Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Procrastinate Until You're Ready

victusspiritus.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

31–40 of 40 posts

Re: Procrastinate Until You're Ready

#31

Post by messel »

RyanMcGreal wrote: post #28
messel wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think anyone can tell you when to be creative. You need to decide. If you want to do so for years on end because you have the gift to, more power to ya.

When to be creative: Right now. Not later. Later will never come. I'll be creative later is the excuse we make for not just putting our heads down and creating what we want to create. Here's an example of what I mean: Ask any writer who has written a book how they did it. They will answer by telling you they did it by sitting down and writing, day after day, until the book was finished. Now ask anyone who wants to be…

Looks like we have radically different philosophies on creativity. I like your description Ryan (and admire dedication towards a goal you care about).

But I can't help but feel you can burn yourself out if you're not careful. I find my own work effectiveness to vary. Sometimes I'm a machine, cranking out great code/ideas but at other times my brain really does prefer other input/stimuli. Of course spending time with my fiance is always energizing. Going for long walks is my reset/refresh, checking out a museum or movie helps to. Browsing HN or other social shares is great to.

Re: Procrastinate Until You're Ready

#32

Post by jcromartie »

RyanMcGreal wrote: post #5

No. Greatness is not achieved by waiting for the right moment for inspiration to strike - it's achieved by years of dedication, commitment and hard work.

I'd say it's 50/50. Practice just gets you to the point where you can create. Your creative moments will come wether you're ready or not, so you have to put the hours in to hone your skills.

Re: Procrastinate Until You're Ready

#33

Post by yef »

messel wrote: post #21
yef wrote: post #3

Wrong, possibly evil advice. Just my opinion.

I'd appreciate comments as to why you think so after reading.

From personal experience, procrastination does nothing to improve my readiness. Diligence, working at my craft, developing a process for working through setbacks and obstacles, etc...these are all things that improve my readiness AND my overall level of inspiration and creativity. My outside reading on creativity confirms my personal opinion.

Frankly, I think procrastination is the single worst drain on an information-based economy, and I have a hard time seeing any arguments in defense of procastination. Just being honest about my bias.

Re: Procrastinate Until You're Ready

#34

Post by RyanMcGreal »

messel wrote: post #31
RyanMcGreal wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When to be creative: Right now. Not later. Later will never come. I'll be creative later is the excuse we make for not just putting our heads down and creating what we want to create. Here's an example of what I mean: Ask any writer who has written a book how they did it. They will answer by telling you they did it by sitting down and writing, day after day, until the book was finished. Now ask anyone who wants to be…

Looks like we have radically different philosophies on creativity. I like your description Ryan (and admire dedication towards a goal you care about). But I can't help but feel you can burn yourself out if you're not careful. I find my own work effectiveness to vary. Sometimes I'm a machine, cranking out great code/ideas but at other times my brain really does prefer other input/stimuli. Of course spending time with…

I don't think my philosophy is radically different from yours. My experience is similar to yours, and in fact I'm only really productive when I have a lot of (too many?) projects on the go.

I'm not suggesting you should commit every waking moment to a project until it's completed (if I did, I'd be guilty of the worst hypocrisy). Rather, I'm suggesting that if you want to complete a creative project, you need to commit to regular work on it, starting now and not at some unspecified point in the future.

Re: Procrastinate Until You're Ready

#35

Post by ddemchuk »

rooshdi wrote: post #4

Procrastination is inversely correlated with motivation and is usually a sign of disinterest or misunderstanding of a task or project. Usually this problem can be diminished through setting realistic goals that one feels passionate about achieving. I believe an aura of constant mystery within a project is a key motivating factor for most individuals due to the intriguing unknowns and self discoveries that one constan…

Procrastination can also be an outward symptom of other problems, such as anxiety, depression, or excessive stress. Also, those with attention problems tend to do everything but focus on their tasks at hand, often without any means of controlling themselves.

Re: Procrastinate Until You're Ready

#36

Post by messel »

RyanMcGreal wrote: post #34
messel wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Looks like we have radically different philosophies on creativity. I like your description Ryan (and admire dedication towards a goal you care about). But I can't help but feel you can burn yourself out if you're not careful. I find my own work effectiveness to vary. Sometimes I'm a machine, cranking out great code/ideas but at other times my brain really does prefer other input/stimuli. Of course spending time with…

I don't think my philosophy is radically different from yours. My experience is similar to yours, and in fact I'm only really productive when I have a lot of (too many?) projects on the go. I'm not suggesting you should commit every waking moment to a project until it's completed (if I did, I'd be guilty of the worst hypocrisy). Rather, I'm suggesting that if you want to complete a creative project, you need to commi…

Right on. Looks like we have more in common than I first guessed.

