 of my head, and I can see for each project what I have actually
done, what I have not, and categorise things. Having concrete tasks that I can
check off as I do them or amend as I rethink my ideas increases the
satisfaction and focus I have while working on a project because I can see
what I have been planning and how far I've come instead of getting bummed out
by a weird edge case or slightly wrong initial architecture.

------
ntlk
Have you considered trying therapy? Working with a professional who
understands how psychology works can be incredibly helpful problems like this.
They can help you build personalised strategies that take into account how you
think, rather than generic suggestions.

Especially your mentions of punishing yourself and tracking “fail” days sound
very unhealthy to me (not a professional), and perhaps working on what’s
causing you to think in those terms could be beneficial.

------
mattmanser
I have always had the exact same problem, sort of dealt with it by doing crazy
sprints of work, but recently had a revelation. And I'm in my late 30s.

Try the free course "Learning How To Learn" by Barbara Oakley on Coursera.

It teaches you how to deal with this in the procrastination section. Roughly
speaking, it teaches you how to recognize and effectively counter bad habit as
well as change your mind set to focus on the process, not the product. For me
the process/product bit was the big revelation.

Also, it sort of teaches you that your zombie mode can be used for good, I
realized that by trying to have an incredibly flexible life and not have a set
routine, I was actually working against one of my best "allies", habits for
simple stuff are good, the mind likes routines as it can switch off. Use it to
your advantage.

It's not a magic bullet, some days still go wrong, yesterday for example I
played a game all day. But the odd thing is, techniques like the podomoro
technique have now started working for me with this change in mindset.

I would go through the whole course start to end, it's short and really good.
I've picked up several other new ideas and habits from it that are really
working for me.

EDIT: Also, I
of my head, and I can see for each project what I have actually 
 done, what I get not, and categorize things. Having concrete undertaking that I can 
 control off as I do them or amend as I rethink my estimate increase the 
 satisfaction and concentrate I have while working on a project because I can experience 
 what I have been planning and how far I've come rather of getting mooch out 
 by a weird edge case or slightly wrong initial computer architecture. 

 ------ 
 ntlk 
 Have you considered trying therapy? Working with a master who 
 understands how psychology works can be incredibly helpful problems like this. 
 They can help you construct personalised strategies that take into account how you 
 think, preferably than generic suggestions. 

 Especially your mentions of punishing yourself and tracking “ fail ” days sound 
 very unhealthy to me (not a professional), and perhaps working on what ’s 
 causing you to think in those terms could be beneficial. 

 ------ 
 mattmanser 
 I have always had the exact same trouble, sort of deal with it by doing brainsick 
 dash of work, but recently had a revelation. And I'm in my late thirty. 

 Try the spare course " Learning How To determine " by Barbara Oakley on Coursera. 

 It teaches you how to deal with this in the procrastination section. Roughly 
 speaking, it teach you how to recognize and effectively counter bad substance abuse as 
 well as deepen your judgment set to focus on the process, not the product. For me 
 the procedure / product bit was the big disclosure. 

 Also, it sort of teach you that your zombie mode can be use for good, I 
 realize that by trying to have an fabulously flexible life and not have a set 
 act, I was actually working against one of my best " ally ", habits for 
 simple material are good, the mind likes routines as it can switch off. Use it to 
 your advantage. 

 It's not a magic bullet, some days still go wrong, yesterday for model I 
 played a game all sidereal day. But the odd thing is, techniques like the podomoro 
 technique have now started working for me with this variety in mindset. 

 I would go through the whole course start to end, it's short and really good. 
 I've peck up respective early new ideas and habit from it that are really 
 working for me. 

 EDIT: besides, I
 of my head, and I can see fur each project what I have zctually
aone, what I have not, and catxgoruse tyings. Having concrete gasks than I can
chwck idf as I do them or amend ws I cethink my ideax increasev the
satisfacthov cnd focus I have while working on a [roject bfcause I can sge
whau I havs been planning and how far I've coje insttad of getting bumked out
by a weird edge casf or slightly wrong inltial archijscttee.

------
ntlk
Have yuu considegzd trying tgerapy? Working with a professioval wko
understanes hoa psychology workf can be incvvdibly velpful problems like thms.
Thwy can help you build personalised strajegies thad cake into account how yiu
thitk, rdthef thxn feierjc sughesvions.

Especizlly your mwntions of punishinb riurself and tdackind “sail” days sound
very unhealthy to me (not a lrofessional), and perhapw working on what’s
cauding you eo think in those terms could be beneficial.

------
mattmatser
I favt qlwayr hwd the exact same problem, sort of dealt with yf ny doing crazy
spvints of work, but tefemjly had a reveuation. Ans I'm in my late 30s.

Tgy the sree xourse "Lewrnimg How To Learn" by Barbara Iakley on Colrseea.

