The Art of Not Thinking • Hacker News Board

Re: The Art of Not Thinking

#51

Post by Scarblac » Mon, Aug 03, 2020, 6:43 PM UTC

darkerside wrote: post #13

If you are in a similar boat, it's likely that when you consider an upcoming dreaded task, there is at least a small part of you that admits the possibility that you will not do the task . And because there is, and because your brain realizes it, it expends mental energy trying to convince you not to do it. Once you are actually doing the task, or it's done, or you realize that you must start doing it immediately, yo…

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.

Re: The Art of Not Thinking

#52

Post by Jeriko » Mon, Aug 03, 2020, 6:51 PM UTC

ajkdhcb2 wrote: post #48

dx87 wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not everyone is lucky enough to be able to spend their life doing what they enjoy, whenever they want. I'd bet that avoiding adversity at all costs is a bigger contributor to anxiety and depression because unless you live an incredibly privileged life, you'll eventually have to deal with things you don't want to.

If an action is going to minimise anxiety and depression in the long run, then it's what you want to do, so no mind-games and lying to yourself should be required.

It is all mind games. I feel like you are leaning on a negative association to the phrase rather than making an argument. If you say "I don't feel like I want to do a thing, but doing that thing will minimise anxiety and depression in the long run, therefore I do want to do the thing" that is definitely a mind game. It is also a good way to be happier and more satisfied in life.

Re: The Art of Not Thinking

#53

Post by musicale » Mon, Aug 03, 2020, 6:55 PM UTC

cryptozeus wrote: post #23

kanobo wrote: post #3

For the main example given (exercise), I think for people like me there really is no thinking involved. It's purely an emotional aversion to discomfort and disenjoyment of physical activity. I think the better advice is to search for physical hobbies you enjoy rather than to 'just do it' (tm).

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.

> walking will not get your heart rate up.

It will if you walk up hills.

Even walking a few miles a day in flat areas is still good exercise; getting yourself outside and moving is a very good start.

I think walking to work or class is also good for thinking and getting your brain working.

Walking/hiking in nature is also great if you are near a trail of some sort.

Re: The Art of Not Thinking

#54

Post by bluntfang » Mon, Aug 03, 2020, 7:02 PM UTC

kanobo wrote: post #21

bluntfang wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

making habits requires motivation and discipline.

You won't make habits because you won't have the motivation and discipline to make those habits. It's a bit of a chicken and egg. /s

I'm sorry I upset you. I hope you get the help you need.

Re: The Art of Not Thinking

#55

Post by bluntfang » Mon, Aug 03, 2020, 7:02 PM UTC

kanobo wrote: post #19

bluntfang wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

you won't find a physical hobby you enjoy because you never "just do it" enough to find out if you enjoy any of it. It's a bit of chicken and egg. People who think they have "emotional aversion to discomfort and disenjoyment of physical activity" should probably seek therapy if they really want to change.

I had no problem thinking about what I might enjoy and finding hobbies. Sorry to disappoint you that I don't go to therapy for trivial things and can't "just do it" and start running for no reason like forrest gump.

Not being able to exercise is no trivial. That sounds like a good topic to discuss in therapy. Why do you think physical activities are trivial? What makes you feel like you're better than others?

Re: The Art of Not Thinking

#56

Post by bluntfang » Mon, Aug 03, 2020, 7:03 PM UTC

Tade0 wrote: post #22

bluntfang wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

you won't find a physical hobby you enjoy because you never "just do it" enough to find out if you enjoy any of it. It's a bit of chicken and egg. People who think they have "emotional aversion to discomfort and disenjoyment of physical activity" should probably seek therapy if they really want to change.

I tried yoga, cycling, going to the gym - none stuck with me. I did try though. I only really enjoy swimming - but it's too much work to prepare yourself for the pool - and carrying things - the other day me and a few frineds helped my other friend move ten station wagons worth of stuff - but that isn't a particularly healthy activity.

Excuses are a dime a dozen when it comes to exercise.

Re: The Art of Not Thinking

#57

Post by LordGrey » Mon, Aug 03, 2020, 7:08 PM UTC

My trick is to delay the task to a specific day and/or time. I use a reminders app to create a schedule of sorts, and I've trained myself to do the task right when the reminder pops up.

The presumption here is that I've already thought about how long the task will take and what I'll need to complete it, plus I'm aware of what else is going on and taken that into account, so I have no real excuse for not doing the task right when the reminder pops up.

It's a bit of moderated procrastination, but it works for me.

Re: The Art of Not Thinking

#58

Post by agumonkey » Mon, Aug 03, 2020, 7:08 PM UTC

darkerside wrote: post #13

If you are in a similar boat, it's likely that when you consider an upcoming dreaded task, there is at least a small part of you that admits the possibility that you will not do the task . And because there is, and because your brain realizes it, it expends mental energy trying to convince you not to do it. Once you are actually doing the task, or it's done, or you realize that you must start doing it immediately, yo…

Instead of lying I'd use the make it fun. Find any reason to make that task enjoyable, flip it around, organize it differently.

At work (temporary gig):

- manual labour == free workout. Whenever I have to crouch for a file.. I do it in a slow and perfect squat. I grab the file and stay down to strecth, then I go up swift .. I'm happy to have that file because I gained something. Other task like archive defragmenting I tried various ways to find the most agreeable one, then I go full speed.

- mundane tasks (print copy, input):

I make a chase waste game out of it (what programmers do). I organize the thing to be as lean and fast as possible and turn a 100+ repetitions into a smooth flow .. like a choreography.

I time most things to make it a game. Coworkers are shocked (whatever their reasons) but I produce twice in half the time and zero rants coming from my cubicle.

For tasks that I really don't like to do.. I gained a mental compartment to remember not to ever trigger that task again. I do it as a debt to my mistake and get done with it.

Re: The Art of Not Thinking

#59

Post by alex_anglin » Mon, Aug 03, 2020, 7:09 PM UTC

ajkdhcb2 wrote: post #49

eebynight wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You say this as if you have complete control over your thoughts and the content of your sub conscious mind, which you don’t... Half the battle of accomplishing anything in life is priming your subconscious mind with the right line of thinking for the task at hand. If you reframe it that way this is fantastic advice. Edit: I might also add your subconscious mind could very well be considered a separate entity consider…

It doesn't make any sense to 'control your own thoughts'. It's weird how people seem to picture their 'real self' as some disparate nonphysical entity in their body pulling levers, in this case even separate from the brain and thoughts

You may wish to look in to Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, as it can achieve what you claim makes no sense.

Re: The Art of Not Thinking

#60

Post by bitwize » Mon, Aug 03, 2020, 7:10 PM UTC

For me, motivation is like a car engine. Once the crankshaft is turning, the pistons are moving, and the fuel is igniting, motivation is self-sustaining and can keep me going on a particular task. But it has to be started. Something external has to turn the engine over a few times until the self-sustaining process kicks in. Usually, this takes the form of forcing myself to work a tiny bit on the task. Once I get that tiny bit done, I'm in a headspace to where getting a bit more done is much easier, and I can keep going like that.