Ask HN: How can I remedy scatter brain and information overload? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: How can I remedy scatter brain and information overload?

#31

Post by austenallred » Sat, Dec 06, 2014, 9:27 PM UTC

anabranch wrote: post #29

austenallred wrote: post #24

For a long time I felt (and now feel) the same as you. I just wanted to share an experience that, while completely anecdotal, is perhaps atypical, and has been one of the defining experiences of my life. I got the Internet as a birthday present on my 8th birthday, and pretty much disappeared from normal society for the next few years. The Internet was (and is) fascinating - I could learn anything, interact with peopl…

http://selfcontrolapp.com/ Works well. It cannot be turned off and you can set it for a specific amount of time. You choose the websites you would like to block. Your phone is obviously a weak point, but it's a start.

Thank you!

I severely limit what's on my phone - no social apps, for example, and it's enough of a pain that I don't browse the Internet on it much. So I've mostly solved that problem.

Re: Ask HN: How can I remedy scatter brain and information overload?

#32

Post by seekingcharlie » Sat, Dec 06, 2014, 9:28 PM UTC

To me, it sounds like your problem is that everything that you have at this very moment, isn't enough. Thus, you feel like you have to look out into the world to fill yourself.

I agree with others, I would definitely recommend you try to meditate several times a week. Start at 15 mins every day & work your way up.

Also, exercise more!

Re: Ask HN: How can I remedy scatter brain and information overload?

#33

Post by brm » Sat, Dec 06, 2014, 9:31 PM UTC

austenallred wrote: post #24

For a long time I felt (and now feel) the same as you. I just wanted to share an experience that, while completely anecdotal, is perhaps atypical, and has been one of the defining experiences of my life. I got the Internet as a birthday present on my 8th birthday, and pretty much disappeared from normal society for the next few years. The Internet was (and is) fascinating - I could learn anything, interact with peopl…

It's an app that doesn't work in the specific way that you wish, but I have found leechblock to be a wonderful addition to my internet life: http://www.proginosko.com/leechblock.html

You can eliminate large swaths of the internet from loading in your browser and control what sets of sites are blocked when.

Re: Ask HN: How can I remedy scatter brain and information overload?

#34

Post by alfiedotwtf » Sat, Dec 06, 2014, 9:32 PM UTC

patrickdavey wrote: post #25

I cut out reading (24 hour) news this year. I no longer read bbc news, my local papers etc. I figured (and it's true) important things tend to get mentioned (either on HN, or just in conversation etc.) There's also the idea of the "circle of influence" (i.e. worry / do something with the things you can _actually_ influence, forget about the rest - slightly comes back to the 24 hour news thing for me). Perhaps you mig…

> I cut out reading (24 hour) news this year

I did this too, and it feels great. I can't remember where I heard it from but I'm stealing it:

  "I would rather be uninformed, than ill-informed"

A lot of what you see on TV and read in newspapers is either advertisements from PR firms disguised as news items or propaganda. This is even more so if it's election season.

tl;dr: Turn off your TV.

Re: Ask HN: How can I remedy scatter brain and information overload?

#35

Post by jmtame » Sat, Dec 06, 2014, 9:33 PM UTC

I know that feeling. Check out this book, which talks a lot about focus and discipline: http://www.amazon.com/The-Practicing-Mind-Developing-Discipl...

Re: Ask HN: How can I remedy scatter brain and information overload?

#36

Post by dm03514 » Sat, Dec 06, 2014, 9:36 PM UTC

Meditate

Re: Ask HN: How can I remedy scatter brain and information overload?

#37

Post by javajosh » Sat, Dec 06, 2014, 9:37 PM UTC

brm wrote: post #33

austenallred wrote: post #24

For a long time I felt (and now feel) the same as you. I just wanted to share an experience that, while completely anecdotal, is perhaps atypical, and has been one of the defining experiences of my life. I got the Internet as a birthday present on my 8th birthday, and pretty much disappeared from normal society for the next few years. The Internet was (and is) fascinating - I could learn anything, interact with peopl…

It's an app that doesn't work in the specific way that you wish, but I have found leechblock to be a wonderful addition to my internet life: http://www.proginosko.com/leechblock.html You can eliminate large swaths of the internet from loading in your browser and control what sets of sites are blocked when.

On osx and linux, you can edit your /etc/hosts file to "uninstall" domains (e.g. reroute them to localhost). The barrier-to-edit is involved enough (prompt for root password, invoking an editor, etc) to at least slow you down before you undo the block.

Re: Ask HN: How can I remedy scatter brain and information overload?

#38

Post by codewithcheese » Sat, Dec 06, 2014, 9:38 PM UTC

Meditation can be a powerful tool for dealing with information overload and reduce stress. Even just spending a few minutes to consciously be still and clear your mind can help.

Kevin Dewalt explains it better than I can. http://kevindewalt.com/2013/07/28/8-ways-meditation-makes-yo...

Re: Ask HN: How can I remedy scatter brain and information overload?

#39

Post by pond_lilly » Sat, Dec 06, 2014, 9:38 PM UTC

Throw your computer and phone away. Here, you are welcome. There is no other way. Low tech or die, everything else requires the amount of self-control only chosen few possess.

Re: Ask HN: How can I remedy scatter brain and information overload?

#40

Post by drawkbox » Sat, Dec 06, 2014, 9:39 PM UTC

Rescuetime, notes/documents for offloading and this talk helps: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAwDWe7OIF8 (John Cleese on Creativity and the Open and Closed mode). Basically you are on Open too much.