4 ms·

If what you're working on is important enough and you love it enough, you would never need this. If not, then maybe you're working on the wrong thing. Let's s

by edw519 14y ago

If what you're working on is important enough and you love it enough, you would never need this. If not, then maybe you're working on the wrong thing. Let's stop treating the effect of poor work habits and deal with the cause: find something better to work on. [EDIT: I'd stay and reply to your great responses guys, but I'm not here anymore. As compelling as this discussion is, the real-time CRUD/robot interface I'm writing is way cooler.]

engtech 14y ago
sometimes the problem is long compiles that get you out of flow and give you enough time to load a web browser
msluyter 14y ago
No doubt there's some truth here, but I would hesitate to write off the incredibly distracting and addicting power of the internet entirely. Even when I'm working on something I really enjoy, I find myself breaking to check HN, for example... The problem goes beyond motivation. Speaking only for myself, I'm so used to having my attention divided -- for example, watching TV while also surfing the internet -- that it's difficult to exclusively focus on anything.
leviathant 14y ago
If people only worked on truly important things, the world would be a better place. I love what I do, but my brain simply functions in a way that makes it difficult for me to focus. If I have to treat that by removing distractions from my periphery, that's not because I'm not working on something important or because I'm not working on something I love.
watty 14y ago
This is poor advice. First off not everyone has the opportunity to work on something important and that they love. Sure, it's ideal and probably a goal of everyone but sometimes it takes steps to attain that goal and sometimes people sacrifice their 8-5 hours to provide for their family. Secondly, not everyone has the ability to get kickstarted each day to 100% productivity. You're very lucky if you do but I don't. I use Focus Booster and it helps but isn't a cure.
- mattwdelong 14y ago
  I had a response written out, but took a step back to see what other people had to say. You've pretty much summed up what I had to say in fewer words. I absolute deplore the parent comment, which is the typical response to these kinds of "hacks". While they're not ideal to actually solve the problem, they may mitigate the symptoms until they can solve the root cause. To each their own, and what works for one will not work for another. Keep on keeping on.
- ttran4 14y ago
  I agree. If I'm doing something I love and getting paid for it then it wouldn't be called work.
jsm 14y ago
I absolutely agree with this sentiment. However, my real goal for this project (apart from learning to code it) was to place a slight barrier between me and a bunch of mindless consumption. It's pretty easy to wake up in the morning, check email, check HN, etc. I just wanted something to slow me down each morning and bring the focus back to producing. I also have it block me at about 6pm so I have to reflect on my day before going home and reading articles.
- alagu 14y ago
  I have been trying to use tools (Stayfocusd, Rescuetime, /etc/hosts) to enforce self-control and discipline. Didn't work. Realization - it seemed like trying to shut your eyes when there are lot of pretty girls in the town. It requires lot of mental training for self-control. Still trying.
ghc 14y ago
This may often be true, but if you work on something that is closely tied to the flow of information on the internet then it's almost impossible not to get distracted by your own product. I've been working on a stream aggregation site for some time, and I can't tell you how many times I've caught myself using the product instead of testing it. It's entirely aggravating, but it has nothing to do with working on the right project or not loving it enough. Imagine what the Reddit developers had to deal with.
Heinleinian 14y ago
I love what I work on, I also love knowledge. Turns out the internets isn't just a place where people go for the latest Success Kid meme or double rainbow video, it's a link to the entirety of all human knowledge. Oh yeah, and it's a link to the people I love and care about as well...
dj_axl 14y ago
> If what you're working on is important enough and you love it enough, you would never need this. If what you're working on is important enough and you love it enough, you can afford a second desktop/laptop/tablet/smartphone that is designated "work only" and so offers fewer distractions than your primary device.
- pyoung 14y ago
  But how does that solve the 'internet distraction problem'? I would assume that you would still probably be connected to the internet on either device (most people use the internet for work purposes).
calinet6 14y ago
As anyone who's worked on anything for any period of time knows, "and then reality walked in." We all want to believe that working on projects we love will keep us going nonstop for 18 hour days. Please, avoid the cognitive dissonance if you fail to live up to this unrealistic idealism, and give yourself just a modicum of slack. Don't burnout because of the unrealistic unbalanced life of the stereotypical startup guy you feel like you have to become. If something's not working, catch yourself, correct, and move on. If it is working and you're working hard and moving forward despite your flawed humanity, then don't worry about it. No need to be overly critical or absolutist about it.
angrycoder 14y ago
Meanwhile, the real world, not everything you work on is super cool or super fun. That's why it's called work.
elviejo 14y ago
"Genius is one per cent inspiration, ninety-nine per cent perspiration" (Edison) So the problem is not working on the 1%, that part is fun, interesting... is the 99% that some of us need help with.
zach 14y ago
This sounds like "If it was really that important, you wouldn't have forgotten it." — an untimely and unhelpful bit of smugness disguised as insight. It's okay though — I'm sure if you had realized that, you wouldn't have posted it.
Agathos 14y ago
> If what you're working on is important enough and you love it enough, you would never need this. Incorrect. The more important it is, and the more I love it, the more anxious I become. The more anxious I become, the more distractible I am.
throwaway1516 14y ago
From the safety of my throwaway account, I have to ask a question of HN that's been bugging me for some time: Am I the only person who, if not for the need to support my family, might blissfully while away his days playing games, playing with new tech, reading, watching TV or movies, and just generally goofing off? Maybe I'd regret my wasted life one day, but in the here and now there's a lot of fun to be had in the world today. I love to code, but shipping is a lot harder, and running a whole business based on that code is harder still, of course. But from reading comments like the parent on HN, there are people who would make whole _products_, or build businesses all day long if left to their own devices. I can't tell if I was just raised differently from other people such that I am predisposed to value, say, instant gratification and to avoid hard work; or if everyone else is just ignoring these parts of their nature and not talking about the fact that getting drunk with your friends is more fun and a lot easier than following through a product idea from concept to completion.
- wpietri 14y ago
  Since you have a family, it probably has been a while since you goofed off for an extended period. But for me it always gets old. There is only so much time I can spend doing nothing before I get hungry for something of substance. Note that raising kids is a very substantial activity. I've taken the summer off to hang out with my brother and his family. Even a lot of the nominally fun time with kids means I'm helping educate, build character, and encourage good habits. So maybe the energy you would otherwise put into making a product is going into making a family.
  - calinet6 14y ago
    Everything gets old. You need that time goofing off so that goofing off gets old, and working becomes amazing and fun again. people forget this.
- robbles 14y ago
  I'd say you're confusing interest in your work and work ethic with ambition. They aren't the same thing. Without ambition driving you, it's pretty difficult to motivate yourself past the point where the project you're working on stops being interesting, and just seems like a lot of work. That said, some people do seem to be able to make this initial phase last long enough to crank out impressive projects. Outside of that though, if you're happy with your life right now, you might just be running a little short on the motivation necessary to "build businesses all day long".
wpietri 14y ago
Do you have any evidence at all? Because history is filled with writers who get away from all the distractions so that writing is the only thing can to do. Personally, I think you're confusing important with easy. When I find a video game I like, I can play it for hours. But that's because it has been optimized for playability. But when writing or coding, sometimes I get frustrated. What I'm going may be important, but it isn't always easy, and that's when distraction will strike.

