Ask HN: How to Focus Again? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: How to Focus Again?

#31

Post by GTP » Sat, Sep 02, 2023, 5:04 PM UTC

> Today I wanted to really knuckle down and make some real progress on my side project. I've updated my iPad, fixed the leg on a tripod, cut the grass, cleaned the mower, scrubbed the driveway. Guess how much progress I made on the side project?

It seems to me that, instead of working on a side project, you did many things you still had to do anyway. This could be an issue if you have an hard deadline approaching, but if you don't have one, is it really that bad? If it also significantly affects your work then sure, maybe you have to do something about it, but if you just procrastinate side projects by doing chores, then I don't see much of an issue. Doing other useful things instead of working on your main task is what I heard called "productive procrastination". I would say this can be an issue only if it really prevents you from working on what you would like to work on, but if you're just procrastinating every now and then by giving priority to other tasks on your to-do list, maybe it's a non-issue.

Re: Ask HN: How to Focus Again?

#32

Post by heliodor » Sat, Sep 02, 2023, 5:07 PM UTC

nick0garvey wrote: post #26

A lot of people in this thread point at motivation or mental health issues. The issue is likely not so complicated. You have forgotten how to focus. We live in a world where we are constantly distracted. This is forced on us. The apps we use compete over our attention, our workplace expects quick replies over Slack, our free time is always accompanied by a smart phone pushing us notifications. These effects are getti…

Huberman has an episode explaining the brain workings of procrastination. Give it a watch/listen to pick up a few tips.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=K-TW2Chpz4k

Edit: here are some summaries:

https://podcastnotes.org/huberman-lab/leverage-dopamine-to-o...

https://healthnews.com/family-health/healthy-living/andrew-h...

Re: Ask HN: How to Focus Again?

#33

Post by 89vision » Sat, Sep 02, 2023, 5:07 PM UTC

I lived almost 40 years with undiagnosed ADHD inattentive type. I had terrible grades, I couldn't organize anything in my life, terrible rejection sensitive dysphoria. Luckily, programming and computers have always been a consistent source of dopamine for me to hyperfocus on so I've done reasonably well in my career. It started impacting my marriage so I recently decided to talk to a mental health professional and got a diagnosis. I started a low dose of adderall which has helped a bit with some of those things, but it also sometimes has the side effect of making me hyperfocus on the wrong things. My diagnosis took one visit, maybe the laws are different in your state

Re: Ask HN: How to Focus Again?

#34

Post by jareklupinski » Sat, Sep 02, 2023, 5:08 PM UTC

> I've updated my iPad, fixed the leg on a tripod, cut the grass, cleaned the mower, scrubbed the driveway. Guess how much progress I made on the side project?

Hal fixes a light bulb: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbSehcT19u0

a huge cold brew with extra espresso helps me focus

i guess the focus comes about because the caffeine helps me realize that the little 'side-side quests' are actually meaningless, making the 'real quest' actually attainable (since now there's no 'worthless' things to occupy my time)

Re: Ask HN: How to Focus Again?

#35

Post by geswit2x » Sat, Sep 02, 2023, 5:08 PM UTC

Motivation. You are aiming to money or productivity, instead of what is moving you forward.

MVP is a term from a decanter Western world that is only governed by production and mercantile values, completely forgetting its spiritual part. Then you will wonder why you are lost and you will have to resort to drugs because no sentient being could be subjected to such torture organically.

Re: Ask HN: How to Focus Again?

#36

Post by pizzaknife » Sat, Sep 02, 2023, 5:11 PM UTC

theres no replacement for a cougar in the back seat. take more risks and put yourself in uncomfortable situations

Re: Ask HN: How to Focus Again?

#37

Post by eurekin » Sat, Sep 02, 2023, 5:13 PM UTC

I have no answer, but if anything worked for you in the end, I would greatly appreciate to share what that was

Re: Ask HN: How to Focus Again?

#38

Post by nosefurhairdo » Sat, Sep 02, 2023, 5:13 PM UTC

If you're in the United States you can get an ADHD diagnosis in under a month. There are many online psychiatry services which can provide an ADHD diagnosis and stimulant prescription following a 30 minute zoom call.

Stimulants are a mixed bag. For me, Adderall provided a sense of agency I've never felt before, and I'm willing to live with the side effects and potential long-term consequences.

Be kind to yourself regardless of the path forward. Self-flagellation is common and unhelpful when feeling unproductive.

Re: Ask HN: How to Focus Again?

#39

Post by smallerfish » Sat, Sep 02, 2023, 5:13 PM UTC

Turn off slack & email for solid blocks of time (4+ hours) during working hours. Build back the ability to focus during work, and your weekend time becomes easier, because you're more in the habit.

Re: Ask HN: How to Focus Again?

#40

Post by idlewords » Sat, Sep 02, 2023, 5:14 PM UTC

moltar wrote: post #14

idlewords wrote: post #12

Any prolonged pattern of distracted behavior will get you an ADHD diagnosis, provided you say it's (1) part of a pattern dating back to childhood and (2) affects multiple areas of your life. That in turn will get you a prescription for powerful stimulants, and it's up to you to decide whether the artificial focus those provide is a solution to your problem, or a cop-out from it. (I personally don't believe there's su…

I’m sort of aligned on your ADHD view and would love to hear more from your point of view. Any book rec’s? Blogs? Podcasts?

So far I've been too distractible and absent-minded to do a proper nerd-out on the topic. :-) But I found section I of this blog post to be pretty interesting: https://slatestarcodex.com/2017/12/28/adderall-risks-much-mo...