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Be Productive Anywhere: Strategies for Better Remote Work

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41–49 of 49 posts

Re: Be Productive Anywhere: Strategies for Better Remote Work

#41

The article assumes that you don't find your work interesting enough to keep your attention focused for a prolonged period of time. Maybe it is better to try to understand why it is not interesting and find ways to make it actually catching rather than figure out workarounds. Because why should we spend time on things we are not interested in?

I really enjoy programming and applying various technologies to solve problems.

However, I don't always enjoy my work. If I'm stuck o the same thing for prolonged amounts of time or if things keep not working out (eg fixing a bug only to find another and another and...). My work also requires that sometimes I do stuff that I don't enjoy. I've yet to come across a job where I enjoy 100% of the tasks that come my way.

I've also noticed that there's a difference in enjoyment between tasks that I do because I have to and tasks that I choose to do because I feel like it. Both tasks could actually be the same thing, only one I decided I wanted to do and the other external factors decided that I should do the task.

For example, one day I was feeling frustrated and burnt out by work and after work I did a little programming that was more-or-less the same kind of work that I do in my job, but I did it for myself for fun. And I felt refreshed.

Re: Be Productive Anywhere: Strategies for Better Remote Work

#42

The "you are all dehydrated and need to drink 37 glasses of water a day" myth really needs to die... I'll let Dr Carroll rant for me: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbHp7cu2Ubk

3.2 liters of water a day is much less than 37 glasses of water. The article mentioned 3.2 liters.

I am surprised by the down votes. I didn't realize drinking water was so controversial.

One data point: my neighbors, husband and wife, are a surgeon and a neurologist. We live in the mountains of central Arizona, and hiking is a favorite pastime. Both of these doctors say one should drink 1 quart of water an hour while hiking. I don't quite do that, but I certainly drink 2 liters on a strenuous 3 hour hike.

Re: Be Productive Anywhere: Strategies for Better Remote Work

#43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

3.2 liters of water a day is much less than 37 glasses of water. The article mentioned 3.2 liters.

I am surprised by the down votes. I didn't realize drinking water was so controversial. One data point: my neighbors, husband and wife, are a surgeon and a neurologist. We live in the mountains of central Arizona, and hiking is a favorite pastime. Both of these doctors say one should drink 1 quart of water an hour while hiking. I don't quite do that, but I certainly drink 2 liters on a strenuous 3 hour hike.

The claim you're supporting in the article is not about drinking water while on a strenuous hike in a hot, arid climate. It's about drinking water in routine, day to day life.

Re: Be Productive Anywhere: Strategies for Better Remote Work

#44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I am surprised by the down votes. I didn't realize drinking water was so controversial. One data point: my neighbors, husband and wife, are a surgeon and a neurologist. We live in the mountains of central Arizona, and hiking is a favorite pastime. Both of these doctors say one should drink 1 quart of water an hour while hiking. I don't quite do that, but I certainly drink 2 liters on a strenuous 3 hour hike.

The claim you're supporting in the article is not about drinking water while on a strenuous hike in a hot, arid climate. It's about drinking water in routine, day to day life.

I was not 100% supporting the claim in the article. I was just pointing out what I thought was someone's error in converting 3 liters to 37 cups of water.

Re: Be Productive Anywhere: Strategies for Better Remote Work

#45
There have been multiple comments here calling out drinking specific quantities of water.

I am not sure about the scientific validity of the advice and hence not going to comment on that.

But what I do have realized is (atleast is my case) often we mistake thirst signals from our body for hunger signals or rather as cravings and grab a snack. This idea was suggested in one of the n number of resources I read online about weightloss, so I am not able to cite the exact article.

Consciously noting craving signals and just substituting water often made the cravings go away. When it doesn't, obviously I am hungry :)

Now we are venturing deep into the land of extrapolation. So, take this with a huge grain of salt. I suspect that in our hunter gatherer days (or earlier0, water was not readily available at hand. So humans, then, would have depended on fruits and leaves as a source of water as well as food. Hence why atleast some of get our hunger and thirst signals mixed up ;)

Re: Be Productive Anywhere: Strategies for Better Remote Work

#46
post #4

No matter what the work I still find being around people I work with to be much better than working by myself at home, despite Slack and email etc there is no replacement to talking with people in person. While the occasional day at home is fine I just can't enjoy being alone all the time and still try to be productive. I'm sure it works for other people but not me.

I'm actually the complete opposite I hate working with anyone in the room with me

It's almost as if everyone is different lol

Re: Be Productive Anywhere: Strategies for Better Remote Work

#47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've been mostly working remotely (80-90% remote work) as a developer and consultant for over a decade. The changing point for me was to have a dedicated office space (an entire bedroom or den). Let's face it, if you are working late in the evening at the office and no one else is in the office, what difference is there from working remotely? Now, for me, it mostly doesn't matter where I work from: home office, rente…

I like the camera position trick - very nice

Glad you liked it. I use a cheap $9.99 1080p manually zoomable camera and a 20 foot USB extension cable routed under the chair mat and up a 5.5 foot tripod to the camera. Having the camera taped to the tripod (no proper mount on the USB camera) makes it super easy to use the tripod controls to pan, tilt, or lock in place. Due to a conveniently located shelving unit, the tripod's legs are not fully spread out, reducing the tripping hazard. A simple loop of paracord and a knot 'secure' the tripod head to the shelving.

Re: Be Productive Anywhere: Strategies for Better Remote Work

#48

These kind of advice articles about personal productivity never really take into consideration that you might be sharing your living space with someone else. Sure, I'll make my bed at 5.45 every morning, first thing of the day, just let me wake up my girlfriend super early too, just because I'm a productivity freak. Sorry hon', Tim Ferris told me to do that!

If you care about personal productivity, you don't have a girlfriend. ;). So waking her up every morning should solve that problem.

So I agree, if you want to increase your personal productivity, make your bed early every morning. :D.

Re: Be Productive Anywhere: Strategies for Better Remote Work

#49

These kind of advice articles about personal productivity never really take into consideration that you might be sharing your living space with someone else. Sure, I'll make my bed at 5.45 every morning, first thing of the day, just let me wake up my girlfriend super early too, just because I'm a productivity freak. Sorry hon', Tim Ferris told me to do that!

If you care about personal productivity, you don't have a girlfriend. ;). So waking her up every morning should solve that problem. So I agree, if you want to increase your personal productivity, make your bed early every morning. :D.

> if you want to increase your personal productivity, make yourself single.

FTFY!

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