by edw519 14y ago

engtech 14y ago

sometimes the problem is long compiles that get you out of flow and give you enough time to load a web browser

msluyter 14y ago

No doubt there's some truth here, but I would hesitate to write off the incredibly distracting and addicting power of the internet entirely. Even when I'm working on something I really enjoy, I find myself breaking to check HN, for example... The problem goes beyond motivation. Speaking only for myself, I'm so used to having my attention divided -- for example, watching TV while also surfing the internet -- that it's difficult to exclusively focus on anything.

leviathant 14y ago

If people only worked on truly important things, the world would be a better place. I love what I do, but my brain simply functions in a way that makes it difficult for me to focus. If I have to treat that by removing distractions from my periphery, that's not because I'm not working on something important or because I'm not working on something I love.

watty 14y ago

This is poor advice. First off not everyone has the opportunity to work on something important and that they love. Sure, it's ideal and probably a goal of everyone but sometimes it takes steps to attain that goal and sometimes people sacrifice their 8-5 hours to provide for their family. Secondly, not everyone has the ability to get kickstarted each day to 100% productivity. You're very lucky if you do but I don't. I use Focus Booster and it helps but isn't a cure.

mattwdelong 14y ago
I had a response written out, but took a step back to see what other people had to say. You've pretty much summed up what I had to say in fewer words. I absolute deplore the parent comment, which is the typical response to these kinds of "hacks". While they're not ideal to actually solve the problem, they may mitigate the symptoms until they can solve the root cause. To each their own, and what works for one will not work for another. Keep on keeping on.
ttran4 14y ago
I agree. If I'm doing something I love and getting paid for it then it wouldn't be called work.

jsm 14y ago

I absolutely agree with this sentiment. However, my real goal for this project (apart from learning to code it) was to place a slight barrier between me and a bunch of mindless consumption. It's pretty easy to wake up in the morning, check email, check HN, etc. I just wanted something to slow me down each morning and bring the focus back to producing. I also have it block me at about 6pm so I have to reflect on my day before going home and reading articles.

alagu 14y ago
I have been trying to use tools (Stayfocusd, Rescuetime, /etc/hosts) to enforce self-control and discipline. Didn't work. Realization - it seemed like trying to shut your eyes when there are lot of pretty girls in the town. It requires lot of mental training for self-control. Still trying.

ghc 14y ago

This may often be true, but if you work on something that is closely tied to the flow of information on the internet then it's almost impossible not to get distracted by your own product. I've been working on a stream aggregation site for some time, and I can't tell you how many times I've caught myself using the product instead of testing it. It's entirely aggravating, but it has nothing to do with working on the right project or not loving it enough. Imagine what the Reddit developers had to deal with.

