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Ask HN: How do you focus on work for long periods of time?

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Re: Ask HN: How do you focus on work for long periods of time?

#101

Post by ivansavz »

dcminter wrote: post #93

Music may help as several others have mentioned - personally I find classical piano or organ music works well; but I also use a white noise generator instead sometimes, so that might be worth trying too. Somehow it's good at drowning out the little distraction "what's on HN now" itch. I use "A soft murmer" on Android, but I expect they're all much of a muchness.

+1 for music. I have observed that every day that feel unproductive (self-interruptions, getting up for nothing, start-and-stop on work tasks), it's because I forgot to start a good playlist in the morning.

In contrast, if I have the music blasting (rap, techno, rock, anything really) then I can accumulate hours of consecutive work, and get into the flow state.

Re: Ask HN: How do you focus on work for long periods of time?

#102

Post by Synaesthesia »

throw03172019 wrote: post #42
Synaesthesia wrote: post #16

When I used amphetamine salts I had a few rules for myself: Don't overdose, keep to low, clincally useful doses. Don't drink coffee and take amphetamine at the same time - too much stimulation, plus I don't eat breakfast. Try to eat and sleep, it's very important for your brain functioning. Stay disciplined, if you find yourself distracted try to calm down. A lower dose often helps me focus. I couldn't do work on mor…

What are the messed up side effects?

Extreme fatigue, depression, stomach pains, getting very annoyed, stressed and anxious, smoking and drinking a lot more. There were more but I'll stop there.

Re: Ask HN: How do you focus on work for long periods of time?

#103

Post by Synaesthesia »

danwee wrote: post #86
Synaesthesia wrote: post #16

When I used amphetamine salts I had a few rules for myself: Don't overdose, keep to low, clincally useful doses. Don't drink coffee and take amphetamine at the same time - too much stimulation, plus I don't eat breakfast. Try to eat and sleep, it's very important for your brain functioning. Stay disciplined, if you find yourself distracted try to calm down. A lower dose often helps me focus. I couldn't do work on mor…

> Amphetamines worked well for a while but they started having all kinds of messed up side effects so I quit them and I'm glad I did. So, why on earth would you recommend them (or even bring the topic) here? I don't get it.

I don't recommend them, this person is already on them (Adderall) If you are taking them, try to be responsible.

Re: Ask HN: How do you focus on work for long periods of time?

#104

Post by alophawen »

piva00 wrote: post #100
P_I_Staker wrote: post #90

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yet these days they've taken to not treating ADHD anymore. The psych(o) people will pile on to that guilt trip and make you feel like the worst person, while telling you that you should just quit your job and end your career. People need to understand that if you have ADHD your psych, doctor, and therapist are your worst enemies. They basically operate as secret agents for the insurance companies in order to gather i…

> They basically operate as secret agents for the insurance companies in order to gather information to permanently remove your health care (not just mental health care, but it crosses over into traditional medicine). I live in a country where I don't have to care about that so none of your conspiracy really applies to me :)

For now.

Give it some time.

Re: Ask HN: How do you focus on work for long periods of time?

#105

Post by corytheboyd »

Wake up at 5:00AM.

5:15AM. Get in that ice bath. Fourty minutes or it's not worth it.

6:00AM. Write a C compiler. No help from internet.

7:15AM. Breakfast. Soylent and fifty pull-ups.

8:00AM. Enter the zone. Crush your work.

8:00PM. Exit the zone.

Just kidding, idk you kinda just have to like the problem at hand, otherwise it's too easy to go distract yourself. Distraction isn't really an evil thing though, it's not like we just enter The Zone for eight continuous hours. Engineering problems aren't usually mulled over like that, at least for me.

Oh and don't do drugs to make yourself better, that is a silly trap to fall into. Drugs are fun, do drugs! Using them as a crutch, or thinking they will alter the course of your life, that's the lie.

Re: Ask HN: How do you focus on work for long periods of time?

#106

Post by throw_this_one »

Synaesthesia wrote: post #16

When I used amphetamine salts I had a few rules for myself: Don't overdose, keep to low, clincally useful doses. Don't drink coffee and take amphetamine at the same time - too much stimulation, plus I don't eat breakfast. Try to eat and sleep, it's very important for your brain functioning. Stay disciplined, if you find yourself distracted try to calm down. A lower dose often helps me focus. I couldn't do work on mor…

The side effects came from sparing use? Like perhaps once a week at most, but once every 2-3 weeks ideally.

