4 ms·

I was just thinking about the fact that much of my work requires me to pause for a short time -- while building my project, or running a query, or launching the

I was just thinking about the fact that much of my work requires me to pause for a short time -- while building my project, or running a query, or launching the huge honkin' java webapp and waiting for 10 billion classes to initialize -- but the pause is too short to make a useful context switch, and too long to simply wait through without getting bored. So typically, I often check e-mail, HN, or whatever, but then end up getting sidetracked. Being able to simply wait through these would be great. Unfortunately, developing this sort of mental discipline, along with exercising, making my bed, and eating out less often, falls on my "Things That Are Good For Me That I'll Probably Never Do" list.

iamwil 16y ago
Actually, that's one of my biggest problems when it comes to productivity. The REPL (read-eval-print loop) takes too long because the unit tests take too long to run, or the environment takes too long to load. Recently, I took a day to tackle this problem for myself, and I've found that I'm just much more productive when I'm stuck in a quicker REPL loop, rather than when I need to wait and stare out the window--and then I get distracted.
- idoh 16y ago
  Can you run the tests in a thread instead though?
- ericd 16y ago
  I think this means you have a business case for a faster computer with an SSD...
mebassett 16y ago
yeah, I have that problem too. Those short pauses kill productivity. I think mediation may help. I've taken to sitting for 20min a day doing nothing. 2 minutes isn't that bad at all. I don't think it [mediation] requires much mental discipline to start; I still can't be bothered to exercise, make my bed, et cetera.
jcromartie 16y ago
I'm pretty sure I saw this on HN before, but... http://breckyunits.com/when_forced_to_wait_wait http://breckyunits.com/when_forced_to_wait_wait
- hugh3 16y ago
  My day job involves running simulations that take days to run. This has, unfortunately, made me into an epic multitasker, and keeping track of all the things I'm doing at any given time taxes my brain. I don't think the "when forced to wait, wait" strategy would work well for me.
Timothee 16y ago
I could see that as a good page to redirect to in your hosts file for distracting sites like HN, reddit et al.
- kennet 16y ago
  Well played good sir.
- tlrobinson 16y ago
  Or add: open "http://www.donothingfor2minutes.com/" (or your OS's equivalent) to the beginning of any compilation that takes a significant amount of time.
staktrace 16y ago
Why is making your bed on that list? Is there an advantage to doing that that I'm unaware of?
- uxp 16y ago
  I had a basket ball coach as a kid who would always ask us if we left our beds unmade after a day of doing horribly, or not better than we should be. Nearly every time, without fail, when I was asked that question, the truth was that I had left it unmade. I also never liked the game, and still don't view the sport favorably, but every day since then I make sure to take the time to make my bed in the morning. The fact of the matter is making the bed is entirely unimportant. It's symbolic of the state of always playing catch-up because you are behind from the moment you wake up. Nothing is more important than taking a few minutes to organize yourself and your living quarters, as well as everything else in your life, both physically and mentally. Hell, you could stand there and admire the wrinkles and folds of your unmade bed, if that is how you prefer it to be kept, just as long as you stand there and give yourself a minute (or two).
  - eftpotrm 16y ago
    There's a false equivalency here though. Clearing away in my kitchen or keeping papers on my desk tidy both have clear benefits to them; by ensuring the items are in known locations they are quicker to find, by ensuring they aren't spread over other things they provide space to work and reduce the risk of accidental damage or loss. None of this is true with my bedding. I won't lose my duvet because it's not sitting straight on my bed. I suppose I could conceivably damage nightwear in putting it on but that risk is unconnected with its storage location. Yet, because tidiness has practical benefits in other contexts, it has become a generalised virtue. Which is nonsense.
  - AndyKelley 16y ago
    "Nothing is more important than taking a few minutes to organize yourself and your living quarters" Reeeally? I haven't cleaned my room or made my bed in a year. Think about how much time I've gained.
silentbicycle 16y ago
Rather than hating GCC, I do wrist stretches. (search Aikido + wrist stretch; dojos call them different things) I'm an Emacs lover, though. Vimmers have a leg up, there. Working with languages that destroy flow probably grounds more programming juju than most other major factors put together. Context switches kill. (PS, is your timesheet ready?)
nickluft 16y ago
Take baby steps to change behaviour. Don't believe in "will power". http://www.slideshare.net/captology/stanford-6401325 http://www.slideshare.net/captology/stanford-6401325

