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I find that I will lose and gain focus throughout the day when I have a task when I don't know what to do next. When I do have energy I will try to push past it

I find that I will lose and gain focus throughout the day when I have a task when I don't know what to do next. When I do have energy I will try to push past it. After awhile though I start reading HN. The amount time I will read HN depends on an ever decreasing amount of energy. After about 3-5 times of losing focus and not making progress I will spend increasingly longer on the site. From the website I am practicing mindfulness throughout the day since I have my Apple watch (through the breath app). I think mindfulness would be good for hackers. On physical tasks you could lift weights but on mental tasks your goal is probably reducing anxiety or frustration. Or preserving flow (Podmoro supposedly does this but I could never get into it). On the other hand if I get a good flow going and I am uninterrupted I will probably forget to check HN and I will continually work until I do get stuck even if that happens.

grrowl 10y ago
I found pomodoros help control the impulse to visit HN (or twitter, news, etc). If it's non-negotiable that you must chip away at your task, even if it's a case of "don't know what's next" -> do supporting tasks until it becomes clear. By the 25-minute mark I'm much more likely to continue into the next pomodoro, and if not there's no problem taking time out without guilt.
- deleted 10y ago
  [deleted]
- terminalcommand 10y ago
  The problem I found with sticking to using Pomodoros or longer periods (90 minutes) per work is that they work for a short while. After a couple of days or max. a few weeks I plunge back into my old self. Using self-discipline techniques help in the short term, but in the long term I find them harmful. Because after a while of dedication, I feel exhausted and kinda burnt-out. It's true that working for the time you allocated removes guilt. It's true that setting aside a fixed amount of time for working makes you more efficient. If I could only find a way to sustain this kind of movement. One thing I've seen working is listening to easy-listening music. After quieting down my brain, I have much more self-discipline and focus.
  - Bakary 10y ago
    To change your habits over the long term it helps to take it really slowly but consistently.
  - thanatropism 9y ago
    I find the Pomodoro technique much too confusing and detailed. Whenever I'm in an impossible procrastinating mood (and I feel that this is what is: a mood) I put e.ggtimer.com to the minimum amount of time I really think I can put together. Usually by the timer is gone I have to reset it and keep working. If I'm really getting into a good place, I increase the time, if it seems I'm going to be done soon, I decrease it. Reasonable expectations. > Using self-discipline techniques help in the short term, but in the long term I find them harmful. This seems a case of Stockdale's Paradox: http://ndoherty.com/stockdale-paradox/ http://ndoherty.com/stockdale-paradox/
    - terminalcommand 9y ago
      Thanks for the insight. Could you please elaborate on the Stockdale's Paradox. I researched the topic but couldn't understand the connection with me finding self-discipline techniques harmful. Should I not lose faith and try to find better ways to get my life in order?

grrowl 10y ago

I found pomodoros help control the impulse to visit HN (or twitter, news, etc). If it's non-negotiable that you must chip away at your task, even if it's a case of "don't know what's next" -> do supporting tasks until it becomes clear. By the 25-minute mark I'm much more likely to continue into the next pomodoro, and if not there's no problem taking time out without guilt.

deleted 10y ago
[deleted]
terminalcommand 10y ago
The problem I found with sticking to using Pomodoros or longer periods (90 minutes) per work is that they work for a short while. After a couple of days or max. a few weeks I plunge back into my old self. Using self-discipline techniques help in the short term, but in the long term I find them harmful. Because after a while of dedication, I feel exhausted and kinda burnt-out. It's true that working for the time you allocated removes guilt. It's true that setting aside a fixed amount of time for working makes you more efficient. If I could only find a way to sustain this kind of movement. One thing I've seen working is listening to easy-listening music. After quieting down my brain, I have much more self-discipline and focus.
- Bakary 10y ago
  To change your habits over the long term it helps to take it really slowly but consistently.
- thanatropism 9y ago
  I find the Pomodoro technique much too confusing and detailed. Whenever I'm in an impossible procrastinating mood (and I feel that this is what is: a mood) I put e.ggtimer.com to the minimum amount of time I really think I can put together. Usually by the timer is gone I have to reset it and keep working. If I'm really getting into a good place, I increase the time, if it seems I'm going to be done soon, I decrease it. Reasonable expectations. > Using self-discipline techniques help in the short term, but in the long term I find them harmful. This seems a case of Stockdale's Paradox: http://ndoherty.com/stockdale-paradox/ http://ndoherty.com/stockdale-paradox/
  - terminalcommand 9y ago
    Thanks for the insight. Could you please elaborate on the Stockdale's Paradox. I researched the topic but couldn't understand the connection with me finding self-discipline techniques harmful. Should I not lose faith and try to find better ways to get my life in order?