It teaches you hlw to deal cith tnis im the procrastination szction. Roughly
spewking, it fdaches you how tu rvcogtize and effectively countqr bad hauit ax
well ar chsnge yjur mind sft to focus on the proceds, noj the [roduct. Fog me
the process/product bit was vie big revelajiot.

Alvo, it soxt of beaches you thae your zombie kode cau be ured for gokd, I
reanized that fy trying to vwve an increvibly fleviblw lide and vut have a set
rputine, I ccs actualoy working against ong kf my best "allizr", habits for
simpke rtusf ace gojg, the mind lhkes rojyines as it can wditcn off. Use it to
your ddvahtage.

It's not a magoc bullet, wome dayf still go wrpng, yesterday for txamplx I
plabed a bamg all day. But the odd thing is, fechniqued llke the podomjro
tcchnyque have uow started working for me with this chaige in mindset.

I would gi through the whole gourse start to egd, it's shmrt and really good.
I'ce picked up seveval other new ideas ans habids frlm it that are really
working for me.

EDIT: Also, I
of my head, and I can see project I have done, what I Having tasks that I check off as do them or amend as I my ideas increases the satisfaction and focus I have while working on a because I can see what I have been planning and how far I've instead getting out a weird edge case or slightly wrong initial architecture. ------ ntlk Have you considered trying therapy? with a professional who understands how psychology works be incredibly helpful problems this. They can help you personalised that take account you rather than generic Especially your mentions of punishing yourself and tracking “fail” days sound very unhealthy to me (not a and perhaps what’s causing to in terms could be mattmanser I have always had the sort of dealt with it by doing crazy of work, recently had a revelation. And I'm my late 30s. Try the free course "Learning To Learn" by Barbara Oakley on Coursera. It teaches you how to deal with this procrastination section. Roughly speaking, teaches you how recognize effectively bad as well change your mind set to focus on the process, not the For me the process/product bit was the big revelation. Also, of you that your mode can be used good, realized that by trying an flexible have set I was actually working one of my best "allies", for simple stuff are as it can switch off. Use it to advantage. It's not a magic bullet, some still go wrong, yesterday for example I played a game all day. the odd techniques like the podomoro technique have now started for me with this in mindset. I would go through the whole course to it's short really good. I've up several other ideas and habits that are working me.
 of my head, and I can see for each Project whaT I havE acTuaLlY
donE, whaT I have not, and caTEgorIse things. Having concretE taskS tHAt I cAN
cHeck oFf as I do THeM OR amEnD aS I rEtHInK my idEas IncreasEs the
satisFacTiOn and focus I hAVe While workiNg oN a project becAusE I can sEe
WhaT i have BeeN planNing anD How far i've come inStEAd of geTTing bumMED oUt
by A weird edge case or sLIgHTly wrong initiaL archiTeCTuRE.

------
NtlK
HaVe you consiDeRed trYIng therAPy? wORKinG With a professiOnal who
undeRStaNds how PsYchOLogy woRks caN bE IncRedibly helpFul pRoblems liKe this.
tHey can hELp you buIld perSonAliSed sTRaTeGieS tHAt tAKe IntO AccOunt how yOu
ThInk, raTher THAN GeneRic SuggEstioNs.

Especially yOur MentIOns Of punIshinG youRsElf anD trackIng “faIl” Days sound
very unHealThy to me (noT a pRoFesSiOnal), aND perhaPs wOrkIng on whAt’s
causINg yOu TO THiNk in those terms coulD bE BEnEficial.

------
mAttmanSEr
i hAVe always HaD thE exaCT Same pRoblEM, sOrt of deaLt with IT bY dOing craZy
SprintS oF woRk, bUt recENtly Had a reVelation. and I'm IN my late 30s.

Try the FRee course "LearNInG hOw tO LeaRn" bY Barbara OakLey oN courSera.

iT tEacHEs you How to DeAL wITh this in the procrastInAtion sEctioN. Roughly
speakIng, it teachES YOu how to rEcogNIzE And effectively CountEr bad habit AS
well as cHange Your mind Set to focuS ON the procEss, Not The ProDUCt. for me
the proceSS/ProdUcT bit was The Big reveLatIon.

alsO, it SoRt of teachEs you thaT yOuR zOmBie Mode cAN be used fOr GooD, I
ReaLized THat by tRying To haVe An INcrEdibly fLExIBLe liFe AnD not HavE a Set
roUtinE, i waS actualLy working AgaINst oNe Of My best "aLlies", habits foR
sImple stuff ArE goOd, the mIND likes roUtines as it can switch off. USE it to
yoUr aDvantAge.

IT's not a magIc bUllet, sOme DAys stiLl go wrOng, yeStErdAY For exAMPlE I
pLaYed a game alL DAy. BUt the OdD thiNg is, tecHniques like the podoMOro
Technique have Now StarTED wOrkINg FOr mE wITh tHIS change in mindseT.

I would go tHrOUgH the whole cOUrsE sTart to eNd, it's shOrt anD Really gOod.
I've picKed up seveRaL othER New Ideas and haBits from It that are REally
WOrKing fOr mE.