iamwil 16y ago

Actually, that's one of my biggest problems when it comes to productivity. The REPL (read-eval-print loop) takes too long because the unit tests take too long to run, or the environment takes too long to load. Recently, I took a day to tackle this problem for myself, and I've found that I'm just much more productive when I'm stuck in a quicker REPL loop, rather than when I need to wait and stare out the window--and then I get distracted.

idoh 16y ago
Can you run the tests in a thread instead though?
ericd 16y ago
I think this means you have a business case for a faster computer with an SSD...

mebassett 16y ago

yeah, I have that problem too. Those short pauses kill productivity. I think mediation may help. I've taken to sitting for 20min a day doing nothing. 2 minutes isn't that bad at all. I don't think it [mediation] requires much mental discipline to start; I still can't be bothered to exercise, make my bed, et cetera.

jcromartie 16y ago

I'm pretty sure I saw this on HN before, but... http://breckyunits.com/when_forced_to_wait_wait http://breckyunits.com/when_forced_to_wait_wait

hugh3 16y ago
My day job involves running simulations that take days to run. This has, unfortunately, made me into an epic multitasker, and keeping track of all the things I'm doing at any given time taxes my brain. I don't think the "when forced to wait, wait" strategy would work well for me.

Timothee 16y ago

I could see that as a good page to redirect to in your hosts file for distracting sites like HN, reddit et al.

kennet 16y ago
Well played good sir.
tlrobinson 16y ago
Or add: open "http://www.donothingfor2minutes.com/" (or your OS's equivalent) to the beginning of any compilation that takes a significant amount of time.

staktrace 16y ago

Why is making your bed on that list? Is there an advantage to doing that that I'm unaware of?

uxp 16y ago
I had a basket ball coach as a kid who would always ask us if we left our beds unmade after a day of doing horribly, or not better than we should be. Nearly every time, without fail, when I was asked that question, the truth was that I had left it unmade. I also never liked the game, and still don't view the sport favorably, but every day since then I make sure to take the time to make my bed in the morning. The fact of the matter is making the bed is entirely unimportant. It's symbolic of the state of always playing catch-up because you are behind from the moment you wake up. Nothing is more important than taking a few minutes to organize yourself and your living quarters, as well as everything else in your life, both physically and mentally. Hell, you could stand there and admire the wrinkles and folds of your unmade bed, if that is how you prefer it to be kept, just as long as you stand there and give yourself a minute (or two).
- eftpotrm 16y ago
  There's a false equivalency here though. Clearing away in my kitchen or keeping papers on my desk tidy both have clear benefits to them; by ensuring the items are in known locations they are quicker to find, by ensuring they aren't spread over other things they provide space to work and reduce the risk of accidental damage or loss. None of this is true with my bedding. I won't lose my duvet because it's not sitting straight on my bed. I suppose I could conceivably damage nightwear in putting it on but that risk is unconnected with its storage location. Yet, because tidiness has practical benefits in other contexts, it has become a generalised virtue. Which is nonsense.
- AndyKelley 16y ago
  "Nothing is more important than taking a few minutes to organize yourself and your living quarters" Reeeally? I haven't cleaned my room or made my bed in a year. Think about how much time I've gained.

silentbicycle 16y ago

Rather than hating GCC, I do wrist stretches. (search Aikido + wrist stretch; dojos call them different things) I'm an Emacs lover, though. Vimmers have a leg up, there. Working with languages that destroy flow probably grounds more programming juju than most other major factors put together. Context switches kill. (PS, is your timesheet ready?)

nickluft 16y ago

Take baby steps to change behaviour. Don't believe in "will power". http://www.slideshare.net/captology/stanford-6401325 http://www.slideshare.net/captology/stanford-6401325