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Why do humans procrastinate?

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Re: Why do humans procrastinate?

#31

Post by mmaunder »

ramanujan wrote: post #30

There was a recent highly cited paper describing the concept of willpower as a measurable, physiological, depletable quantity, strongly affected by glucose levels: http://www.fed.cuhk.edu.hk/~lchang/material/Evolutionary/Bra... And there was a very interesting Metafilter thread from a few years ago that found that a small amount of alcohol overcame procrastination: http://ask.metafilter.com/22924/Why-does-alcohol-ove…

You've just covered my four tools to overcome a slump. I've coded when buzzed. The trick is to not commit and diff the next morning. [Looks like you edited and removed caffeine and "loud thumping music". I recommend streaming ah.fm for the latter]

Re: Why do humans procrastinate?

#32

Post by prawn »

_gd3l wrote: post #15

"Procrastination is the soul rebelling against entrapment." - Nassim Taleb People procrastinate because they're doing something they don't like. I procrastinate when I'm doing homework. But wouldn't you know, I always get motivated when hacking on an open source project or when working on a freelance project.

Reminds me of this Twitter comment: "Suddenly realized the problem with all to-do lists: they are filled with things we don't want to do. Everything else is already done."

Re: Why do humans procrastinate?

#33

Post by Mz »

prawn wrote: post #32
_gd3l wrote: post #15

"Procrastination is the soul rebelling against entrapment." - Nassim Taleb People procrastinate because they're doing something they don't like. I procrastinate when I'm doing homework. But wouldn't you know, I always get motivated when hacking on an open source project or when working on a freelance project.

Reminds me of this Twitter comment: "Suddenly realized the problem with all to-do lists: they are filled with things we don't want to do. Everything else is already done."

Personal anecdote: I once came across some months-old to-do list. It included some furniture rehabbing project. The piece of furniture in question had since been gotten rid of, so I rolled my eyes and removed the project from my to-do list. My sons teased me about being a failure for not accomplishing it.

Re: Why do humans procrastinate?

#34

Post by light3 »

ramanujan wrote: post #30

There was a recent highly cited paper describing the concept of willpower as a measurable, physiological, depletable quantity, strongly affected by glucose levels: http://www.fed.cuhk.edu.hk/~lchang/material/Evolutionary/Bra... And there was a very interesting Metafilter thread from a few years ago that found that a small amount of alcohol overcame procrastination: http://ask.metafilter.com/22924/Why-does-alcohol-ove…

Hey this is interesting, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_sugar: "Intake of alcohol causes an initial surge in blood sugar, and later tends to cause levels to fall. Also, certain drugs can increase or decrease glucose levels."

Re: Why do humans procrastinate?

#35

Post by freemarketteddy »

ramanujan wrote: post #30

There was a recent highly cited paper describing the concept of willpower as a measurable, physiological, depletable quantity, strongly affected by glucose levels: http://www.fed.cuhk.edu.hk/~lchang/material/Evolutionary/Bra... And there was a very interesting Metafilter thread from a few years ago that found that a small amount of alcohol overcame procrastination: http://ask.metafilter.com/22924/Why-does-alcohol-ove…

In addition to all the four in this thread(glucose,alcohol,music and caffeine)...another tool and perhaps the most effective immediately....Adderall.

(Warning:I am not a doctor,and you must fully understand the side effects before using even a mild amphetamine)

Re: Why do humans procrastinate?

#36

Post by splicer »

mmaunder wrote: post #31
ramanujan wrote: post #30

There was a recent highly cited paper describing the concept of willpower as a measurable, physiological, depletable quantity, strongly affected by glucose levels: http://www.fed.cuhk.edu.hk/~lchang/material/Evolutionary/Bra... And there was a very interesting Metafilter thread from a few years ago that found that a small amount of alcohol overcame procrastination: http://ask.metafilter.com/22924/Why-does-alcohol-ove…

You've just covered my four tools to overcome a slump. I've coded when buzzed. The trick is to not commit and diff the next morning. [Looks like you edited and removed caffeine and "loud thumping music". I recommend streaming ah.fm for the latter]

Or, use Git and make a ton of commits locally, then diff in the morning ;)

Re: Why do humans procrastinate?

#37

Post by mmaunder »

splicer wrote: post #36
mmaunder wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You've just covered my four tools to overcome a slump. I've coded when buzzed. The trick is to not commit and diff the next morning. [Looks like you edited and removed caffeine and "loud thumping music". I recommend streaming ah.fm for the latter]

Or, use Git and make a ton of commits locally, then diff in the morning ;)

And the true genius in git's design emerges.

Re: Why do humans procrastinate?

#38

Post by aaronbrethorst »

ramanujan wrote: post #30

There was a recent highly cited paper describing the concept of willpower as a measurable, physiological, depletable quantity, strongly affected by glucose levels: http://www.fed.cuhk.edu.hk/~lchang/material/Evolutionary/Bra... And there was a very interesting Metafilter thread from a few years ago that found that a small amount of alcohol overcame procrastination: http://ask.metafilter.com/22924/Why-does-alcohol-ove…

I write my best code at the bar around the corner from my apartment, where I can get free wifi. Well, for the first hour, at least.

Re: Why do humans procrastinate?

#40

Post by _gd3l »

prawn wrote: post #32
_gd3l wrote: post #15

"Procrastination is the soul rebelling against entrapment." - Nassim Taleb People procrastinate because they're doing something they don't like. I procrastinate when I'm doing homework. But wouldn't you know, I always get motivated when hacking on an open source project or when working on a freelance project.

Reminds me of this Twitter comment: "Suddenly realized the problem with all to-do lists: they are filled with things we don't want to do. Everything else is already done."

This.
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