3 ms·

Distractions are definitely caused by internal triggers and sometimes there is no perfect way to deal with them. I'm adding features to an existing service, an

by csours 6y ago

Distractions are definitely caused by internal triggers and sometimes there is no perfect way to deal with them. I'm adding features to an existing service, and it causes me emotional distress, because there are 3 layers of legacy code next to the stuff I'm adding. I so want to go hog wild and rip up the old stuff. The only problem being, we're short on time and devs right now, so I have to add these strategic features. Here's how I deal with it: Chunk up the work, and think of the next small piece I can accomplish. Get started on something, and leave the last easy piece sitting there while I take a break. When I come back and finish that chunk I have a positive reward feeling for finishing a chunk of code. Then I feel more like starting the next piece.

loquor 6y ago
How do you establish a no-tech-distractions policy? I can relate to your experience. However, I struggle with keeping digital entertainment away from me. On good days, I keep away from entertainment until I'm done with work. On unproductive days, I start one thing piece of entertainment and collapse through a series of distractions. It's like, I start with Instagram, find myself on reddit, then on Youtube, then on Netflix, then on porn. I have this problem of the dopamine train which I unwillingly get on. Can you offer some advice?
- csours 6y ago
  Honestly I don't, and I know it slows me down. I think it's important to have something to return to after your break. It's also important to feel like you are making progress. If you can think of your breaks as breaks, that may help. It is important to recognize and deal with the emotions that are keeping you away from work. The time away from work/code/whatever is not the problem. But really, this is the key problem of my digital worklife. I used to work construction and I was able to stay on task all day. For a long time I thought I was able to do that because I was away from distractions; and that is definitely part of it. But another part is the fact that software development is creative work and technical in a league almost by itself. You have to be creative, but you also have to be correct. It's hard to be both at the same time. Maybe if you split your time between being creative and correct it could help? Sorry I can't help more.

by csours 6y ago

loquor 6y ago

How do you establish a no-tech-distractions policy? I can relate to your experience. However, I struggle with keeping digital entertainment away from me. On good days, I keep away from entertainment until I'm done with work. On unproductive days, I start one thing piece of entertainment and collapse through a series of distractions. It's like, I start with Instagram, find myself on reddit, then on Youtube, then on Netflix, then on porn. I have this problem of the dopamine train which I unwillingly get on. Can you offer some advice?

csours 6y ago
Honestly I don't, and I know it slows me down. I think it's important to have something to return to after your break. It's also important to feel like you are making progress. If you can think of your breaks as breaks, that may help. It is important to recognize and deal with the emotions that are keeping you away from work. The time away from work/code/whatever is not the problem. But really, this is the key problem of my digital worklife. I used to work construction and I was able to stay on task all day. For a long time I thought I was able to do that because I was away from distractions; and that is definitely part of it. But another part is the fact that software development is creative work and technical in a league almost by itself. You have to be creative, but you also have to be correct. It's hard to be both at the same time. Maybe if you split your time between being creative and correct it could help? Sorry I can't help more.