4 ms·

Autodidactism for the chronically lazy and hyperactive

101 points by lhnz 15y ago

kiba 15y ago
These are nice advice and all....but do they work? Anybody done any studies on them?
- lhnz 15y ago
  I wrote them and can only speak for myself since I'm a developer not a researcher. Though, I do spend a lot of time trying to learn new things, and in an unstructured settings this is not that easy to do effectively. The points I make I have either read elsewhere [1] [2] [3] or common sense and experience have lead me to believe them -- main idea is just to stay occupied and engaged by difficult tasks: I think being overly structured or 'pushing through' isn't necessarily a good idea if it stops the former. That's just my opinion though. I love to hear what others do themselves. :) [1] http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2562632 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2562632 [2] http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1754281 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1754281 [3] http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2009/02/goals-into-habits/ http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2009/02/goals-into-habits/
lliiffee 15y ago
I'd love to hear about specifically what habits you find useful.
MJR 15y ago
Chronically lazy and hyperactive If you have those two traits I suggest you also research ADHD/ADD/Adult ADD. There are tactics and strategies out there specifically designed to help those who struggle maintaining focus for extended periods of time. There are also medical options which can greatly improve your ability to focus, process thoughts, live a more manageable, productive existence and have better relationships with those around you. I share this because I know and have experienced this myself.
- PostOnce 15y ago
  Link to anything specific as far as the tactics and strategies are concerned?
  - evangineer 15y ago
    One book along those specific lines is The Disorganized Mind by Nancy Ratey http://www.thedisorganizedmind.com/ http://www.thedisorganizedmind.com/ Spark by her husband John Ratey might also be of interest.
  - MJR 15y ago
    Two suggestions I've found helpful: You Mean I'm Not Lazy, Stupid or Crazy?! http://www.amazon.com/You-Mean-Lazy-Stupid-Crazy/dp/0743264487/ http://www.amazon.com/You-Mean-Lazy-Stupid-Crazy/dp/07432644... Delivered From Distraction http://www.amazon.com/Delivered-Distraction-Getting-Attention-Disorder/dp/0345442318 http://www.amazon.com/Delivered-Distraction-Getting-Attentio...
- swishercutter 15y ago
  There is a difference between not being able to maintain focus and getting bored easily (or when not challenged). I can only speak for myself but I consider myself a motivated self teacher...I can focus for as long as I need but if I do the same thing with no challenges I become very bored/depressed and I start thinking of all the things I should be doing with my life instead of whatever it is I am doing...if I have multiple projects going on at once I feel better...I prefer the traditionally uncomfortable feeling of not understanding something...once I figure it out I have to move on or further development. I prefer technical reading to fiction and would rather spend my idle youtube time watching MIT lectures as opposed to general youtube footage. It is just my way...I would never consider seeking help or medicating myself over this...many of the true innovators in history have been dubbed insane or eccentric...if the average person has no idea what I am talking about or working with then I am on the right track. Some people are just not meant to be robots...I use depression/boredom as a symptom that something is wrong and find the cure...but I can only speak for myself. It is not that I am lazy...things just have to be done according to a different timeline...I will work 12 hrs a day but it has to be 12 hrs of my choosing. I saw no point in spending hours a night doing homework if I could learn something by reading the chapter. School and jobs have been difficult for this reason...I work for myself now...its better to go broke giving it a shot then it is to wonder what could have been and feeling trapped.
spacemanaki 15y ago
This seems like pretty good advice for anyone who wants to do better at learning-on-your own, lazy and hyperactive or not. I especially like the idea of writing down non-obvious things, as I've found that helpful in the past but have never really gotten into the habit.
dylanrw 15y ago
Amazing advice, building in teaching mechanisms into every day action is a really great one. I try and live by all of these...

101 points by lhnz 15y ago

kiba 15y ago

These are nice advice and all....but do they work? Anybody done any studies on them?

lhnz 15y ago
I wrote them and can only speak for myself since I'm a developer not a researcher. Though, I do spend a lot of time trying to learn new things, and in an unstructured settings this is not that easy to do effectively. The points I make I have either read elsewhere [1] [2] [3] or common sense and experience have lead me to believe them -- main idea is just to stay occupied and engaged by difficult tasks: I think being overly structured or 'pushing through' isn't necessarily a good idea if it stops the former. That's just my opinion though. I love to hear what others do themselves. :) [1] http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2562632 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2562632 [2] http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1754281 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1754281 [3] http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2009/02/goals-into-habits/ http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2009/02/goals-into-habits/

lliiffee 15y ago

I'd love to hear about specifically what habits you find useful.

MJR 15y ago

Chronically lazy and hyperactive If you have those two traits I suggest you also research ADHD/ADD/Adult ADD. There are tactics and strategies out there specifically designed to help those who struggle maintaining focus for extended periods of time. There are also medical options which can greatly improve your ability to focus, process thoughts, live a more manageable, productive existence and have better relationships with those around you. I share this because I know and have experienced this myself.

PostOnce 15y ago
Link to anything specific as far as the tactics and strategies are concerned?
- evangineer 15y ago
  One book along those specific lines is The Disorganized Mind by Nancy Ratey http://www.thedisorganizedmind.com/ http://www.thedisorganizedmind.com/ Spark by her husband John Ratey might also be of interest.
- MJR 15y ago
  Two suggestions I've found helpful: You Mean I'm Not Lazy, Stupid or Crazy?! http://www.amazon.com/You-Mean-Lazy-Stupid-Crazy/dp/0743264487/ http://www.amazon.com/You-Mean-Lazy-Stupid-Crazy/dp/07432644... Delivered From Distraction http://www.amazon.com/Delivered-Distraction-Getting-Attention-Disorder/dp/0345442318 http://www.amazon.com/Delivered-Distraction-Getting-Attentio...
swishercutter 15y ago
There is a difference between not being able to maintain focus and getting bored easily (or when not challenged). I can only speak for myself but I consider myself a motivated self teacher...I can focus for as long as I need but if I do the same thing with no challenges I become very bored/depressed and I start thinking of all the things I should be doing with my life instead of whatever it is I am doing...if I have multiple projects going on at once I feel better...I prefer the traditionally uncomfortable feeling of not understanding something...once I figure it out I have to move on or further development. I prefer technical reading to fiction and would rather spend my idle youtube time watching MIT lectures as opposed to general youtube footage. It is just my way...I would never consider seeking help or medicating myself over this...many of the true innovators in history have been dubbed insane or eccentric...if the average person has no idea what I am talking about or working with then I am on the right track. Some people are just not meant to be robots...I use depression/boredom as a symptom that something is wrong and find the cure...but I can only speak for myself. It is not that I am lazy...things just have to be done according to a different timeline...I will work 12 hrs a day but it has to be 12 hrs of my choosing. I saw no point in spending hours a night doing homework if I could learn something by reading the chapter. School and jobs have been difficult for this reason...I work for myself now...its better to go broke giving it a shot then it is to wonder what could have been and feeling trapped.

spacemanaki 15y ago

This seems like pretty good advice for anyone who wants to do better at learning-on-your own, lazy and hyperactive or not. I especially like the idea of writing down non-obvious things, as I've found that helpful in the past but have never really gotten into the habit.

dylanrw 15y ago

Amazing advice, building in teaching mechanisms into every day action is a really great one. I try and live by all of these...