Heinleinian 14y ago

I love what I work on, I also love knowledge. Turns out the internets isn't just a place where people go for the latest Success Kid meme or double rainbow video, it's a link to the entirety of all human knowledge. Oh yeah, and it's a link to the people I love and care about as well...

dj_axl 14y ago

> If what you're working on is important enough and you love it enough, you would never need this. If what you're working on is important enough and you love it enough, you can afford a second desktop/laptop/tablet/smartphone that is designated "work only" and so offers fewer distractions than your primary device.

pyoung 14y ago
But how does that solve the 'internet distraction problem'? I would assume that you would still probably be connected to the internet on either device (most people use the internet for work purposes).

calinet6 14y ago

As anyone who's worked on anything for any period of time knows, "and then reality walked in." We all want to believe that working on projects we love will keep us going nonstop for 18 hour days. Please, avoid the cognitive dissonance if you fail to live up to this unrealistic idealism, and give yourself just a modicum of slack. Don't burnout because of the unrealistic unbalanced life of the stereotypical startup guy you feel like you have to become. If something's not working, catch yourself, correct, and move on. If it is working and you're working hard and moving forward despite your flawed humanity, then don't worry about it. No need to be overly critical or absolutist about it.

angrycoder 14y ago

Meanwhile, the real world, not everything you work on is super cool or super fun. That's why it's called work.

elviejo 14y ago

"Genius is one per cent inspiration, ninety-nine per cent perspiration" (Edison) So the problem is not working on the 1%, that part is fun, interesting... is the 99% that some of us need help with.

zach 14y ago

This sounds like "If it was really that important, you wouldn't have forgotten it." — an untimely and unhelpful bit of smugness disguised as insight. It's okay though — I'm sure if you had realized that, you wouldn't have posted it.

Agathos 14y ago

> If what you're working on is important enough and you love it enough, you would never need this. Incorrect. The more important it is, and the more I love it, the more anxious I become. The more anxious I become, the more distractible I am.

throwaway1516 14y ago

From the safety of my throwaway account, I have to ask a question of HN that's been bugging me for some time: Am I the only person who, if not for the need to support my family, might blissfully while away his days playing games, playing with new tech, reading, watching TV or movies, and just generally goofing off? Maybe I'd regret my wasted life one day, but in the here and now there's a lot of fun to be had in the world today. I love to code, but shipping is a lot harder, and running a whole business based on that code is harder still, of course. But from reading comments like the parent on HN, there are people who would make whole _products_, or build businesses all day long if left to their own devices. I can't tell if I was just raised differently from other people such that I am predisposed to value, say, instant gratification and to avoid hard work; or if everyone else is just ignoring these parts of their nature and not talking about the fact that getting drunk with your friends is more fun and a lot easier than following through a product idea from concept to completion.

wpietri 14y ago
Since you have a family, it probably has been a while since you goofed off for an extended period. But for me it always gets old. There is only so much time I can spend doing nothing before I get hungry for something of substance. Note that raising kids is a very substantial activity. I've taken the summer off to hang out with my brother and his family. Even a lot of the nominally fun time with kids means I'm helping educate, build character, and encourage good habits. So maybe the energy you would otherwise put into making a product is going into making a family.
- calinet6 14y ago
  Everything gets old. You need that time goofing off so that goofing off gets old, and working becomes amazing and fun again. people forget this.
robbles 14y ago
I'd say you're confusing interest in your work and work ethic with ambition. They aren't the same thing. Without ambition driving you, it's pretty difficult to motivate yourself past the point where the project you're working on stops being interesting, and just seems like a lot of work. That said, some people do seem to be able to make this initial phase last long enough to crank out impressive projects. Outside of that though, if you're happy with your life right now, you might just be running a little short on the motivation necessary to "build businesses all day long".

wpietri 14y ago

Do you have any evidence at all? Because history is filled with writers who get away from all the distractions so that writing is the only thing can to do. Personally, I think you're confusing important with easy. When I find a video game I like, I can play it for hours. But that's because it has been optimized for playability. But when writing or coding, sometimes I get frustrated. What I'm going may be important, but it isn't always easy, and that's when distraction will strike.