Post: #1

Hello everyone,

I've been a lurker for a little while. There is such a huge amount of information here archived via the search option that I've just been reading and digesting as much as I can.

One thing that I haven't come across though is what are your strategies for staying focused/disciplined for things that should get done but that aren't enjoyable to do? Learning any new skill always requires significant amounts of focused practice on weak areas (if you want to learn quickly) and I find it hard to maintain that mental discipline. For me, the only thing that has made a real difference was starting to lift weights a couple of months ago. The routine nature of lifting every couple days + strict diet has helped me a bit but I was wondering what you all do to maintain that discipline/focus?

Thanks

Post: #2

Procrastination dash - http://www.43folders.com/2005/09/08/kick...run-a-dash

and based on that simple concept, Pomodoro tecnique. http://www.pomodorotechnique.com/

Post: #3

^ I was going to say that. I'm a big procrastinator, but I'm smart and very hard working. Don't feel bad, even DaVinci was a big procrastinator.

I'm going to check out calex's links. Time is money!

Post: #4

I block facebook and the RVF. Kind of bad since the RVF is so helpful. I just need to list what I need to get done and isolate myself until its done. This isn't as effective as I want though as I waste a lot of time for example studying poorly, right now I just read over my notes and hope I'll remember it.

Post: #5

If it's meaningless trivial shit it gets done quickly, and thus out of the way, not to clutter my day. Now the really important shit waits until the absolute last possible minute, then I drop everything, sweat balls over it, then get it done. My best trains of thought and productivity are under extreme pressure.

Everyone is different.

Post: #6

This looks lame as shit, but it's actually not a bad read.

Post: #7

turn off internet. use typewriter for paper.

turn off phone. use snail mail for correspondance.

sell TV, burn stupid fantasy/scifi pulp paperbacks.

you will be AMAZED at your productivity when you have no distractions.

Post: #8

(04-19-2012 04:36 PM)cycliss Wrote:  Hello everyone,

I've been a lurker for a little while. There is such a huge amount of information here archived via the search option that I've just been reading and digesting as much as I can.

One thing that I haven't come across though is what are your strategies for staying focused/disciplined for things that should get done but that aren't enjoyable to do? Learning any new skill always requires significant amounts of focused practice on weak areas (if you want to learn quickly) and I find it hard to maintain that mental discipline. For me, the only thing that has made a real difference was starting to lift weights a couple of months ago. The routine nature of lifting every couple days + strict diet has helped me a bit but I was wondering what you all do to maintain that discipline/focus?

Thanks

I try to relax and find a way to make that thing enjoyable. Doing it with music or something you like can help a lot.

Post: #9

Think of the pain you'll feel by not achieving the things you want to.

That'll be a lot more longer lasting pain than disciplining yourself to do the necessary things.

Get in the good habits while while you can adjust your behaviour otherwise ou'll fall into this mantra:

"The chains of habit are too light to be felt until they're too heavy to be broken"

Post: #10

Check out the book The War Of Art.