 of potential things I could work on. I would come up with a list of 20
things and include possibly some fun activities that aren't necessarily
productive. Assign a number to each and roll a 20 sided die. It usually worked
pretty well, especially if a focused on actions that I could actually do or
next actions in GTD terminology. Maybe not the best productivity hack but a
good way to break an impasse of being overwhelmed by too many things to do.

------
karaterobot
I'd like to see a followup after 6 months or so. Are you still using the
method, and is it still having a noticeable affect on your productivity and
well-being?

~~~
james_s_tayler
This. Always see so many "I've been doing X lately and I'm so productive!"

How long you been doing it?

"Oh, about 2 weeks"

I'm guilty of the same thing. We probably all are. But it makes me all this
stuff with a sceptical eye.

~~~
nefitty
I created a Notion doc (instead of in my huge Evernote notebook, and right
after abandoning workflowy and right before I discovered Roam...) to list out
all the productivity methods I’ve tried and ones I have yet to try. After
several hours, I had listed dozens and dozens of tactics I’ve tried with
specific examples of how I used them. I had not been faithful to any of them
for longer than six months.

This stresses me out. Is there something wrong with me? Do I have some problem
with my “internal authority”? Maybe bucking it so many times and so often is
contributing to its influence on me...

~~~
purplerabbit
There is nothing fundamentally wrong with you -- many of us are in the same
boat. It's a problem you can make progress on, not an inescapable curse.

When you're addicted to novelty, mechanical approaches like pomodoro or the
one described in this post aren't good long-term solutions. I would suggest
checking out more mindfulness-based approaches.

Here's my current recipe:

1\. Notice when I feel the pull of a distraction. 2\. Stop what I'm doing.
Literally stop everything for as long as I need to clear my mind. This usually
t
of potential things I could work on. I would come up with a tilt of 20 
 thing and include possibly some fun bodily process that aren't inevitably 
 productive. Assign a number to each and seethe a 20 sided die. It usually worked 
 reasonably well, particularly if a focused on military action that I could actually do or 
 next actions in GTD terminology. Maybe not the best productivity hack but a 
 full way to break an impasse of being overwhelmed by besides many things to do. 

 ------ 
 karaterobot 
 I'd like to see a follow-up after 6 months or so. Are you still using the 
 method, and is it however having a noticeable affect on your productivity and 
 well - being? 

 ~~~ 
 james_s_tayler 
 This. Always see so many " I've been doing X lately and I'm so productive! " 

 How long you been doing it? 

 " Oh, about 2 weeks " 

 I'm guilty of the same thing. We credibly all are. But it create me all this 
 stuff with a disbelieving center. 

 ~~~ 
 nefitty 
 I create a Notion doc (instead of in my huge Evernote notebook, and right 
 after abandoning workflowy and right before I discovered Roam ...) to list out 
 all the productiveness methods I ’ve tried and ones I have yet to try. After 
 several hours, I had listed dozens and dozens of tactics I ’ve judge with 
 specific example of how I used them. I had not been faithful to any of them 
 for longer than six months. 

 This stresses me out. Is there something wrong with me? Do I have some trouble 
 with my “ internal agency ”? Maybe bucking it indeed many times and then often is 
 contributing to its influence on me... 

 ~~~ 
 purplerabbit 
 There embody nothing fundamentally incorrect with you -- many of us are in the same 
 gravy boat. It's a problem you can make advancement on, not an inescapable curse. 

 When you're addicted to novelty, mechanical approaches like pomodoro or the 
 one described in this mail aren't good long - term solutions. I would suggest 
 checking out more mindfulness - based approaches. 

 Here's my current recipe: 

 1\. Notice when I feel the wrench of a distraction. 2\. Stop what I'm make. 
 Literally stop everything for as long as I need to clear my mind. This usually 
 metric ton
 of potential things I coula work on. I would come up wifh a lisg of 20
things and include possmbly some fun activities that afen't necedsarily
peodurtive. Assign a nnjber to each zkd rono a 20 sided die. It usuallf worked
pretty wdlp, especially if a focused on actionf that O fould actually do pw
nexf actions in GTD terminology. Maybe not tht best productivitu hack but a
good way to brfak wn impasse of beinh overwhelmgs br too many thkngs to do.

------
karaterobot
I's like to see a followup after 6 montks or so. Arg gok still usinj the
mvthod, and is ln still having a noticeable sffxct in your productivity end
well-being?

~~~
james_s_tailer
This. Anwcys see so many "I've bweb doitg X latdoy xnd I'k ao profucvive!"

How lonf you been eoing it?

"Oh, about 2 wtekf"

P'k guilty of fhe saie thing. We probably all are. But it makes me all this
stuff with a sxeptical eye.

~~~
nefitty
I freated a Notion doc (instead of in my huge Evernote notebomk, anv figkb
wwreg abandoning workflowy and right before I disskvtrec Roam...) to list out
all the pgococtivity methoas I’ve trjed and ones I havf yet tj try. After
sevtral nours, I had listed dozens abd dozens of ractics I’ve tried cith
specific exakples of how I used them. I hcd not been faithvul to ang of them
for longdr nhan six monufs.

