My trick is to tell my brain to do whatever is comfortable so for e.g. don't tell it you want to run 5km say you will run 100m or whatever is comfortable. Once you put on your shoes and go on track half the battle is already won and may be you won't run 5km but you may run say 3km slowly as you keep on doing it you will find achieving your goal.
The Art of Not Thinking
151–160 of 168 posts
Re: The Art of Not Thinking
#152Earlier quoted context omitted.
> A trick I've learned is to lie to yourself. Say you're excited to do it, that you can't wait, and that you enjoy it. Your brain is easily convinced if you're willing to let it be. The technique I finally learned was to attempt to cultivate an enjoyment of the task I didn’t want to do. But I wonder if what you’re suggesting isn't really just a different way of looking at the same thing. You might be “lying to yourse…
> The technique I finally learned was to attempt to cultivate an enjoyment of the task I didn’t want to do There's a fantastic idiom in English to express this idea: "to make virtue out of necessity".
or : embrace the suck
Re: The Art of Not Thinking
#153Earlier quoted context omitted.
Well, this, but the last step doesnt happen.
I've learned in life, both by doing and not doing , that effort is the only metric for success you can control. As far as how you set your expectations, I'd like to propose an experiment: Draw a Punnett square, where X is each possible choice you can make with your time relevant to one variable (work/don't work) and Y is each possible result of the subject of your choice for X (meet deadline/don't meet deadline). You…
“You have the right to work, but never to the fruit of work. You should never engage in action for the sake of reward, nor should you long for inaction.
~ The Bhagavad Gita
Re: The Art of Not Thinking
#154Earlier quoted context omitted.
Well, this, but the last step doesnt happen.
I've learned in life, both by doing and not doing , that effort is the only metric for success you can control. As far as how you set your expectations, I'd like to propose an experiment: Draw a Punnett square, where X is each possible choice you can make with your time relevant to one variable (work/don't work) and Y is each possible result of the subject of your choice for X (meet deadline/don't meet deadline). You…
Hopefully saving someone some time: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punnett_square
Re: The Art of Not Thinking
#155Earlier quoted context omitted.
Sometimes it isn't even a lie. When procrastinating I sometimes have to stop, remind myself that I _enjoy_ programming and figuring out the best way to solve some problem, _this is actually fun_. And then my brain realizes that that's actually true, it's being silly by procrastinating, and I get to work. It's strange that it's necessary, but it is.
Well, this, but the last step doesnt happen.
Remove everything that is distracting you (block YouTube, delete TikTok, etc) to the extent that the only choices you have are sit there and be bored or code.
For most people their brain craves stimulation. When we introduce highly stimulating and rewarding activities like YouTube, video games, and social media our brains procrastinate the harder work like programming because an easier reward is achieved by watching YouTube (ie. Less energy is expended to produce the same dopamine response).
The cycle of YouTube, social media, and video games (or anything you're addicted to) can easily ruin your life because you get caught in a loop of not wanting to work (procrastination), so you watch YouTube. That creates a habit of watching YouTube and the brain optimizes itself for that. Every time you sit at the computer you have the urge to watch Youtube. Then you start to feel bad about not making progress on your work. You turn to YouTube to make yourself feel better because it's the most efficient way of producing a reward in the brain. After each video is over, you don't want to start work because you've already optimized for watching YouTube (ie. momentum). So, you tell yourself lies like "one more video", or "after the next one I'll start work", or "well it's already 4pm so the day is basically over anyways I can't start working now".
If you're really having trouble and want a solution, block all of the distracting things in your life and get back to the basics. You don't need a "dopamine detox" or anything complicated. Simply block things (using a browser extension or DNS blacklist) you don't want to be doing and let yourself either be bored or do the work.
Suddenly you will find it's easy to get started on work, and actually pretty enjoyable to be productive. Use that momentum, and keep off of distracting websites/apps.
Do it for 5 days and see how far you can get.
Re: The Art of Not Thinking
#156Earlier quoted context omitted.
you know, i'm sort of in the same boat except i realize its more of an addiction than an actual joy that leaves me fulfilled. i hate scrolling through reddit mindlessly and yet i always get pulled back into it. and i bounce between here and reddit for like 20 minutes until i snap out of it. short term im feeling satisfied, but deep within i feel like shit. the best feeling i get is when i pick up a book or watch a do…
I found it interesting that you are saying that HN and reddit are comparable things. I recently turned off both my FB and Twitter account (never been a user of reddit or I would have done the same thing to it), but still enjoy the time here and probably will keep browsing interesting news/opinions here. English is not native to me. Even though I can read and write English article, the speed is just slow. To me, the s…
i only compare the two because sitting around for hours on HN is still (in my eyes) mostly a time waster. the articles are still hit or miss, but youre definitely right, its not as mindless as reddit
Re: The Art of Not Thinking
#157Don't you think there's too much thinking involved in an article about not thinking?
I just watched Joe Rogan's interview of David Goggins[1], and he lives the essence of what this article is trying to express. I think his perspective is far more succinct and sharper, its sort of an anti-motivation motivation. Its definitely worth a watch if anyone is interested.
Re: The Art of Not Thinking
#158Earlier quoted context omitted.
Problem with this theory is that you may not always find hobbies that are equivalent to good workout. I.e. walking will not get your heart rate up.
Running is bad for the knees and isn't really a great substitute either for most people. It depends on the person. The point I was making is that not thinking and blindly doing exercises you don't like is not the best argument to make the case in the article.
Running badly is bad for the knees*.
Re: The Art of Not Thinking
#159Earlier quoted context omitted.
I'm sorry I upset you. I hope you get the help you need.
I'm not upset. Have you considered getting therapy for reading emotions? Let me know if you need someone to talk to, I'm happy to help.
Making wanton sarcastic comments towards someone who suggested you may need therapy for something you're struggling with after you've stalked their account for other comments reads upset to me.
Re: The Art of Not Thinking
#160Earlier quoted context omitted.
I've learned in life, both by doing and not doing , that effort is the only metric for success you can control. As far as how you set your expectations, I'd like to propose an experiment: Draw a Punnett square, where X is each possible choice you can make with your time relevant to one variable (work/don't work) and Y is each possible result of the subject of your choice for X (meet deadline/don't meet deadline). You…
Hopefully saving someone some time: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punnett_square
You are and I thank you for that!