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Ask HN: How do you stay disciplined in the long run?

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Re: Ask HN: How do you stay disciplined in the long run?

#151

Post by LrnByTeach »

kevan wrote: post #102
jshowa3 wrote: post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you want some practical advice: 1. Stop going on HN and Reddit. If you spend a lot of time reading about what other people do, you won't do it. If HN and Reddit helps you progress, spend 30 minutes a day on it. 1a. Start small and simple and build from there. If things are getting too complicated, scale back. Always scale back. It reduces frustration and anxiety as well as builds confidence. 2. Set a schedule. Tak…

Zooming out, the big picture here is to create systems for yourself (whatever works for you) that make success more likely in moments when your motivation is low. For example, I pack my gym bag the night before and put it by my work laptop so I have zero friction in the morning. I know I don't have much motivation or willpower to do this in the morning, so I work around that and give myself zero excuses to not bring…

Yes, planning and eliminating excuses 'ahead in time', is half the game won

> big picture here is to create systems for yourself (whatever works for you) that make success more likely in moments when your motivation is low.

Re: Ask HN: How do you stay disciplined in the long run?

#152

Post by noobly »

imgabe wrote: post #36

You don't. In the long run, you build a habit. Discipline is a short term solution to stick with something long enough to become a habit. How do you "stay disciplined" to brush your teeth every day? Chances are you just do it without thinking much about it. You don't hem and haw and read a bunch of motivational memes to gather up the willpower to brush your teeth. It's just something you automatically do. I highly re…

I agree. I spend a lot of time trying to develop what I (internally) refer to as 'micro' habits. So, needless to say, thanks for the book rec! Sounds like just what I need.

Re: Ask HN: How do you stay disciplined in the long run?

#153

Post by lcall »

JesseAldridge wrote: post #89

Here's what has worked for me: 1. Think deeply about what's important to you in life. Constantly ask yourself if what you are doing is aligned with your values. If it isn't, figure out what changes you can make. 2. Understand that trying to make progress through sheer force of will only works in the short term. Your environment and the people around you shape your actions way more than you realize. Change your enviro…

Yes, that makes a big difference for me also. (I was tempted to post the same reply to two comments, but you can find the actual comment under the one that mentions "Covey".)

Re: Ask HN: How do you stay disciplined in the long run?

#154

Post by LrnByTeach »

ThrustVectoring wrote: post #124

>Execute and get to, say, 25-50% of the journey --> Get bored --> Abandon >I have strongly come to perceive myself as being driven by external accountabilities These are classic ADHD symptoms, along with some of the other tells I've gotten from your description. The number one way to improve ADHD symptoms, by an enormous margin, is through stimulant therapy. If this kind of pattern happened a lot in childhood, and yo…

yes, the below are the classic ADHD symptoms

>If this kind of pattern happened a lot in childhood, and you have a history of other related issues (losing homework, procrastination until deadlines, high caffeine use)

> cannot maintain professional employment or a long-term romantic relationship

Re: Ask HN: How do you stay disciplined in the long run?

#155

Post by LrnByTeach »

imgabe wrote: post #36

You don't. In the long run, you build a habit. Discipline is a short term solution to stick with something long enough to become a habit. How do you "stay disciplined" to brush your teeth every day? Chances are you just do it without thinking much about it. You don't hem and haw and read a bunch of motivational memes to gather up the willpower to brush your teeth. It's just something you automatically do. I highly re…

Well said

>How do you "stay disciplined"? You don't.

> In the long run, you build a habit. Discipline is a short term solution to stick with something long enough to become a habit.

>the book Atomic Habits

Re: Ask HN: How do you stay disciplined in the long run?

#157

Post by 8611m »

imgabe wrote: post #36

You don't. In the long run, you build a habit. Discipline is a short term solution to stick with something long enough to become a habit. How do you "stay disciplined" to brush your teeth every day? Chances are you just do it without thinking much about it. You don't hem and haw and read a bunch of motivational memes to gather up the willpower to brush your teeth. It's just something you automatically do. I highly re…

I'd highly recommend reading Atomic Habits. One of the key concepts in the book regarding changing habits is developing or changing how you identify yourself. From your post, it appears you like starting things. More details from authors blog here:

https://jamesclear.com/identity-based-habits

For me, I started diligently tracking what new interests I develop. Before I picked up a new topic of research or area of interest, I would put it in a note and evaluate if this would take me closer or further from my overall goal. I stopped spending too much time on a new interest if it did not align with my overall goal. "If you can't measure it, you can't improve it." It is really important to be self-aware of this trend, and you have shown that you want to improve.

Good luck!

Re: Ask HN: How do you stay disciplined in the long run?

#158

Post by rramadass »

>I see folks who are disciplined, are ruthless executors, are self-motivated

The key clause which you forgot to add is; SOME OF THE TIME!

Nobody is disciplined 100% throughout their career/lives; it is psychologically impossible. If anybody claims so, then it is a sham and they are BS'ing.

It seems like you are seeking "external validation" too much. You are also just hitting the normal "learner's block" when you are not making any progress due to a) having mastered the simple stuff and are now faced with complicated parts b) having understood the interesting/core ideas but are now faced with the reqd. drudgery to be done to bring the project to conclusion.

The number one thing i have found that helps me maintain discipline when i need it, is to have self-confidence and NOT seek "external validation". You only focus on building/improving a little bit over yesterday's "you" towards a goal. Nobody knows nor is vested in you as yourself. By comparing only with your past self a lot of distractions fall away and you can focus on "your" goal. Focus only on the Primary core and disregard the Ancillaries until the core is done. Complicating unnecessarily (i.e. too many degrees of freedom) is a sure way to lose motivation. Pare away all secondary and unnecessary factors. Nurture "intrinsic motivation" (i want to do it) always and minimize need for "extrinsic motivation" (carrot or stick).

Here is a quote to keep in mind: "Drops of water, if they fall continuously, can bore through iron and stone".

You may also find the following two books helpful;

1) "Why we do what we do: Understanding Self-Motivation" by Edward Deci.

2) "Flow: The psychology of optimal Experience" by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi.

Re: Ask HN: How do you stay disciplined in the long run?

#159

Post by mial »

arosier wrote: post #129
ThrustVectoring wrote: post #124

>Execute and get to, say, 25-50% of the journey --> Get bored --> Abandon >I have strongly come to perceive myself as being driven by external accountabilities These are classic ADHD symptoms, along with some of the other tells I've gotten from your description. The number one way to improve ADHD symptoms, by an enormous margin, is through stimulant therapy. If this kind of pattern happened a lot in childhood, and yo…

Are you concerned at all about becoming dependent on stimulant therapy and the long term effects that may have on your health? I'm not an expert in Stimulant therapy, only familiar with some relatives "using" Adderall.

From my experience, tolerance can be an issue indeed. But in the short to medium term, stimulant therapy can definitely help a lot. However, while ongoing stimulant therapy it is important to work on more durable solutions such as meditation, exercise, and diet. With this, I was able to slowly decrease my stimulant dose, and I now only use them when I really need them. Without them, I couldn't have gathered the focus I needed to sort my life out academically and professionally while developing long-term healthy habits that helped with my ADHD.
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