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Interruptions are very challenging with any deep work that takes hours. This is true. What I am facing however, is a related issue. Perhaps because I have not

Interruptions are very challenging with any deep work that takes hours. This is true. What I am facing however, is a related issue. Perhaps because I have not been doing much programming lately, I find it increasingly difficult to actually get and be in the zone. When I go in, I go all in, and enter a kind of fugue state where the hours slip away. While for some this may sound advantageous, in the past, it has been associated with some bad physical and psychological health outcomes. Now, I actually have anxiety about going into such a state, and try to piece meal my problems, and focus on the non-programming work and thinking. Situations change, and I am about to be in one where I do really need to perform a lot of coding myself. I suppose I am answering my own question, but I need to split up my work and take notes to reduce the numbers of abstracted layers upon which I am working. Take more breaks with confidence I can return. I suspect this technique can help ease the burdens of interruptions as well, but it does come at a cost in time. For me, the severe crunch time requirements and gained insane last minute skills should still be less necessary for some time. This is likely called being in a startup and getting older and, well, recognizing long-term limitations.

abnercoimbre 5y ago
Are you saying getting into that "in the zone" state affected your mental health. Interesting. Any examples of the side effects? Is it hard to put into words?
- pedro2 5y ago
  My guess would be he felt depleted emotionally and psychologically after spending too much time working. Like when you need to spend some time in a dark silent room before filling like having fun or do house chores or do the cooking.
  - abnercoimbre 5y ago
    > Like when you need to spend some time in a dark silent room That resonated, and it's the best example for me to come to grips with this.
- random_kris 5y ago
  Yeah this happens for me as well. I can feel the high of being productive but now as I gained expirience I also feel the dread of next day being almost like hungover
- itronitron 5y ago
  I find that I have to put myself in a state of deep dissatisfaction in order to develop the motivation to dive in. If I get interrupted before accomplishing anything then I'll remain in a bad mood. And if I think I am going to be interrupted then I won't even start the first dissatisfaction step because I don't want to be stopped halfway. One workaround for that is to define the work in smaller pieces so that interruptions are less likely, but that also takes work. I'm reminded of a scene from the movie 'Never Cry Wolf' where the bush pilot, while flying the plane, puts himself into a state of rage before stepping outside to fix the problem. https://youtu.be/9i90_-HpVz0?t=120 https://youtu.be/9i90_-HpVz0?t=120
  - vjdingdong 5y ago
    Looks like you discovered where your motivation knob is, and come to think of it, being dis-satisfied with something is a very common, and rational way to be motivated.
- ideamotor 5y ago
  No it was from being in the zone, which eventually caused me anxiety about doing it. I would spend 10-12 hours getting a major project done, barely taking a break. Wrist issues, back issues, and a kind of agoraphobia afterwards if I was in too long that accumulated with lack of sleep as well.
mtsr 5y ago
I would recommend trying the pomodoro method: 25 minutes of work, 5 minute break away from screens, repeat. 30 minute break after a few cycles. I’ve discovered I’m much more in touch with my mental and emotional state and even a five minute break will really relieve some of the pressure you put on your mind and body. Also because it’s just for 25 minutes anyway, it’s much easier to get started again, even with unfun work. Edit: In case you’re worried this will make things worse, because of the regular interruption, I’ve found it to not be so bad with the exception of some types of debugging. The mind is pretty good at mulling over the problem while you’re taking a break and often I’m more effective afterwards. But the 25/5 isn’t a hard requirement and should be changed depending on preference and type of work.
- the_other 5y ago
  I used to use an app that had both a timer and a notepad. It was helpful for sketching out pointers to where I’d reached. A quick scan before restarting the next 25min, especially after a meeting or lunch, was very helpful. Being in the same app helped connect it to each session.
  - james-skemp 5y ago
    Do you recall the name of it? Starting a new job and that may finally be enough of a change to trigger me actually trying this after all these years of hearing about it.
    - the_other 5y ago
      Vitamin-R. It was Mac only, I think.
      - ideamotor 5y ago
        Thanks
      - james-skemp 5y ago
        Thanks for the reply!
vjdingdong 5y ago
> gained insane last minute skills Nice way to put it.

abnercoimbre 5y ago

Are you saying getting into that "in the zone" state affected your mental health. Interesting. Any examples of the side effects? Is it hard to put into words?

pedro2 5y ago
My guess would be he felt depleted emotionally and psychologically after spending too much time working. Like when you need to spend some time in a dark silent room before filling like having fun or do house chores or do the cooking.
- abnercoimbre 5y ago
  > Like when you need to spend some time in a dark silent room That resonated, and it's the best example for me to come to grips with this.
random_kris 5y ago
Yeah this happens for me as well. I can feel the high of being productive but now as I gained expirience I also feel the dread of next day being almost like hungover
itronitron 5y ago
I find that I have to put myself in a state of deep dissatisfaction in order to develop the motivation to dive in. If I get interrupted before accomplishing anything then I'll remain in a bad mood. And if I think I am going to be interrupted then I won't even start the first dissatisfaction step because I don't want to be stopped halfway. One workaround for that is to define the work in smaller pieces so that interruptions are less likely, but that also takes work. I'm reminded of a scene from the movie 'Never Cry Wolf' where the bush pilot, while flying the plane, puts himself into a state of rage before stepping outside to fix the problem. https://youtu.be/9i90_-HpVz0?t=120 https://youtu.be/9i90_-HpVz0?t=120
- vjdingdong 5y ago
  Looks like you discovered where your motivation knob is, and come to think of it, being dis-satisfied with something is a very common, and rational way to be motivated.
ideamotor 5y ago
No it was from being in the zone, which eventually caused me anxiety about doing it. I would spend 10-12 hours getting a major project done, barely taking a break. Wrist issues, back issues, and a kind of agoraphobia afterwards if I was in too long that accumulated with lack of sleep as well.

mtsr 5y ago

I would recommend trying the pomodoro method: 25 minutes of work, 5 minute break away from screens, repeat. 30 minute break after a few cycles. I’ve discovered I’m much more in touch with my mental and emotional state and even a five minute break will really relieve some of the pressure you put on your mind and body. Also because it’s just for 25 minutes anyway, it’s much easier to get started again, even with unfun work. Edit: In case you’re worried this will make things worse, because of the regular interruption, I’ve found it to not be so bad with the exception of some types of debugging. The mind is pretty good at mulling over the problem while you’re taking a break and often I’m more effective afterwards. But the 25/5 isn’t a hard requirement and should be changed depending on preference and type of work.

the_other 5y ago
I used to use an app that had both a timer and a notepad. It was helpful for sketching out pointers to where I’d reached. A quick scan before restarting the next 25min, especially after a meeting or lunch, was very helpful. Being in the same app helped connect it to each session.
- james-skemp 5y ago
  Do you recall the name of it? Starting a new job and that may finally be enough of a change to trigger me actually trying this after all these years of hearing about it.
  - the_other 5y ago
    Vitamin-R. It was Mac only, I think.
    - ideamotor 5y ago
      Thanks
    - james-skemp 5y ago
      Thanks for the reply!

vjdingdong 5y ago

> gained insane last minute skills Nice way to put it.