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

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

#81

Post by dpe82 »

potomak wrote: post #21
gintas wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Also try Crackbook [1] for Chrome which delays pages instead of banning them. Works much better for me that Stayfocusd, which I just disable after a while. (Disclaimer: I am the author.) [1] https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/nbgjmohekjolcgemlo...

I made Tomatoes[1] to track my pomodoros online. It drive my work time successfully now that I work as a freelancer (and I was having your same issues). [1] http://tomatoes.heroku.com

That looks really great though I wish I could enter tasks in it...

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

#82

Post by orochimaru »

You have to find new things that excite you. Maybe switching IDEs ? Working on Visual Studio all the time ? Try Notepad++. Working on windows all the time ? Try linux/mac.

Working on Classical OOP languages (c++, java) all the time ? Try prototypal oop languages like JS/Lua.

Working on too much higher level/web application stuff ? Delve into the linux kernel.

If none of these work, take a break. By break, I mean ABSOLUTELY no computers at all. NO BOOKS either. Go off to play some ping pong, go to a movie, or better - go someplace where you don't do ANYTHING for around 1 week except roaming and watching nature or any kind of beauty.

Maybe it's 1 week, maybe it's 2 - but if you really enjoy hacking - you will find yourself raring to get back to your PC and begin hacking away after this break.

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

#83

Post by TeMPOraL »

mkopinsky wrote: post #22
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".

You could even use (gasp!) a real notepad. The tactile effect of writing down (and especially, crossing off) the tasks and intermediate steps by hand is not to be underestimated. In addition, you get the benefit described by ktrgardiner above, that switching to your task list doesn't obscure your productive work. You always have that piece of paper staring at you reminding you what you're working on.

When I feel stuck I get a notepad or a piece of A3-sized paper, a pencil or a pen and start a "brainstorm" session with myself. I dump my thoughts on the topic, play around with them, trying to identify solutions for each subproblem until my feelings of confusion go away. Then I just rewrite those 'solutions' I identified as TODOs in my Org-Mode list.

The habit of fighting confusion with pen and paper is for me one of the biggest productivity boosters I've ever learned.

Also, I don't like to do this kind of "brainstorming" on computer - hardware&software are too limiting, both in input and spatial presentation. Free-form noting FTW ;).

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

#84

Post by robertskmiles »

cletus wrote: post #7

The first question I need to put out there is: are you bored or simply burnt out? This can often masquerade as an inability to concentrate. Fact is, if you like what you do it's a lot easier to just do it. That being said, many (most?) people benefit (or even need) a relatively distraction-free environment. This means no TV near your computer (particularly relevant if you work from home), stopping distractions from o…

I've experimented with different types of music while working/coding, and noted the following;

1. I am quite a verbal thinker. Anything with lyrics seriously damages my ability to think verbally about a problem.

2. Music that is too slow or relaxing is unhelpfully soporific. I don't drink coffee, so I need any non-chemical stimulant I can get.

3. Anything too catchy will encourage me to hum it in my head, which actually has a similar effect to lyrics, disrupting my internal verbal processes.

I've found the perfect thing that works well for me, which is soundtracks from RTS games. They're instrumental, vaguely electronic, and specifically designed to fade into the background and create a general sense of urgency and focus.

If you are a big starcraft player for example, playing the background music from starcraft can create a sort of Pavlovian Response, telling your brain "You are sitting at a computer carrying out a difficult task which takes a good deal of focus and mental exertion. This activity is fun and rewarding, and it is urgent that you do it as well and as quickly as possible."

Give it a try.

tl;dr Soundtracks from RTS games

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

#86

Post by nuiloa »

This is probably the best thing I've read on the subject:

http://www.wickedfire.com/1279950-post39.html

Not sure of the original source, but it's just a paragraph or so, easier than reading a whole book. Some discussion of it on reddit here: http://www.reddit.com/r/seduction/comments/h7cce/the_purpose...

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

#90

Post by redrising1 »

radious wrote: post #79
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/

Thanks for the link. I'm new to Emacs and this is the first I've heard of org-mode.
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