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I also claim that people overestimate the effort needed but underestimate the time needed. Perhaps we mostly do not take learning (and efficiency that comes wit

by js8 4y ago

I also claim that people overestimate the effort needed but underestimate the time needed. Perhaps we mostly do not take learning (and efficiency that comes with it) into account. Longer real projects are more an S-curve than straight line where time = effort.

SunghoYahng 4y ago
Then my hypothesis is that if someone actually puts as much effort into the goal as they estimate, they will achieve it in as little time as they estimate.
- shanebellone 4y ago
  I agree with this. I'd venture a guess that we overly value our time which translates to overestimating the impact of applying that time. However, we also underestimate the true scope of longer timeframes.
- mberger 4y ago
  I wonder if it's because of the decline in neuroplasticity as we age. We take a week to learn a new video game and expect that peace to continue when we get older. It can be a hit to the ego that it may take a little longer, that we aren't quite as 'smart' as we thought.
  - Jensson 4y ago
    Biggest effect is that your standards get higher. As a kid learning a game just meant learning to play it at a kids low skill level. Kids till spend years to get good. But as an adult who has played a lot of games you have gotten pretty good at many of them, then when you play a new game getting to that level again will take a lot of effort and time. For example, you see the world records in factorio aren't held by kids. Kids has better reflexes which is crucial for some games, but their ability to learn isn't much higher than a young adults.
  - user_7832 4y ago
    While possible, I am not so sure of that. I am in my early/mid 20s (so hopefully no major cognitive decline!) but I still find things taking longer than expected. Part of it may be the work I’m doing today is tougher in some ways. I also have adhd though so that may also affect this.
- marcosdumay 4y ago
  Probably not. There are efficiency loses when you make things too much dense in time. Our brains just do not like a lot of focus for long times.
p44v9n 4y ago
100% this
coyotespike 4y ago
I like this way of framing it. It's encouraging in that if you imagine how long something might take to get good at, it'll feel hard, but on a daily basis sitting down to practice every day isn't so hard.

by js8 4y ago

SunghoYahng 4y ago

Then my hypothesis is that if someone actually puts as much effort into the goal as they estimate, they will achieve it in as little time as they estimate.

shanebellone 4y ago
I agree with this. I'd venture a guess that we overly value our time which translates to overestimating the impact of applying that time. However, we also underestimate the true scope of longer timeframes.
mberger 4y ago
I wonder if it's because of the decline in neuroplasticity as we age. We take a week to learn a new video game and expect that peace to continue when we get older. It can be a hit to the ego that it may take a little longer, that we aren't quite as 'smart' as we thought.
- Jensson 4y ago
  Biggest effect is that your standards get higher. As a kid learning a game just meant learning to play it at a kids low skill level. Kids till spend years to get good. But as an adult who has played a lot of games you have gotten pretty good at many of them, then when you play a new game getting to that level again will take a lot of effort and time. For example, you see the world records in factorio aren't held by kids. Kids has better reflexes which is crucial for some games, but their ability to learn isn't much higher than a young adults.
- user_7832 4y ago
  While possible, I am not so sure of that. I am in my early/mid 20s (so hopefully no major cognitive decline!) but I still find things taking longer than expected. Part of it may be the work I’m doing today is tougher in some ways. I also have adhd though so that may also affect this.
marcosdumay 4y ago
Probably not. There are efficiency loses when you make things too much dense in time. Our brains just do not like a lot of focus for long times.

p44v9n 4y ago

100% this

coyotespike 4y ago

I like this way of framing it. It's encouraging in that if you imagine how long something might take to get good at, it'll feel hard, but on a daily basis sitting down to practice every day isn't so hard.