I've actually found that a very small 2.5mg is MORE effective for doing work than 5-10.

I do it once every 3-4 weeks not only to get stuff done, but refresh/reset how to "be in hyperefficient flow" where you just get stuff done and enjoy it.

Re: Ask HN: How do you focus on work for long periods of time?

#107

Post by P_I_Staker »

piva00 wrote: post #100
P_I_Staker wrote: post #90

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yet these days they've taken to not treating ADHD anymore. The psych(o) people will pile on to that guilt trip and make you feel like the worst person, while telling you that you should just quit your job and end your career. People need to understand that if you have ADHD your psych, doctor, and therapist are your worst enemies. They basically operate as secret agents for the insurance companies in order to gather i…

> They basically operate as secret agents for the insurance companies in order to gather information to permanently remove your health care (not just mental health care, but it crosses over into traditional medicine). I live in a country where I don't have to care about that so none of your conspiracy really applies to me :)

Hmm, that's interesting and... good for you? I'm not mad, it just seems weird to brag about this kind of thing to people that are being (lightly) genocided, or otherwise smothered to death by this oppressive system.

Also, I'm interested in where you live. As far as I know, these are issues in many countries. I don't think I've heard of a developed country where people don't have do deal with some form of care rationing, or being diverted away from treatment, due to some overcautious concern.

It may not be the insurance company, but it's definitely happening in CA/UK/AU.

Re: Ask HN: How do you focus on work for long periods of time?

#108

Post by Synaesthesia »

throw_this_one wrote: post #106
Synaesthesia wrote: post #16

When I used amphetamine salts I had a few rules for myself: Don't overdose, keep to low, clincally useful doses. Don't drink coffee and take amphetamine at the same time - too much stimulation, plus I don't eat breakfast. Try to eat and sleep, it's very important for your brain functioning. Stay disciplined, if you find yourself distracted try to calm down. A lower dose often helps me focus. I couldn't do work on mor…

The side effects came from sparing use? Like perhaps once a week at most, but once every 2-3 weeks ideally. I've actually found that a very small 2.5mg is MORE effective for doing work than 5-10. I do it once every 3-4 weeks not only to get stuff done, but refresh/reset how to "be in hyperefficient flow" where you just get stuff done and enjoy it.

Yes exactly. I was bad and abused them taking 10-20mg or more and that led to bad things, I struggled to control my usage. It's best to do it the way you are.

The first side effects are mental, you also get physical side effects like body aches. I'd rather never experience that level of anxiety ever again.

Re: Ask HN: How do you focus on work for long periods of time?

#109

Post by throw_this_one »

Synaesthesia wrote: post #108
throw_this_one wrote: post #106

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The side effects came from sparing use? Like perhaps once a week at most, but once every 2-3 weeks ideally. I've actually found that a very small 2.5mg is MORE effective for doing work than 5-10. I do it once every 3-4 weeks not only to get stuff done, but refresh/reset how to "be in hyperefficient flow" where you just get stuff done and enjoy it.

Yes exactly. I was bad and abused them taking 10-20mg or more and that led to bad things, I struggled to control my usage. It's best to do it the way you are. The first side effects are mental, you also get physical side effects like body aches. I'd rather never experience that level of anxiety ever again.

At what rate of use did it become a problem?

I'm basically asking, do you think once every 2-3 weeks will be an issue? I think something about relying on it, even at 2-3 weeks, might make it an issue long term. But I'm not sure.

It doesn't affect me the same way as it did 10 years ago when i first tried. Back then it was euphoria and now it's just slight concentration. Which is ideal for working. But the euphoria is mostly gone.

Re: Ask HN: How do you focus on work for long periods of time?

#110

Post by BetaDeltaAlpha »

corytheboyd wrote: post #105

Wake up at 5:00AM. 5:15AM. Get in that ice bath. Fourty minutes or it's not worth it. 6:00AM. Write a C compiler. No help from internet. 7:15AM. Breakfast. Soylent and fifty pull-ups. 8:00AM. Enter the zone. Crush your work. 8:00PM. Exit the zone. Just kidding, idk you kinda just have to like the problem at hand, otherwise it's too easy to go distract yourself. Distraction isn't really an evil thing though, it's not…

Making time for fun (including drugs) can definitely alter the course of your life (for better or worse).

Microdosing for productivity is a waste of acid. Macrodosing on the other hand...

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