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I am late 30s and do that. I think it is a learned dysfunction / habit / stimulatory addiction. Just last night my wife asked how I can play a game (Path of Ex

by hnick 5y ago

I am late 30s and do that. I think it is a learned dysfunction / habit / stimulatory addiction. Just last night my wife asked how I can play a game (Path of Exile) and watch YouTube on my other screen. It was a little hard to explain but I mentioned I tend to watch videos I don't really need to look at (in this case it was just the relaxing tones of LockPickingLawyer) and I was kind of playing in a flow state in PoE so it didn't need my full attention. What is really concerning is when I am watching something I actually want to pay full attention to on YouTube/Netflix, and I find myself opening a fresh tab to load up a second video before catching myself and realising it's ridiculous listening to two videos at once talking over each other. Putting the speed up to 1.75x or so helps with this if it suits the topic. In fact that was one habit I built during COVID, and going from YouTube videos at 1.75x to voice meetings with slow-talkers back in the office I found myself reaching for a speed button that didn't exist.

mjevans 5y ago
That speed button is forcing async communication and having the ideas written out, or if they really insist, a presentation (with a transcription or at least the slide notes).
- hnick 5y ago
  Many of the offending meetings start with "let's jump on a call to nut it out" so unfortunately it's always a waffle in those cases without much useful prep work, but it's hard to say no because sometimes it really is the best course. I think we have a few people with a deficit of human interaction over the last year, doing their best to make up for lost time.
solipsism 5y ago
I was kind of playing in a flow state in PoE so it didn't need my full attention. That's not a flow state. That's autopilot.
- hnick 5y ago
  Yeah, this is correct. I don't think flow applies if attention is divided.
  - tomcam 5y ago
    Very cool that you accepted the feedback. Not easy to do, so take a moment to honor yourself for that.
    - solipsism 5y ago
      I agree, but wow it's a sad indication of where we are that this is notable.
LeftHandPath 5y ago
> stimulatory addiction This really seems to be it, for me. There's a "high" that comes with being productive. Multitasking lets you trick your brain into thinking its being productive, giving you the high without actually doing the work. > What is really concerning is when I am watching something I actually want to pay full attention to on YouTube/Netflix, and I find myself opening a fresh tab to load up a second video before catching myself and realising it's ridiculous listening to two videos at once talking over each other. This is so relatable. A lot of times I open up a window to get started on a project, and within 5 minutes I've absentmindedly opened youtube/reddit/discord/hn/wikipedia and started my way into a wormhole that will take at least an hour to get out of.
krono 5y ago
If this behaviour is problematic for you, it might not be a bad idea to get yourself tested for ADHD. Even more so for @andrewstuart his son. I can only imagine what I could have achieved with early diagnosis and treatment.
- hnick 5y ago
  Yeah, I've considered it but the last year meant I pretty much avoided leaving the house. Maybe it's time to look at it again. My sister and mum (in her 60s) got diagnosed recently.
Siira 5y ago
> flow state This terminology means you are completely focused on the task you're doing, forgetting other distractions. I don't think it applies here.
- HellDunkel 5y ago
  This. Multitasking certainly prevents you from getting there.
TchoBeer 5y ago
>Putting the speed up to 1.75x or so helps with this if it suits the topic. In fact that was one habit I built during COVID, and going from YouTube videos at 1.75x to voice meetings with slow-talkers back in the office I found myself reaching for a speed button that didn't exist. I literally listen to nearly all the content I watch on 3x speed, faster if it's not difficult to understand. I have literally found myself reaching for a nonexistent speedup button on a nearly daily basis it's very maladapted.

by hnick 5y ago

mjevans 5y ago

That speed button is forcing async communication and having the ideas written out, or if they really insist, a presentation (with a transcription or at least the slide notes).

hnick 5y ago
Many of the offending meetings start with "let's jump on a call to nut it out" so unfortunately it's always a waffle in those cases without much useful prep work, but it's hard to say no because sometimes it really is the best course. I think we have a few people with a deficit of human interaction over the last year, doing their best to make up for lost time.

solipsism 5y ago

I was kind of playing in a flow state in PoE so it didn't need my full attention. That's not a flow state. That's autopilot.

hnick 5y ago
Yeah, this is correct. I don't think flow applies if attention is divided.
- tomcam 5y ago
  Very cool that you accepted the feedback. Not easy to do, so take a moment to honor yourself for that.
  - solipsism 5y ago
    I agree, but wow it's a sad indication of where we are that this is notable.

LeftHandPath 5y ago

> stimulatory addiction This really seems to be it, for me. There's a "high" that comes with being productive. Multitasking lets you trick your brain into thinking its being productive, giving you the high without actually doing the work. > What is really concerning is when I am watching something I actually want to pay full attention to on YouTube/Netflix, and I find myself opening a fresh tab to load up a second video before catching myself and realising it's ridiculous listening to two videos at once talking over each other. This is so relatable. A lot of times I open up a window to get started on a project, and within 5 minutes I've absentmindedly opened youtube/reddit/discord/hn/wikipedia and started my way into a wormhole that will take at least an hour to get out of.

krono 5y ago

If this behaviour is problematic for you, it might not be a bad idea to get yourself tested for ADHD. Even more so for @andrewstuart his son. I can only imagine what I could have achieved with early diagnosis and treatment.

hnick 5y ago
Yeah, I've considered it but the last year meant I pretty much avoided leaving the house. Maybe it's time to look at it again. My sister and mum (in her 60s) got diagnosed recently.

Siira 5y ago

> flow state This terminology means you are completely focused on the task you're doing, forgetting other distractions. I don't think it applies here.

HellDunkel 5y ago
This. Multitasking certainly prevents you from getting there.

TchoBeer 5y ago

>Putting the speed up to 1.75x or so helps with this if it suits the topic. In fact that was one habit I built during COVID, and going from YouTube videos at 1.75x to voice meetings with slow-talkers back in the office I found myself reaching for a speed button that didn't exist. I literally listen to nearly all the content I watch on 3x speed, faster if it's not difficult to understand. I have literally found myself reaching for a nonexistent speedup button on a nearly daily basis it's very maladapted.