it or turn it off again when I'm done. I find that not switching between windows really helps me stay in the zone. As soon as that code goes out of sight behind a browser, it's so e…

This is not so easy if you write code targeting browsers :(

Re: Ask HN: I am wasting so much of time, what can I do?

#73

Post by generators » Mon, Sep 12, 2011, 2:03 AM UTC

only one thing: you are not alone. :)

Re: Ask HN: I am wasting so much of time, what can I do?

#74

Post by ct » Mon, Sep 12, 2011, 3:30 AM UTC

Before you go to sleep write down on a post it note ONE thing you want to get done and put it on your monitor. Tomorrow first thing work on that ONE thing and get it done. After a while add one more additional thing to have TWO things to get done tomorrow. And finally once you've mastered completing two things a day, add another for a max of THREE things. Good luck!

Re: Ask HN: I am wasting so much of time, what can I do?

#75

Post by firefoxman1 » Mon, Sep 12, 2011, 4:19 AM UTC

There is an amazing (short) book called "Self Discipline in 10 Days" helped me get over a few of those inevitable slumps/burnout periods and prevented them for the most part since then.

Here are a few ZenHabits articles that help too: http://zenhabits.net/how-to-defeat-burnout-and-stay-motivate... http://zenhabits.net/the-lazy-manifesto-do-less-then-do-even...

Re: Ask HN: I am wasting so much of time, what can I do?

#76

Post by happyfeet » Mon, Sep 12, 2011, 4:55 AM UTC

I used to feel the same way, earlier when I was in a cushy job, waiting to get into my own startup. And I used to search for ways to avoid procrastination, wasting time etc.,

Then I just decided to quit! And got into my own startup. Boy!!! Now I am not finding time to do anything that does not help my goal of building a company ground up. I can see through my own eyes that it is just lack of a passionate goal and a worthy cause that has just tricked my mind into surfing & wasting time on internet.

So, my suggestion for you would be to take up a goal worthy of you. If you want to continue in the same job revisit your goal and one that is extremely challenging as if you are running your own company and not working for another one. Good luck!

Re: Ask HN: I am wasting so much of time, what can I do?

#77

Post by ahmedaly » Mon, Sep 12, 2011, 7:54 AM UTC

Hey guys... thanks to all of you for these great tips.. I started to use http://www.rememberthemilk.com/ since yesterday, and it put me under pressure that I have a TO DO list, that I must finish on time.

I never used such an app before, which is very important to remind that you have something to do.

Re: Ask HN: I am wasting so much of time, what can I do?

#78

Post by Deadsunrise » Mon, Sep 12, 2011, 8:22 AM UTC

If you do it, stop masturbating and watching porn, it fucks with your head and self discipline. Check http://yourbrainonporn.com and http://www.reddit.com/r/nofap for more info.

Re: Ask HN: I am wasting so much of time, what can I do?

#79

Post by radious » Mon, Sep 12, 2011, 9:08 AM UTC

dageshi wrote: post #20

Go Start->Run type in notepad and press enter (or equivalent on your platform) * begin bullet pointed list -break down steps to achieve each bullet point -some could be as simple as "google xyz" As dumb as it seems this switches your mind from "meander mode" as I call it to "focus on work mode".

Actually Emacs has fantastic mode for such todo lists called org-mode. You can read more about it on http://orgmode.org/

Re: Ask HN: I am wasting so much of time, what can I do?

#80

Post by martinshen » Mon, Sep 12, 2011, 9:51 AM UTC

I think the obvious thing to do is to work in a formal office space where goofing off is judged. The issue with doing freelance work is that unless you are very disciplined, working from home enables you to take naps, cook, masturbate, watch TV where workspace simply eliminates all of that.

Set a number of hours to work in a workspace and stick to it. Workspaces are not designed for anything but work.. so simply don't check HN, don't watch videos etc. etc.

Good work space would be a formal office (I don't think coworking spaces really do that and DEFINITELY not coffee shops). Ideally, get some a work buddy to do it with you and ensure cross-judgement.