{"id":10187,"date":"2016-02-02T16:46:39","date_gmt":"2016-02-02T08:46:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.visakanv.com\/blog\/?p=9519"},"modified":"2016-02-02T16:46:39","modified_gmt":"2016-02-02T08:46:39","slug":"procrastination","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.visakanv.com\/archives\/2016\/02\/02\/procrastination\/","title":{"rendered":"Procrastination is a solvable problem"},"content":{"rendered":"<div><a href=\"http:\/\/www.lrb.co.uk\/v37\/n17\/robert-hanks\/on-putting-things-off\">On putting things off<\/a>\u00a0[<a href=\"https:\/\/news.ycombinator.com\/item?id=10203875\">HN<\/a>]<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"comment\">\n<p><span class=\"c00\">I&#8217;m very passionate about the problem of procrastination, having suffered terribly from it all my life. For some people it&#8217;s a relatively minor thing, but for others it&#8217;s debilitating\u2013 ruining educations, careers, relationships.<\/span>What has been blowing my mind lately\u2013 and I&#8217;m always doing all the reading and experimentation I can about this\u2013 is how much of this is PHYSICAL. Hanks talks about headaches and stomach disorders\u2013 for me, it&#8217;s always been anxiety and loss of appetite. Which leads to low\/volatile blood sugar, which leads to mental fogginess, inaction, and worsens the cycle of procrastination.<\/p>\n<p>If I could go back in time to my teenage days and change one thing, it wouldn&#8217;t be scheduling, prioritization, visualization, environment-management, monotasking, and breaking down tasks into little chunks. (Though all of those things are very helpful.)<\/p>\n<p>It would be to eat a hearty breakfast every morning. I&#8217;m thoroughly convinced on hindsight that it makes the biggest difference. You need a clear mind to do all of the hard, messy work of dealing with reality, and to have a clear mind you need to eat, hydrate, sleep and exercise.<\/p>\n<p>\u2013<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span class=\"name\" data-wfid=\"fe27ed26903f\">4-steps<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span class=\"name\"><span class=\"contentBold\">Low expectancy?<\/span> You don&#8217;t think you can do it? You can fucking do it. Go watch the videos.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"name\"><span class=\"contentBold\">Low value? <\/span>You don&#8217;t think it&#8217;s worth it? Revisit your purpose. Finish this post and you&#8217;ll have one more data point. You didn&#8217;t think the Lady Gaga post was going to amount to very much, yet somebody quoted it in Forbes. You have no idea what&#8217;s actually valuable or not.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"name\"><span class=\"contentBold\">Impulsiveness?<\/span> You&#8217;re caught up doing other shit? You need a commitment device. Talk to Sharan.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"name\"><span class=\"contentBold\">Delays? <\/span>Things seem too far away? Break into smaller chunks.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><span class=\"name\" data-wfid=\"05e1c37dbf00\">Checklist #LessWrong <\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span class=\"name\"><span class=\"contentBold\">1: What is the task?\u00a0<\/span>Make sure you&#8217;re going to focus on one thing at a time.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"name\"><span class=\"contentBold\">2: Do you have something to drink?\u00a0<\/span>Get yourself some tea, coffee, or water.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"name\"><span class=\"contentBold\">3: Are distractions closed?<\/span>\u00a0Shut the door, quit Tweetdeck, close the Facebook and Gmail tabs, and set skype to &#8220;Do not disturb.&#8221;<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"name\"><span class=\"contentBold\">4: What music will you listen to inspire yourself to be productive or get in flow?<\/span>\u00a0Put on a good instrumental playlist! (I love video game soundtracks, further notes in comments.)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"name\"><span class=\"contentBold\">5: Why are you doing this task?<\/span>\u00a0 Trace the value until you feel the benefit.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"name\"><span class=\"contentBold\">6: What are the parts to this task?\u00a0<\/span> Break things down as much as you can, until they&#8217;re physical actions if possible.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"name\"><span class=\"contentBold\">7: What are some ways to gamify the task?\u00a0 <\/span>Try to have fun with it!<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"name\"><span class=\"contentBold\">8: What are some rewards you can offer yourself for completing sections of the task?\u00a0<\/span>Smiling, throwing your arms up in the air and proclaiming victory, or M&amp;M&#8217;s all count.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"name\"><span class=\"contentBold\">9: What&#8217;s an achievable goal for this sitting?<\/span>\u00a0Set a reasonable expectation for yourself.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"name\"><span class=\"contentBold\">10: How long will you work until you take a break?<\/span>\u00a0 Set a timer and commit to focusing.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"name\"><span class=\"contentBold\">Get into flow!<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><span class=\"name\" data-wfid=\"1c78428ea1be\">Get Unstuck Immediately<\/span><br \/>\n<span class=\"note\">You came here because you are stuck. I\u2019m going to get you unstuck.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span class=\"name\"> Do you have something in mind that you want to do?