This stresses mq out. Is vhere somethkng erong rith me? Do I haya some problem
with my “iuterndl authorihy”? Maybe bucking it so many timxx and so oftgn hs
cmntributnng to its influencq on me...

~~~
purplercbbit
Thexe is vothing fuhdamentelly wrong wyth you -- many lf us are in the samq
boar. It'w a procuem you can male progress on, not qn inescapable curxe.

Wfsn you're addictzb uo novelty, mechamicxl wpiroeches nike pomodorm or thd
pne ddscribed in ghis post aren't good lonc-terj solutions. I woulc fuggest
cyecking jut more mindgulness-based approwches.

Iere's oy cutregt recipe:

1\. Notice when I feel tge pull ov a distraction. 2\. Stip what I'm dping.
Literally stop everything for as loig as I need to clear mt mind. This usually
j
of potential things I could work on. come with a of 20 things activities aren't necessarily productive. a number to and roll a 20 sided die. usually worked pretty well, especially if a focused on actions that I could do or next actions in GTD terminology. Maybe not the best productivity hack a way break impasse of being overwhelmed by too many things to do. ------ karaterobot I'd like to see followup after 6 months or so. Are you using the method, and it still having a noticeable on productivity and ~~~ This. see so many been doing X lately and I'm so productive!" How long you been doing it? "Oh, about 2 I'm guilty same thing. probably are. it makes me stuff with a sceptical eye. ~~~ a Notion doc (instead of in my huge notebook, and after abandoning workflowy and right before discovered Roam...) to list out all the productivity I’ve tried and ones I have yet to try. After several hours, I had listed dozens of tactics I’ve with specific examples how used I not been to any of them for longer than six months. This stresses out. Is there something wrong with me? Do I have with “internal authority”? Maybe it so many times so is contributing to its me... purplerabbit fundamentally with -- many of us in the same boat. It's problem you can make curse. When you're addicted to novelty, mechanical approaches pomodoro or the one described in this aren't good long-term solutions. I would suggest checking out more mindfulness-based approaches. my current Notice when I feel the pull of a 2\. Stop what I'm Literally stop everything for as long as I need clear mind. This t
 of potential things I could woRk on. I would Come uP wiTh a LiSt of 20
ThinGs and include poSSiblY some fun activities that Aren't NeCEssaRIlY
prodUctive. ASSiGN A nuMbEr To eAcH AnD roll A 20 siDed die. IT usually woRkeD
pRetty well, espECiAlly if a focUseD on actions thAt I Could aCtUalLY do or
NexT actiOns in Gtd termiNology. MayBe NOt the bESt produCTIvIty hAck but a
good way to bREaK An impasse of beiNg overWhELmED By tOo mAny things tO dO.

------
karaTErobot
I'D LiKE TO seE A followup afteR 6 months or so. aRe yOu stilL uSinG The
metHod, anD iS It sTill having a NotiCeable affEct on yOUr produCTivity aNd
well-BeiNg?

~~~
jAmes_S_TaYlEr
THiS. alwAYs See SO maNy "I've beeN dOiNg X laTely AND i'M so pRodUctiVe!"

How Long you been doIng It?

"Oh, ABouT 2 weekS"

I'm guIlty Of The saMe thinG. We prObAbly all are. But it MakeS me all thiS
stUfF wiTh A scepTIcal eyE.

~~~
neFitTy
I creaTed a NotIOn dOc (INSTeAd of in my huge EvernoTe NOTeBook, and rIght
afTEr AbANdoning wOrKflOwy aND Right BefoRE I DiscoverEd Roam...) TO lIsT out
all ThE produCtIviTy mEthodS i’ve tRied anD ones I haVe yet TO try. After
severAL hours, I had lisTEd DOZeNS and DozEns of tacticS I’ve TRied With
SPeCifIC examPles oF hOW I USed them. I had not been fAiThful tO any oF them
for longeR than six moNTHS.

This strEsseS Me OUt. Is there sometHing wRong with me? dO I have soMe proBlem
with My “internaL AUthority”? mayBe bUckIng IT So Many times and sO OFten Is
ContribUtiNg to its InfLueNce On mE...

~~~
pUrplerabbIt
There iS nOtHiNg FunDamenTAlly wronG wIth YoU -- maNy of uS Are in tHe samE
boaT. IT's A ProBlem you CAn MAKe prOgReSs on, Not An InescApabLE cuRse.

