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I'd say I struggle with a few things, but I'll pick one. I overcomplicate and overthink things. If I get into something, like a new hobby, I go in to "engineer

I'd say I struggle with a few things, but I'll pick one. I overcomplicate and overthink things. If I get into something, like a new hobby, I go in to "engineer mode" and think about all the complexities of what I'm trying to do, and end up going nowhere. Or other times, I will purchase a slew of materials I don't initally need because "I'll need them later" and end up getting bored with the hobby before they ever get used. Recently I've been trying to keep things simple and iterate. On that note, I also struggle with maintaining interest in new hobbies after the first "hump", and go away from it for several months or years. By the time I work up interest in it and get back into it I start from square one essentially. I feel like I've been getting better at it with age, my mind has "slowed down" a bit in a good way and I find focusing on things has become easier.

allenu 8y ago
I use to have this problem. I'd plan out everything in a side project and figure out the optimal structure for where files go even. After a while I realized just going back to a "just build something" strategy is way more optimal as it keeps me engaged in the project and allows me to focus on things that matter. It's hard to make progress when you're just planning, especially since you just don't know all the details when you start... so you're planning is often not based on reality.
citrablue 8y ago
I can empathize with this. Add in the fact that the older I get, the more impressive my project needs to be in order to impress myself. It's a form of self-sabotage, but by realizing that I don't have to build something great in 1 day, it helps. What are your strategies to cope with this?
- headcanon 8y ago
  That seems like a symptom of comparing yourself with some ultimate, unrealistic version of what you think you should be. Kind of like learning guitar in your 30's and getting discouraged when you see talented 16-year-olds on youtube getting famous. I cope with that by 1) realizing that everyone's journey is different, and 2) realizing that even though I'm not a famous artist or whatever, I have a unique background that can bring value to people in the way I'm comfortable with. Also as you get older you recognize what's really valuable in life (friends, happiness, etc.), and the things you thought were important when you were younger (getting rich/famous) are actually really shallow.
thinkingkong 8y ago
Been there. Classic analysis paralysis problem for me, at least. What I had to do was actually just start to show myself how little I was gaining in the “what if” planning. Chances of those problems were small and I was just spending time (years!) dealing with engineering mode. The key for me was realizing why I acted that way. But thats a personal journey Id encourage you to take but cant tell you where it goes.

allenu 8y ago

I use to have this problem. I'd plan out everything in a side project and figure out the optimal structure for where files go even. After a while I realized just going back to a "just build something" strategy is way more optimal as it keeps me engaged in the project and allows me to focus on things that matter. It's hard to make progress when you're just planning, especially since you just don't know all the details when you start... so you're planning is often not based on reality.

citrablue 8y ago

I can empathize with this. Add in the fact that the older I get, the more impressive my project needs to be in order to impress myself. It's a form of self-sabotage, but by realizing that I don't have to build something great in 1 day, it helps. What are your strategies to cope with this?

headcanon 8y ago
That seems like a symptom of comparing yourself with some ultimate, unrealistic version of what you think you should be. Kind of like learning guitar in your 30's and getting discouraged when you see talented 16-year-olds on youtube getting famous. I cope with that by 1) realizing that everyone's journey is different, and 2) realizing that even though I'm not a famous artist or whatever, I have a unique background that can bring value to people in the way I'm comfortable with. Also as you get older you recognize what's really valuable in life (friends, happiness, etc.), and the things you thought were important when you were younger (getting rich/famous) are actually really shallow.

thinkingkong 8y ago

Been there. Classic analysis paralysis problem for me, at least. What I had to do was actually just start to show myself how little I was gaining in the “what if” planning. Chances of those problems were small and I was just spending time (years!) dealing with engineering mode. The key for me was realizing why I acted that way. But thats a personal journey Id encourage you to take but cant tell you where it goes.