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Good and Bad Procrastination (2005)

paulgraham.com

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Re: Good and Bad Procrastination (2005)

#51

Post by [deleted] »

psychometry wrote: post #32
dm2 wrote: post #3

I am constantly struggling with procrastination even though I love my job and what I do. It seems like sometimes I'd rather do anything other than what I'm actually suppose to do and what pays the bills, almost like a mental disorder. I've tried setting goals, blocking websites, uninstalling games, creating logs and even creating rewards for doing X amount of work, none of those seem to really help so far. The procra…

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ADHD-PI Would you say this describes you?

[deleted]

Re: Good and Bad Procrastination (2005)

#52

Post by dm2 »

read wrote: post #21
dm2 wrote: post #3

I am constantly struggling with procrastination even though I love my job and what I do. It seems like sometimes I'd rather do anything other than what I'm actually suppose to do and what pays the bills, almost like a mental disorder. I've tried setting goals, blocking websites, uninstalling games, creating logs and even creating rewards for doing X amount of work, none of those seem to really help so far. The procra…

Try doing nothing. You wouldn't be able to even if you tried. Your mind would start wandering to topics you haven't let it. Set as a goal that you'll accomplish less every day, and with zero expectation about what to do with the free hours that open up. Just as you pressure yourself to do more, pressure yourself to do less. Try doing nothing and suddenly your subconscious takes over. You discover thoughts you didn't…

I will try your suggestion this week. Thanks!

I like the idea of scheduling play time rather than assuming play comes after work.

Re: Good and Bad Procrastination (2005)

#53

Post by freshhawk »

dm2 wrote: post #49
freshhawk wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"But when I really have such tasks, procrastination is completely out of the way" I know for me it doesn't work that way. I assume "REAL rewards" means long lasting meaningful rewards rather than a quick dopamine hit. But hyperbolic discounting [1] is a bitch, so even if I know that once I start some real work it will be engaging and interesting, and tomorrow or next week my happiness will be partly determined by how…

Do you know exactly what changed for you so that hyperbolic discounting doesn't effect you anymore? Family, discipline, maturity, other specific lifestyle changes?

Definitely conscious lifestyle changes.

A while ago I decided that a few ingrained bad habits I had needed to go. I changed my lifestyle quite a bit in slow careful steps. The focus was on mindfulness and tracking the progress diligently. I also got really interested in research about habit building and modern scientific views of consciousness.

At this point I am still as affected by hyperbolic discounting as ever but I have more of an ability to recognize it for what it is and steer myself towards/trick myself into what my rational self wants to do.

I frequently feel like I'm trying to train part of my self (the unified self is an illusion) like I would train a dog.

Re: Good and Bad Procrastination (2005)

#54

Post by JacobJans »

dm2 wrote: post #3

I am constantly struggling with procrastination even though I love my job and what I do. It seems like sometimes I'd rather do anything other than what I'm actually suppose to do and what pays the bills, almost like a mental disorder. I've tried setting goals, blocking websites, uninstalling games, creating logs and even creating rewards for doing X amount of work, none of those seem to really help so far. The procra…

When you know exactly what you should be doing, and you know exactly how to do it, then your problem is not going to be solved by more goal setting, "rewards", or blocking websites. It's going to be solved by deciding that you really want to do the thing, and by spending the time to think about why you want to do it, and why it is important.

If you don't have a good enough reason to do something, then why would you do it anyways?

REAL rewards DO exist for many "boring" tasks, but you have to spend time to actually think about those real rewards. You have to convince yourself, and it won't work if your methods of motivation are "tricks." The real rewards are waiting for you, you've just got to spend the time to identify them before you start the work.

Re: Good and Bad Procrastination (2005)

#55

Post by symmetricsaurus »

beambot wrote: post #39

No conversation about procrastination is complete without mentioning John Perry's (Stanford Prof) essay on "structured procrastination": http://www.structuredprocrastination.com/ Basically... "the procrastinator can be motivated to do difficult, timely and important tasks, as long as these tasks are a way of not doing something more important." Like John, I've accomplished a quite a bit by procrastinating like crazy.

Perry actually won the Ignobel price for this essay: http://www.improbable.com/ig/winners/#ig2011

(you may have to scroll down a bit to see it)

Re: Good and Bad Procrastination (2005)

#56

Post by Htsthbjig »

dm2 wrote: post #3

I am constantly struggling with procrastination even though I love my job and what I do. It seems like sometimes I'd rather do anything other than what I'm actually suppose to do and what pays the bills, almost like a mental disorder. I've tried setting goals, blocking websites, uninstalling games, creating logs and even creating rewards for doing X amount of work, none of those seem to really help so far. The procra…

I recommend you learn from the masters, hear "The Now habit" audiobook, very good for geeks because it teaches you how and why of procastination, not only what to do.

blocking websites or installing games do not work if you don't know what procrastination is. In an empty room with nothing to do you could spend time looking at the wall.

I will also recommend "the power of full engagement", and also a basic understanding of habits: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYFooE6J1iU

Over time(years) you will master this.

Re: Good and Bad Procrastination (2005)

#57

Post by waivej »

wiradikusuma wrote: post #22

Very unrelated but biting me hard due to procrastination: Does anyone know any tax preparer in the US with reasonable rate? I'm a non-US citizen/resident. I incorporated a C-corp in Delaware exactly last year through an agent (remotely). The company has been dormant since its inception. Its fiscal year is March 31, which means the deadline should be June 15 this year. I need someone who can do e-filing for me. One gu…

I have a personal connection to him, but Mark Baral did a great job helping out the FIRST robot club while I was a mentor. http://baraltaxaccounting.com/

It's probably a busy week for tax preparers so my first step might be to file an extension to give a little breathing room.

Re: Good and Bad Procrastination (2005)

#58

Post by mareofnight »

read wrote: post #21
dm2 wrote: post #3

I am constantly struggling with procrastination even though I love my job and what I do. It seems like sometimes I'd rather do anything other than what I'm actually suppose to do and what pays the bills, almost like a mental disorder. I've tried setting goals, blocking websites, uninstalling games, creating logs and even creating rewards for doing X amount of work, none of those seem to really help so far. The procra…

Try doing nothing. You wouldn't be able to even if you tried. Your mind would start wandering to topics you haven't let it. Set as a goal that you'll accomplish less every day, and with zero expectation about what to do with the free hours that open up. Just as you pressure yourself to do more, pressure yourself to do less. Try doing nothing and suddenly your subconscious takes over. You discover thoughts you didn't…

I like this idea. I notice that I tend to get more ideas when I'm stuck waiting for something or doing chores, than when sitting at the computer and reading things is an option.

Re: Good and Bad Procrastination (2005)

#59

Post by dm2 »

Htsthbjig wrote: post #56
dm2 wrote: post #3

I am constantly struggling with procrastination even though I love my job and what I do. It seems like sometimes I'd rather do anything other than what I'm actually suppose to do and what pays the bills, almost like a mental disorder. I've tried setting goals, blocking websites, uninstalling games, creating logs and even creating rewards for doing X amount of work, none of those seem to really help so far. The procra…

I recommend you learn from the masters, hear "The Now habit" audiobook, very good for geeks because it teaches you how and why of procastination, not only what to do. blocking websites or installing games do not work if you don't know what procrastination is. In an empty room with nothing to do you could spend time looking at the wall. I will also recommend "the power of full engagement", and also a basic understandi…

Thanks for those videos!

I've read/watched similar things before about habits but something just clicked for me that I'd like to try. I'm going to set my main goal as to simply creating the habits, rather than doing X amount work.

My goal for the next month is to create habits! This might change everything...

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