Once you are "ready" you've got to spend your time and effort (over sometimes very long periods) into transferring abstract concepts into concrete/shareable products.

Bookmarked your post for later reading: http://quandyfactory.com/blog/1/productivity_and_procrastina...

Glad I read your post, now I found a couple of others to read. (you Pointed to Paul Graham: http://www.paulgraham.com/procrastination.html & John Perry: http://www.structuredprocrastination.com/ )

Looks like procrastination is a hot topic for many of us.

Re: Procrastinate Until You're Ready

#37

Post by moron4hire »

messel wrote: post #26
moron4hire wrote: post #11

Creative inspiration is not a bolt of lightning that hits you at random. It's a process of cascading train-of-thought. If you never get that train to leave the station, you're never going to get anywhere. You need to stop procrastinating and force yourself to work to put yourself in the necessary conditions for creative work to happen. Sitting around, watching movies, eating cheezy-poofs isn't going to do it.

If someone puts a gun to my head and demands I produce my most elegant and thoughtful work, there's a damn good chance he's going to be disappointed. You can't force it. I'm not suggestion doing absolutely nothing with your time, but instead allow yourself some time to think things over.

Some of the greatest works of art have been created in essentially that situation. The subtly subversive works of artists toiling under the employ oppressive, totalitarian governments, people like Hans Fischerkoesen.

Re: Procrastinate Until You're Ready

#38

Post by diiq »

messel wrote: post #22
diiq wrote: post #13

Couldn't paint what I'm painting now, if I didn't paint what came before it first --- even if what came before was utter drivel. I will agree with this: Always work when you're inspired. Don't let it slip past you. But: Always work when you're uninspired. The work is the source of the inspiration --- not contemplating the opening lotus blossom.

I find living is inspirational. Going for a walk, chatting online, etc.

Absoutely. No one can work all the time. If I go for a walk after a few hours in the studio, I see the world as a source to draw from, a fountain of ideas. The world inspires because the work is an inspiration-tinted lens.

Going for a walk after a few hours of chatting online after a few hours of cleaning the bathroom after a few days of not working --- then I rarely find myself inspired; what feels like inspiration is mundane once realized, like the violent discovery that milk's gone sour. The only benefit gained is that I'm working again.

Re: Procrastinate Until You're Ready

#39

Post by RyanMcGreal »

messel wrote: post #36
RyanMcGreal wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think my philosophy is radically different from yours. My experience is similar to yours, and in fact I'm only really productive when I have a lot of (too many?) projects on the go. I'm not suggesting you should commit every waking moment to a project until it's completed (if I did, I'd be guilty of the worst hypocrisy). Rather, I'm suggesting that if you want to complete a creative project, you need to commi…

Right on. Looks like we have more in common than I first guessed. Once you are "ready" you've got to spend your time and effort (over sometimes very long periods) into transferring abstract concepts into concrete/shareable products. Bookmarked your post for later reading: http://quandyfactory.com/blog/1/productivity_and_procrastina... Glad I read your post, now I found a couple of others to read. (you Pointed to Paul…

The secret to procrastination is to do it productively. :)

Re: Procrastinate Until You're Ready

#40

Post by messel »

yef wrote: post #33
messel wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd appreciate comments as to why you think so after reading.

From personal experience, procrastination does nothing to improve my readiness. Diligence, working at my craft, developing a process for working through setbacks and obstacles, etc...these are all things that improve my readiness AND my overall level of inspiration and creativity. My outside reading on creativity confirms my personal opinion. Frankly, I think procrastination is the single worst drain on an informatio…

Thanks yef. While I don't agree, perhaps it's a cognitive bias of mine? I need some down cycles, or to chew on a different topic or listen to music to let my brain breathe a little. Perhaps our individual nature plays very much into our creative aspects. You, for example are at your most creative when at the grindstone pushing yourself forward. I always have my best concepts in the foggy moments after waking up in the middle of the night. Walking is like meditation for me, and gives my brain a chance to wander/explore a problem space without judgement.

Actually building something requires ritualistic dedication though. Coming up with the original inspiration, not so much.

Post reply on HN