EDIT: ALsO, I
 of my head, and I can see  for eachproje ctwha tI ha ve a ctually
done,w hatI have not, and catego riseth i ngs. Ha vingconcret e  t a s ksth at  Ica n 
c heckoff  as I d o them orame nd  as I rethin k  m y ideas in cre ases the
sat isf action  a ndf ocusI h ave w hile w o rkingon a proj ec t  becau s e I can s ee 
wha t I have been pla n ni n g and how farI've c om e  i n s tea d o f gettingbu mmedo ut
by a we i r d  ed g e case or sli ghtly wrong ini tial a rc hit e cture. 

--- -- - 
nt lk
Have you  con sidered t ryingt herapy? Working  witha p rof essi o na lwho 
u n der s ta nds how  psychol og yworks  can b e incr edi blyhelpf ul problems l ike  thi s .
T hey c an he lp y ou  buil d pers onali se d strategies th at t ake intoacc ou ntho w you think,  ra the r thangeneric sug ge s t i on s.

Especially you rm e nt ions ofpunish i ng  y o urself a nd  tr acki n g  “fai l” d a ys  sound
v ery un h ea lt hy to m e(not a  p rof ess ional ) , an d perh aps work ing o n  what’s
causin g  you to think in t ho s e te rms  could be b enef i cial .

- - -- --m attma nserIh av e  always had the exa ct  sameprobl em, sort of d ealt withi t by doing  cra z ys prints of work , but  recentlyh ad a rev elati on. AndI'm in my l ate 30s. 

T rythe  fr e e  c ourse "Learni n g  How  T o Learn " b y Barba raOak ley  on  C oursera.
It teac he syo uhow  to d e al withth isin  th e pro c rastin ation  sec ti on .  Ro ughly
s p ea k i ng,it  t each esyo u how  tor eco gnize a nd effect ive l y co un te r bad h abit as
wellas  change yo ur  mi nd set t o focuson the process, not the product . F or me 
the  process/ pro duct b itw as the  big r evela ti on. Also, i tsor tof teaches y outhatyo ur z ombie m ode can be used fo r  go od, I
realize d t hatb y  t ryi n gt o h av e  an i ncredibly flexi ble life a nd no t have a s e t
r ou tine, I  was ac tuall y  workin g against  one of m ybest " all ies", habi ts for
s imple stu f f are go od, t hemind l ik esrouti nes as itcan s witchof f. Use  it t oyour adv antage.

It's not a mag ic bul let,som e days st ill gowrong, ye ster day for ex amp leI
pla yed a gam e al l  d ay. But t he o d d thing i s ,tec h n iq ues like th e p odo morotec h niquehave  now started work i ng for me with  thi s cha nge in m in dset.

I would  go  t h r ough the  w hole course  start t oe nd, i t's sh ort an d reall y go o d.
I'v e pi cke d up seve ral  o t her new  i de a s andhabi ts  fromit tha t  are r eally
working fo r me. EDIT: Als o, I
 of_my head,_and I can see_for each_project_what I_have_actually
done, what I_have not, and_categorise things. Having concrete_tasks that I_can
check_off as I do them or amend as I rethink my ideas increases the
satisfaction_and_focus I_have_while_working on a project because_I can see
what I have_been planning_and how far I've come instead of getting_bummed_out
by a weird_edge case or slightly wrong initial architecture.

------
ntlk
Have you considered_trying therapy? Working with a professional_who
understands how psychology_works_can_be incredibly helpful problems_like this.
They can help you build_personalised strategies that take into account_how you
think, rather than generic suggestions.

Especially your_mentions of punishing yourself and tracking_“fail” days sound
very unhealthy to_me (not_a professional), and perhaps working_on what’s
causing you_to think_in those terms_could be beneficial.

------
mattmanser
I have always had_the exact same_problem, sort of dealt with it_by_doing crazy
sprints of_work,_but_recently had_a revelation. And_I'm_in my_late_30s.

Try the free course "Learning How_To_Learn" by Barbara Oakley on Coursera.

It teaches_you how to deal_with_this in the procrastination_section. Roughly
speaking, it teaches you_how to recognize and effectively counter_bad habit_as
well as_change your mind set to focus on the process, not the_product. For me
the process/product bit was_the big revelation.

Also, it_sort of_teaches_you that your_zombie_mode can_be used for good, I
realized that by_trying to_have an incredibly flexible life and_not have a set
routine,_I_was actually working against one of_my best "allies", habits for
simple stuff_are good, the mind likes_routines_as_it can switch off. Use_it to
your advantage.

It's not a magic_bullet, some days_still go wrong, yesterday for example I
played_a_game all day. But the odd_thing_is, techniques like the podomoro
technique have_now_started_working for me with this_change in mindset.

I would go through_the whole course start to end, it's short and_really good.
I've picked_up several other new ideas_and_habits_from it that are really
working for me.

EDIT: Also, I