Want to start a project with me? It's not a huge project, but something to accomplish.
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?
#42Although, I wonder if I really fucked my brain/habits up so much that I'll never reach my full capacity. There's no such thing as your "full capacity". What you're doing right now, that is your full capacity. Either accept that you're at your limit or actually do something to prove you're not.
It also helps me to look at this image: http://i.imgur.com/39U4k.png . Each box is one month of your life. There really aren't that many of them.
Well now I'm depressed AND procrastinating.
Re: Ask HN: I'm a chronic procrastinator – how do I break it?
#43how is this even being asked in 2013? this is why god invented adderall. stop fucking around.
Re: Ask HN: I'm a chronic procrastinator – how do I break it?
#44> I make $130k as a 21 year old and I probably put in 3 hours of real work a day. do you really think your subconscious is capable of changing when this is the scenario it is presented with? you say you're "pretty smart", i would say "you're just smart enough to get away with it." start a company. force yourself into uncomfortable situations.
I'm not sure that "start a company" would be good advice until he can figure out what the causes of his lack of motivation are. Working entirely on his own without the structure and goals of an organized workplace around him could lead to even more procrastination.
he's obvi ADD.
Re: Ask HN: I'm a chronic procrastinator – how do I break it?
#45Well, you're following in your dad's footsteps. Procrastination is a kind of passive aggression, and it sounds like you're mad at your dad for being a bad role model. It also sounds like you feel guilty about not using your talents fully. Psychotherapy can be very good for these kinds of things if you find someone you like and trust. It will help you to separate psychologically from your parents, which is never a bad thing. You don't have to wait for a severe crisis before you go and talk to someone, and at your income level you can easily afford it.
Re: Ask HN: I'm a chronic procrastinator – how do I break it?
#46It's hard, I've read most comments in this discussion thread and most of them aren't coming from procrastinators. But if I may say the only trick that worked for me... get started. That's the hardest part. But once you get started, even thought 99% of it suck, you'll find a part of the task that you want to continue and push yourself to it. And every time you feel like quitting the task, push yourself to do 1 more minute.. just one. And you'll find yourself addicted to a small part of that task that you find interesting.
Whatever it is, dishes, work, making calls, paying credit cards.. just get started for 30 secs. The rest will fall into place.
Re: Ask HN: I'm a chronic procrastinator – how do I break it?
#47Earlier quoted context omitted.
It also helps me to look at this image: http://i.imgur.com/39U4k.png . Each box is one month of your life. There really aren't that many of them.
Well now I'm depressed AND procrastinating.
Don't submit to his dominance.
There is dominance and nothing else.
Re: Ask HN: I'm a chronic procrastinator – how do I break it?
#48how is this even being asked in 2013? this is why god invented adderall. stop fucking around.
you said it barnaby. obviously these lame dipshits on this entire thread are neglecting that every b-school overachiever NOT asking this question is smashed full of amphetamines by their esteemed physician / parent knowing that their kid won't be stuck in life asking these sorta of questions.
Re: Ask HN: I'm a chronic procrastinator – how do I break it?
#49Although, I wonder if I really fucked my brain/habits up so much that I'll never reach my full capacity. There's no such thing as your "full capacity". What you're doing right now, that is your full capacity. Either accept that you're at your limit or actually do something to prove you're not.
It also helps me to look at this image: http://i.imgur.com/39U4k.png . Each box is one month of your life. There really aren't that many of them.
I'm 30, and just put a layer on top of that marking the boxes that are behind me.
Like the OP, I consider myself a chronic under-performer.
And you're right. This kind of hits home. What did I fill those boxes with? What do I want to fill the remaining ones with?
Re: Ask HN: I'm a chronic procrastinator – how do I break it?
#50Create a menu of tasks. Dedicate yourself to making progress on at least one of them at any given time. If you like doing any of them choose then one you feel least adverse to. It doesn't matter how many tasks are in your menu, or which one you choose, just "no empty time".
Lame. See response on add.