4 ms·

I find it extremely useful to shift focus from "I must get X result" to what actions I can make right now, like within 1 minute. Thinking about long-term resul

by tandav 5y ago

I find it extremely useful to shift focus from "I must get X result" to what actions I can make right now, like within 1 minute. Thinking about long-term results is stressful, because in reality you only have short term buttons you can push. It boils down to planning route on graph of small well known actions / api-calls. When the graph does not fit into RAM and you can't find route for too long you feel stressed, and its better to play with small actions just for fun.

hypertele-Xii 5y ago
Enduring that stress though will develop that very brain muscle of long term planning. I mean, that's essentially our specie's defining characteristic: delayed gratification through logical reasoning. We don't just do the immediate and obvious reaction on instinct, and surely postponing decisive action causes stress in all mammals. It's the pain of knowledge. Having to wait for a better idea when you could just act now for a tangible result.
- deleted 5y ago
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- xpe 5y ago
  > Enduring that stress though will develop that very brain muscle of long term planning. This looks like a metaphor has gone too far. But I'm open to evidence. On what basis might this claim be true? Also, I'd like you to argue the opposite: on what basis might this false?
  - hypertele-Xii 5y ago
    My personal experience applying both methods in creative work currently suggests that persistent long-term planning leads to more significant results overall. You can spend your time solving problems you have now, or you can anticipate problems you're going to have further down the line. All too often the creative solution to a future problem changes the mission requirements in the present, and thus the criteria of the next task, prompting a different design. John Cleese's talk on creativity [1] suggests the same, that sticking with a problem after having already solved it produces better solutions the more time you're willing to endure the discomfort of ... deferring execution. [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pb5oIIPO62g https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pb5oIIPO62g
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      [deleted]
- MetaWhirledPeas 5y ago
  I believe different people have a different response to this stressor though. In ADHD people perhaps it is greatly magnified. Of course by nature it is unprovable, much like ADHD itself. But anecdotally speaking I have always had a quite extreme response when long-term thoughts enter my mind. Those that fall under the "you must, or else" category can be quite debilitating, and they never seem to lose their bite. I remember the same response 40 years ago that I have today. I have no problem functioning, but I "eat the elephant" the same way the GP mentioned: one bite at a time. That particular thought gives me great comfort. Elephants are delicious.
- tandav 5y ago
  When doing short term nearby things for fun I can keep that flow state for many hours which usually gives more profit If I think about too far goals which I can't break down to simple actions there is high probability I'll start procrastinate for many hours. Complexity grows anyway as you learn, more advanced actions will become single button to push.
  - hypertele-Xii 5y ago
    > If I think about too far goals which I can't break down to simple actions there is high probability I'll start procrastinate for many hours. So think about far goals for many hours breaking them down to simple actions.

by tandav 5y ago

hypertele-Xii 5y ago

Enduring that stress though will develop that very brain muscle of long term planning. I mean, that's essentially our specie's defining characteristic: delayed gratification through logical reasoning. We don't just do the immediate and obvious reaction on instinct, and surely postponing decisive action causes stress in all mammals. It's the pain of knowledge. Having to wait for a better idea when you could just act now for a tangible result.

deleted 5y ago
[deleted]
xpe 5y ago
> Enduring that stress though will develop that very brain muscle of long term planning. This looks like a metaphor has gone too far. But I'm open to evidence. On what basis might this claim be true? Also, I'd like you to argue the opposite: on what basis might this false?
- hypertele-Xii 5y ago
  My personal experience applying both methods in creative work currently suggests that persistent long-term planning leads to more significant results overall. You can spend your time solving problems you have now, or you can anticipate problems you're going to have further down the line. All too often the creative solution to a future problem changes the mission requirements in the present, and thus the criteria of the next task, prompting a different design. John Cleese's talk on creativity [1] suggests the same, that sticking with a problem after having already solved it produces better solutions the more time you're willing to endure the discomfort of ... deferring execution. [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pb5oIIPO62g https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pb5oIIPO62g
  - deleted 5y ago
    [deleted]
MetaWhirledPeas 5y ago
I believe different people have a different response to this stressor though. In ADHD people perhaps it is greatly magnified. Of course by nature it is unprovable, much like ADHD itself. But anecdotally speaking I have always had a quite extreme response when long-term thoughts enter my mind. Those that fall under the "you must, or else" category can be quite debilitating, and they never seem to lose their bite. I remember the same response 40 years ago that I have today. I have no problem functioning, but I "eat the elephant" the same way the GP mentioned: one bite at a time. That particular thought gives me great comfort. Elephants are delicious.
tandav 5y ago
When doing short term nearby things for fun I can keep that flow state for many hours which usually gives more profit If I think about too far goals which I can't break down to simple actions there is high probability I'll start procrastinate for many hours. Complexity grows anyway as you learn, more advanced actions will become single button to push.
- hypertele-Xii 5y ago
  > If I think about too far goals which I can't break down to simple actions there is high probability I'll start procrastinate for many hours. So think about far goals for many hours breaking them down to simple actions.