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Ask HN: How to regain focus when you feel overwhelmed?

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Re: Ask HN: How to regain focus when you feel overwhelmed?

#11

Post by ravenstine »

Try less hard and care less intensely. You are doing as much as you can under the current conditions and it says nothing about how "good" you are. You may simply be faced with too much at this point, and you might need to make some tough decisions.

Have you considered transferring at least some of your crypto assets into precious metals? Might be an alternative to banks in the interim, and many exchanges take crypto payments. That way you don't have to worry so much about the potential of losing literally everything.

If what you are doing really is that lucrative, maybe this is a sign you should hire someone to take over your duties.

Re: Ask HN: How to regain focus when you feel overwhelmed?

#12

Post by Denniz »

gamechangr wrote: post #3

Obviously, we only have a small part of your story. It looks like You took on too much. Lots of people do that. That's part of how you grow, but recognizing it is the main point. Make task lists of the big picture (not just "To Do Lists") , so you can start to chart what is really being accomplished. Pretend you are explaining it to a a 10 year old. I moved to the South Pacific and took over a complexed chemical engi…

Thanks, that kind of helps, and the quote" Getting Government Permits to get small samples. Should take 90 days. We are on day 160. " Is exactly what is going on. Although it is not always the Government, but rather accountants, lawyers and so on.

Re: Ask HN: How to regain focus when you feel overwhelmed?

#13

Post by Denniz »

manofmanysmiles wrote: post #6

If possible, try to get some distance from the particulars and do some emotional introspection. I am not recommending psychedelics or plant medicines, however mentioning that they have helped many achieve levels of introspection into their own hardware and software to allow a more honest refactor of one’s main user interface to reality (our mind and body).

How would you do emotional introspection? Guess not ready for psychedelics. Already have a wild fantasy

Re: Ask HN: How to regain focus when you feel overwhelmed?

#14

Post by Denniz »

nine_zeros wrote: post #7

I feel you. Over the past 3 years, I've had to face - New job (with the slow burning leetcode nonsense as a precursor) - Dad's court cases (he has a lot going on) - Wife's immigration woes (USCIS is hands down the WORST agency in the world) - Wife's job situation (made tenuous by USCIS) - Mom's covid - Dad's admission to hospital because of diabetes symptoms - 2 Failed IVF cycles - Inability to travel outside the cou…

Hope things will resolve for you as well! Cutting off social connections actually made it worse for me.

Re: Ask HN: How to regain focus when you feel overwhelmed?

#15

Post by Denniz »

anonymousnotme wrote: post #8

I have also been coping with many things of the past 2.5 years; it has been very stressful. You can't "Try" meditation/yoga nidra over a short time and expect to be doing it at a high level. It may take many years to make progress on them, but don't give up. Keep working on them. The dividends will definitely come. Ideas that may help: 1. be in the present moment. (I.e. be mindfull) This is the most important things…

Thanks a lot for the advice. I will try to do all of the points. Right now in the 'fuckt it mood', so ready to get losses just to resolve everything fast.

Re: Ask HN: How to regain focus when you feel overwhelmed?

#16

Post by Denniz »

damascus wrote: post #10

When I get overwhelmed I can sometimes see what needs to be done but the effort to do what I know needs done seems like 'so much'. Sometimes I know I can 'spin up' my efforts enough to get it done.. but for some reason I have this judgement that spinning up that much effort "isn't worth it". Which is pretty silly.. I'm sitting here miserable with the ability to end it but yet still think that putting effort into my o…

Thanks a lot for the hints.

1. You are right. Everyone knows this, but yeah not always easy to follow. Especially if you are off balance.

2. Guess in my case, the most important things I want to solve take a long time.

3. Exactly. Regarding the tax guy. I had/have one, he was very responsible. But when he got the money, he became very slow. Still answers. But is extremely slow. Maybe will find someone new, but currently it doesn't make sense, since he is finishing his work. Every week he tells me a few more days.

4. You are exactly right. Money didn't change anything. It is just a number. Kind of ready to take losses, to get lower stress. Still, so far couldn't execute, since the most secure options refuse the service or need very long for onboarding.

I think it is a good idea to have some wealth in crypto. But it is just crazy to have all of it. Especially, since in my case, most of it is in stablecoins. So could get nearly 4% in USD if it was on a bank account.

PS: The whole situation is really strange. Guess that sucks most. I did everything according to the book. Did my tax returns. Didn't hide anything. Looking back, I really question the whole thing. I could just go far away. Cash out. Don't pay a penny, instead of nearly 50%. Would have less stress for sure.

Re: Ask HN: How to regain focus when you feel overwhelmed?

#19

Post by Denniz »

ggeorgovassilis wrote: post #2

It sounds like you have a complicated life compared to many other people (certainly compared to me). Focus is a matter of priorities - if you have too many important things going on (I assume you started a company, relocated to a different country and are probably involved in several technologies) then you can't afford to neglect any, so you have to devote attention to all these important topics. Outsourcing things t…

Yeah life become complicated. I mean in a sense that the decision space got much bigger. Now thinking a lot if I'm really in the right place/country if things moove so slow. Trying to outsource things is a good idea. Guess this is the way to go.

Re: Ask HN: How to regain focus when you feel overwhelmed?

#20

Post by manofmanysmiles »

Denniz wrote: post #13
manofmanysmiles wrote: post #6

If possible, try to get some distance from the particulars and do some emotional introspection. I am not recommending psychedelics or plant medicines, however mentioning that they have helped many achieve levels of introspection into their own hardware and software to allow a more honest refactor of one’s main user interface to reality (our mind and body).

How would you do emotional introspection? Guess not ready for psychedelics. Already have a wild fantasy

This is helpful for me: https://www.tarabrach.com/taratalks-meditation-rain-working-...

Everyone responds differently to different “teachers”, so you may watch that video and feel it’s a bunch of bullshit. For you it may be.

Generally just sitting and being present with what you feel physically in the body and just allowing it is very powerful.Sometimes it feels like you want to die, or the worst anxiety, other times great pleasure or calmness.

Most of my life I’ve lived in my mind, trying to think through “emotions”, while in the last year I started feeling them.. I know emotions are meant to be felt..what?

As they are felt, without judgement, as part of the “movie” that is our conscious experience, our body learns that no, it’s not about to die, the world isn’t going to end, and I do have the resources to be present and just feel what’s happening.

The feelings are then “digested”, and we can continue our life, thankful for the new data that comes to consciousness awareness through feelings.

Some people may say feeling feelings is weak, and really tough people just power through. I’m starting to know that having the courage to actually feel all the body is capable of feeling takes real courage.

Viapssana mediation is powerful.

I could probably talk your ear off. I hope this is helpful.

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