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Ask HN: I'm a chronic procrastinator – how do I break it?

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Re: Ask HN: I'm a chronic procrastinator – how do I break it?

#11

Post by procastatron »

agf wrote: post #3

What you're describing sounds like a highly intelligent person with ADHD-PI, aka ADD. There are lots of techniques out there that can help, and medication can sometimes be effective. Do some research online and talk to your doctor. There are also people who specialize in helping / coaching people with ADD and similar memory / attention deficits.

I don't know if I'm highly intelligent. I'd like to think so but I also feel like I'm really good at cheating the system. I can learn the basics of stuff really fast and then bullshit through while I slowly pick up more advanced things.

I've tried adderall but it almost became a game to see if I could beat it. I would procrastinate even more than normal. Sometimes just stating at a wall for hours at a time

Re: Ask HN: I'm a chronic procrastinator – how do I break it?

#12

Post by procastatron »

shubhamjain wrote: post #6

The one thing that helped me in this is a great Chrome plugin, Stayfocusd [1]. Uninstall any other browser and block your access to those sites. Combining this with blocking even the "chrome://extensions" page, you have a perfect tool to avoid procrastination. [1]: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/stayfocusd/laankej...

I have to access HN on my phone because I've blocked this domain, reddit, and about 20 others in my /etc/hosts in attempt to stay focused. Instead I just find more obscure shit to get distracted with until I realize it's a distraction and ban it

Re: Ask HN: I'm a chronic procrastinator – how do I break it?

#13

Post by nsxwolf »

procastatron wrote: post #10
nsxwolf wrote: post #2

If you believe the stats on worker productivity that get tossed around here, 3 hours a day of solid work isn't terrible. I have one piece of advice - one technique that I got from a cognitive behavioral therapist that helped me. It's pretty simple: Pick a task you don't feel like doing. Set a timer. 10 or 15 minutes. Work on the task. Do not worry about the end result, or getting to a "good stopping point" or anythin…

I did try FocusBooster for a while and now I'm trying Pomodoros. I think my problem is that I try to go hardcore with it at first and work for a solid 10 hours. Then I burn out from it and don't work for the whole rest of the week.I like the idea of going back to video games or whatever on a more short term basis.

Yes - do that and don't feel guilty about it. If procrastination were a disability, then what you do during the breaks would be reasonable accommodations :)

Re: Ask HN: I'm a chronic procrastinator – how do I break it?

#14

Post by procastatron »

ronyeh wrote: post #5

Break tasks down into tiny chunks that are sooo easy that you don't need to procrastinate to do them. Then do them little bits at a time, and reward yourself for doing them. See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pomodoro_Technique Lots of people procrastinate. I do too. Don't feel so bad about it. :-) Or, find a new hobby (like playing guitar) and then procrastinate on that. Spend time reading up on music, music theory,…

That's actually what I do most of the time. I got really god at Spanish because I was procrastinating and to fight it I switched the language on every "fun" site I was using to discourage me.

Re: Ask HN: I'm a chronic procrastinator – how do I break it?

#15

Post by procastatron »

dylanhassinger wrote: post #4

1. DOWNSIZE. drastically reduce your commitments / todo list. Procrastination is your subconscious brain's way of saying that it is freaking out with what's on its plate. 2. INTENTION. with the stuff that's left over, take a time out and truly commit to it. Do meditation, quiet your brain, and make an honest decision about what you're committing to. 3. IMPLEMENTATION. now plan HOW you will get these committments done…

I think too much shit is probably part of my problem. I say yes to everything all the time and as a result I'm involved with literally every part of this startup. I've definitely made myself a Godin lynchpin but people are starting to lose faith in this silly wunderkinds ability to execute.

Meditation is a good idea. I tried getting into it, ended up reading up on some weird sex meditation shit and went down the rabbit hole on that one. I really think clearing my brain several times in the day would help me.

It's funny I've seen this list a hundred times but listed out here for some reason it seems to make more sense.

Addy - hate how it kills my creativity and I try to beat it and convince myself it doesn't work Modafinol - my favorite drug but I tend to stay up for a long time and just procrastinate more. Would definitely be super helpful if I can beat procrastination first CycloBenz - haven't tried, will order

I have found paracetam to be super helpful but it only works for a week or two before khans to cycle off it. I was on it about 2.5 weeks ago and did in 4 days what I normally have been doing in a month.

I should start to exercise more...

Re: Ask HN: I'm a chronic procrastinator – how do I break it?

#20

Post by [deleted] »

procastatron wrote: post #9
kstenerud wrote: post #7

I had the same problem. The standard school program was easy enough to just coast through, as were my first few jobs. At one point I was working on Monday and goofing off the rest of the week. What changed it? Probably some of it was age. Your outlook on life and what's important changes as you get older. I spent a fair bit of time talking to people 10, 20, 30, and 40 years older than me, and while I usually didn't a…

I think your mindset might be a bit different than mine. Or at least my current one. I have a ton of really challenging, awesome stuff to do. I just have been conditioned to hate "work". I feel insanely good when I'm procrastinating but get hit with an awful few hours later. Whenever I put a shit ton on my plate, I do 0 of it. I know I should be able to get it all done but the thought of "work" prevents me. I consume…

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