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A receipt printer cured my procrastination

laurieherault.com

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Re: A receipt printer cured my procrastination

#571

Post by matt_kantor »

> Write each task on a sticky note. When you finish the task, crumple the note into a ball and throw it into a clear jar.

I independently stumbled upon this same system. It sounds like the author takes it further than me (I don't create notes for routine/repeating tasks, and don't break them down so much—in a typical day I only complete around 2-3 notes).

I've used sticky notes for years, but ~6 months ago added the jar (prior to that I just recycled them). It helps to have a visual reminder that I'm making progress over the long term, even if it doesn't feel like it some days.

My current jar is just about full and I've been debating what to do with it. Save it as desk art? Find a bigger jar and transfer the notes? Burn them in a cathartic ritual? I'm open to suggestions.

Re: A receipt printer cured my procrastination

#572

Post by pchangr »

poulpy123 wrote: post #536
pchangr wrote: post #530

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don’t think you understand depression. There’s a big difference between depression and sadness … like the difference between purple and green. They are just not comparable. This is not shades of a different color. My personal experience is: “I’m sad” and that can mean… “I want to cry” But If im depressed can be like “I’m happy.., and yet.. I don’t see the point of living.”

> I don’t think you understand depression I think I understand very well

Then maybe it was just a choice of words. My main point was that being depressed is not the same as being sad like being happy is not the same as being manic.

Re: A receipt printer cured my procrastination

#573

Post by fy20 »

whalee wrote: post #7

Cool idea! I would note there are some known health hazards in handling thermal-paper receipts(BPA/BPS)[1] with your bare hands if you do so often. I don't know much beyond this, I would look into it. [1] https://www.pca.state.mn.us/business-with-us/bpa-and-bps-in-...

You can also use dot matrix / impact receipt printers, they work in the same way, just with an ink reel. So no special paper needed.

They are used in kitchens where thermal paper obviously won't work. Other advantages are they can usually print two colours: black and red. And the sound is rather satisfying :-)

Re: A receipt printer cured my procrastination

#574

Post by damascus »

matt_kantor wrote: post #571

> Write each task on a sticky note. When you finish the task, crumple the note into a ball and throw it into a clear jar. I independently stumbled upon this same system. It sounds like the author takes it further than me (I don't create notes for routine/repeating tasks, and don't break them down so much—in a typical day I only complete around 2-3 notes). I've used sticky notes for years, but ~6 months ago added the…

My gf and I are the stereotypical software nerd meets astrology girlie (but doesn't take it too far). She likes to do rituals every so often and I've found that it does create a moment of reflection that you can use however you like. The last time we were camping she told me she wanted to do one so I bought some of that fire color changing powder (mostly just fine metal shavings of various types) and then glued a bit of that on some paper and made sort of a paper packet and then I had the whole group write on a packet something they wanted to let go of and then we all tossed them into the fire at the same time and the fire changed colors. It was pretty magical and I scored a lot of brownie points! So you could sprinkle some of that into your jar and just toss a handleful into the fire and watch the magic of your productivity ascend to the heavens. Or, you know, just watch physics at work.

Re: A receipt printer cured my procrastination

#576

Post by heygarrett »

small_scombrus wrote: post #491
SamPatt wrote: post #465

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Serious question: in those scenarios, do you never have awareness about your need to eat? Or does it occur at some point, but then you decide not to eat at the moment, and after making that decision then you never revisit it? I ask because I often realize I'm hungry or it's time to eat, but I'm too engaged in the task I'm doing and I think "I'll eat a bit later" and then once I've done that the first time I often nev…

Not the person you asked, but in my experience one or multiple of the following happen: - I just don't notice I'm hungry (this one happens most to me) - I notice I'm hungry but get distracted and forget - I notice I'm hungry but I don't have the energy to devote to making/finding food - I notice I'm hungry and I straight up don't care even though I'm aware I should

Yep, everything here, plus “Why am I dizzy? Oh, I haven’t eaten anything in 15 hours.”

Re: A receipt printer cured my procrastination

#578

Post by abalone »

That's really cool. I will just add that in my experience, with a bit of conditioning it is possible to get this satisfaction from crossing things off digital lists. The benefits are manifold:

- It saves paper

- It's easier and faster to reprioritize tasks

- It's always with you in your pocket

Personally I use Apple Notes which has checklists, as opposed to a task management system or even Reminders. The flexibility of just writing things into a freeform note and hitting a button to turn them into todos is the right balance of low friction and just enough structure. Hitting that circle to check it off when done is actually quite satisfying.

Bonus: I added a keyboard shortcut for strikethru which adds some extra satisfaction of crossing off the task (or portions of a task that i've written out).

Re: A receipt printer cured my procrastination

#579

Post by threecheese »

sjducb wrote: post #577

I just tried bite sized task post it notes. It’s incredible. The gamification is like the notice boards in the Witcher 3.

It’s such a great idea. I have a giant metal whiteboard I’ve been using for post-it’s for a few years, I am always having to move them around because they are at “project” granularity, and things get recaregorized or reprioritized, to the point that it’s mostly useless. Going to try this!

Re: A receipt printer cured my procrastination

#580

Post by jimbokun »

standardUser wrote: post #381

Maybe someone can relate to me on this... > With this new system, I haven't missed tracking my habits even once. When I'm in a productive era like that it mostly feels amazing. But it also comes with this looming threat that it can't go on like that forever. The feeling that maintaining such a high standard will only lead to a big fall once something inevitably disrupts the system. It also creates a sense of burden b…

Are you happy?

If so, don't change anything.

Otherwise, if the lack of doing anything productive is bothering you, search for work that

1. seems meaningful to you, 2. has enjoyable aspects to it (no job will be fun all the time), 3. renumerates you sufficiently to meet your current standard of living or at least a standard of living you can accept.

THEN you will have the sufficient motivation to be productive where looking for a system that helps you be productive could be useful.

Alternatively, there's always entrepreneurship, depending on your appetite for risk and stress.

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