<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span class=\"name\"><span class=\"contentBold\">Yes<\/span>. I have something important\/urgent. It needs doing.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span class=\"name\">Will you go do it now? <\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span class=\"name\">Yes!<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"name\">Yes, but&#8230;<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"name\">No, something&#8217;s stopping me.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"name\">I&#8217;ll never do anything. I hate myself.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><span class=\"name\">You think you\u2019re going to falter halfway? Set a time limit<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><span class=\"name\"><span class=\"contentBold\">Kinda. <\/span>I have a bunch of tasks and stuff but I don&#8217;t know where to start<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span class=\"name\">Okay. Do you have a written list of these tasks anywhere?<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span class=\"name\">Yes<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"name\">No<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><span class=\"name\"><span class=\"contentBold\">No<\/span>. I&#8217;m so far gone that I have no idea wtf I am doing with my life<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span class=\"name\">I feel ya. Don&#8217;t worry. I&#8217;ve been there before. I got out of it. I&#8217;m here to help you.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div><a href=\"http:\/\/www.cci.health.wa.gov.au\/resources\/infopax.cfm?Info_ID=50\">http:\/\/www.cci.health.wa.gov.au\/resources\/infopax.cfm?Info_ID=50<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 large serious guide<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>I&#8217;m a bit of a procrastination literature connoisseur. In addition to WBW, here are some of my favorites:<a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/pulse\/20140121123613-25056271-tasks-down-how-to-overcome-procrastination-by-facing-discomfort\" rel=\"nofollow\">https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/pulse\/20140121123613-25056271-tasks&#8230;<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/lesswrong.com\/lw\/21b\/ugh_fields\/\" rel=\"nofollow\">http:\/\/lesswrong.com\/lw\/21b\/ugh_fields\/<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/visakanv.com\/1000\/0395-procrastination-as-parent-vs-child-breakdown\/\" rel=\"nofollow\">http:\/\/visakanv.com\/1000\/0395-procrastination-as-parent-vs-c&#8230;<\/a> (the most recent thing I&#8217;ve written)<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=SY69bgftUok\" rel=\"nofollow\">https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=SY69bgftUok<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><a href=\"http:\/\/hustleandgrind.stfi.re\/six-things-that-productive-people-do-that-procrastinators-forget\">http:\/\/hustleandgrind.stfi.re\/six-things-that-productive-people-do-that-procrastinators-forget<\/a><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><a href=\"http:\/\/www.newyorker.com\/science\/maria-konnikova\/a-procrastination-gene\">http:\/\/www.newyorker.com\/science\/maria-konnikova\/a-procrastination-gene<\/a><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><a href=\"https:\/\/news.ycombinator.com\/item?id=6145261\">Ask HN: I&#8217;m a chronic procrastinator \u2013 how do I break it?\u00a0<\/a><\/div>\n<div><a href=\"https:\/\/news.ycombinator.com\/item?id=6544267\">Seinfeld Method \/ X Effect<\/a><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><a href=\"http:\/\/lifehacker.com\/six-scientifically-supported-ways-to-crush-procrastinat-589722729\">http:\/\/lifehacker.com\/six-scientifically-supported-ways-to-crush-procrastinat-589722729\u00a0<\/a><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><a href=\"http:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/time-management-and-productivity-hacks-2013-4#-4\">http:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/time-management-and-productivity-hacks-2013-4#-4\u00a0<\/a><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>On putting things off\u00a0[HN] I&#8217;m very passionate about the problem of procrastination, having suffered terribly from it all my life. For some people it&#8217;s a relatively minor thing, but for others it&#8217;s debilitating\u2013 ruining educations, careers, relationships.What has been blowing my mind lately\u2013 and I&#8217;m always doing all the reading&hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[576,577],"tags":[6],"class_list":["post-10187","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-self-repair","category-perception","tag-gtd"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p5gxNz-2Ej","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visakanv.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10187","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visakanv.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visakanv.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visakanv.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visakanv.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10187"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.visakanv.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10187\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visakanv.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10187"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visakanv.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10187"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visakanv.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10187"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}