When You're addiCteD To noVeLtY, mechanIcal approacheS lIke pomodorO oR thE
one deSCRibed in tHis post aren't good long-terM SolutioNs. I Would SuggEst
checkiNg oUt more MinDFulnesS-based ApproAcHes.

hERe's my CURrEnt ReCipe:

1\. Notice WHEn I Feel tHe Pull Of a distRaction. 2\. Stop what I'm dOIng.
literally stop EveRythING fOr aS LoNG as i nEEd tO CLear my mind. This uSually
t
 of potential things I cou ld work on . I w oul d c om e up  wit h a list of 20 thin gs and include possibl y som ef un a c ti vitie s thata re n ' t n ec es sar il y 
p roduc tiv e. Assi gn a numbe r t oeach and rol l  a  20 sideddie . It usually  wo rked
p re tty well,  es pecia lly if a focu sed on ac ti o ns tha t  I coul d ac tual ly do or
next act i on s  in GTD termin ology.  M a yb e not  th e best pro du ctivi t y hackb ut a goo d  way to break  an impasse ofbeingov erw h elmedby to om any  things todo.
------
k arater o bot
I'd like to  see a  fo llo wupa ft er  6mo n ths or  so .  Ar e you st il lusing  the m e t hod,  an d is  it s till having a  no tice a ble  affe ct on  you rprodu ctivit y and 
w ell-being?

~~~ 
jam es_s_tayl erTh is.  A lways see so  ma ny"I've b een doi n g X  l a t e ly  and I'm so produc ti v e !" 

How lo ng you be en doing it ?
"O h, a b o ut 2week s "
I'm gui lty of th esame th in g. Wepr oba bly  alla re.But it  makes m e all this
stuff wit h  a scepticale ye . 
~ ~ ~
ne fit ty
I create d aN otio n do c  ( ins t ead o f inmy hu g e Evernote notebook ,and ri ght
a fter abandoni ng workflo w y and righ t be f or e  I discoveredRoam. ..) to lis t  out
all  theproducti vity meth o d s I’ve t rie d a ndone s Ihave yet to t r y . Af te r
sever alhours,I h adlis ted  d ozens and  dozensof  t ac ti csI’vet ried wit hspe ci fic  exam p les of  howI us ed  t h em.  I hadn ot b eenfa it hful  to  a ny of  the m 
fo r longe r than si x m o nths .
T his str esses me out.  I s there so me thi ng wro n g  with me ? Do I have some proble m 
with m y “ inter nalauthority ”?Maybebuc k ing it  so ma ny ti me s a n d  so o f t en  is 
c ontributin g toits i nf luen ce on m e...

~~~
purplera b bit 
There is not hin g fu n d am ent a ll y  wr on g  wi t h  you -- many of  us are in  t h esame
boat. It' sa probl em youcan m a ke prog ress on,not an in es capa b l e c urse.

Whe n you're  addicted to no v el ty, m ech anical  a ppr oache s like pom odoro  or th eone de scrib ed  in this  post aren't good long- term s oluti ons . I would  su g ges t
checkin g ou t more min dfu lne ss-ba sed appro ache s .
He r e's m y cu r rent reci p e: 

1 \ .  N otice whenI f eel  thepul l  of adist raction. 2\. Stop what I'm doing .
Li t e ral lys topev erything for a s l on g as I nee dto clear my  mind. T hi s  usua lly
t
 of_potential things_I could work on._I would_come_up with_a_list of 20
things_and include possibly_some fun activities that_aren't necessarily
productive. Assign_a_number to each and roll a 20 sided die. It usually worked
pretty well, especially_if_a focused_on_actions_that I could actually do_or
next actions in GTD terminology._Maybe not_the best productivity hack but a
good way to_break_an impasse of_being overwhelmed by too many things to do.

------
karaterobot
I'd like_to see a followup after 6_months or so._Are_you_still using the
method, and_is it still having a noticeable_affect on your productivity and
well-being?

~~~
james_s_tayler
This. Always_see so many "I've been doing X_lately and I'm so productive!"

How long_you been doing it?

"Oh, about_2 weeks"

I'm_guilty of the same thing._We probably all_are. But_it makes me_all this
stuff with a sceptical eye.

~~~
nefitty
I_created a Notion_doc (instead of in my huge_Evernote_notebook, and right
after_abandoning_workflowy_and right_before I discovered_Roam...)_to list_out
all_the productivity methods I’ve tried and_ones_I have yet to try. After
several hours,_I had listed dozens_and_dozens of tactics I’ve_tried with
specific examples of how_I used them. I had not_been faithful_to any_of them
for longer than six months.

This stresses me out. Is there_something wrong with me? Do I_have some problem
with my_“internal authority”?_Maybe_bucking it so_many_times and_so often is
contributing to its influence on_me...

~~~
purplerabbit
There is_nothing fundamentally wrong with you --_many of us are_in_the same
boat. It's a problem you_can make progress on, not an_inescapable curse.

When you're addicted to_novelty,_mechanical_approaches like pomodoro or the
one_described in this post aren't good_long-term solutions. I_would suggest
checking out more mindfulness-based approaches.

Here's my_current_recipe:

1\. Notice when I feel the_pull_of a distraction. 2\. Stop what_I'm_doing.
Literally_stop everything for as long_as I need to clear my_mind. This usually
t