How i get to work when excuses to not abound…
Or: how an avid procrastinator finally gets to work.
Often severe spells of procrastination are spurred on by a feeling of being overwhelmed by a project, disorganized and generally making a mountain out of a molehill, even if it is a big project.
This isn't even addressing any tendencies to simply be lazy which ultimately must be overcome at ones own expense. My trick to this is to brainstorm on something that will motivate me to complete the job - typically the reward at the end but more often than not it isn't the reward that is more motivating but the 'hunger' in the meantime -- rent/bills are due, something important needs to be taken care of, etc. This is not even taking into account any actual deadlines.
As far as I know, the greatest motivators in the world are hunger and ego. Hunger is a metaphor for any immediate need but can be taken literally in certain circumstances and ego expresses the need to prove ones worth and place in the world. These are, however, only a motivating factors when working out of a rut or starting from the bottom. Motivation becomes increasingly difficult as NEEDS become WANTS and WANTS are more easily attained at which time incessant boredom sets in and once frivolous or extraneous ordeals become the primary focus.
Too much stress, not enough being done about it
One of my greatest problems comes in feeling overwhelmed because of the project at hand PLUS a looming responsibility such as debt and other such things. This paralyzing combination have to be separated and dealt with in turn otherwise they will create a complete creative blockage wherein a feedback loop ensues - can't work cause I'm stressed, stressed cause I'm not working and things are due.
There are 5 conditions under which I do not function well:
- tired
- hungry
- sexually frustrated
- temperature discomfort (too cold / too hot)
- constipated/bloated - laugh if you must but it's a real problem for many
the third item may seem a vulgar and exaggerated issue and for some people may not ever be an issue (i am a man after all, let's be honest), but in reality these concerns are primal needs and when unsatisfied will forcefully and involuntarily take precedence over intellectual endeavors, -- this is to say it's entirely possible to get the job done, but coming back later under different circumstances to look over my work, I find I either did not work efficiently and could have worked faster having made poor structural choices when scripting or programming, or poor design/layout choices.
The worse part is that these issues compound and affect each other. That is, tired produces crankiness and a sense of discouragement. Sexually frustrated makes one tense disagreeable and easily distracted (which is actually the lesser of the 5 issues) plus if you take care of that, you could then be tired. Uncomfortable temperature and being tired will cause internal temperature fluctuations and ultimately make me feel sick and worn out. Too cold makes me sleepy and lethargic - OR frisky and restless, too hot makes me irritable and tense. Add hunger to any of these and we have a situation where all basic needs are unfulfilled and the body can only focus on attending to them.
So, the solutions?
Caffeine.
A special note needs to be made about caffeine. While I LOVE coffee, when I have to work, I avoid it like the plague. Instead choosing a good black or green tea which rather than specifically containing caffeine, through the action of theophylline will gradually raise alertness. An energy drink with supplemental additives such as taurine, guarana, ginseng, vitamin B6, protein, vitamin c, and natural sugar or sucralose (my preference over acesulfame K or aspartame). The sugar is an important issue even with tea. I find that high fructose corn syrup in certain energy drinks eliminates the energy boost the caffeine induces by causing a sudden spike in blood glucose levels - making me feel even more drained than before - yet restless and unable to nap if I so choose.
So far I have found a preference for the new Jolt (as in Jolt Cola) formulations - personally I like them all except for grape, but that's personal preference. A major issue beyond the sugar that I've had with energy drinks is the medicinal aftertaste. The Jolts taste great while containing a pretty well balanced set of ingredients. A 23.5oz can lasts me all night - if I'm more thirsty than usual I have water along side it because even to consume that large can quickly would definitely create some attention difficulties while trying to concentrate.
Food
While I work, I am constantly hungry - whether my body uses this as an excuse to create a distraction is to be examined but the bottom line is that if I don't eat about once an hour and wait until my stomach growls when doing heavy thinking I start to bog down and things get ugly. This is an apparent consequence of having a very fast metabolism and being accustomed to large amounts of carbohydrates. I get restless, then I get tired, then I start to get cold regardless of the ambient temperature and at this point any efforts to do good work are going to be in vain.
The problem comes about in the choice of intake while working. My persistent inclination is always candy and other sweet things - OR a big meal to satisfy the craving for-good but in my experience, the empty calories of candy will destroy my ability to concentrate and a big or heavy meal will punctuate my attempt at doing anything for at least 4 hours.
My favorite thing to do is to have 2 half sandwiches, specifically tuna sandwiches any time I get a craving - around every hour to hour and a half.
Why two half sandwiches and not one whole? Because eating two halves fools me into thinking that I'm eating more than I actually am while not getting too full as result, thereby addressing my latent gluttony.
If for example, my issue is that I'm hungry but I feel full - a strange feeling but it happens (usually if I haven't made a regular bowel movement), I may choose to eat a bowl of frosted mini wheats or cheerios (i use soy milk to avoid feeling bloated- this is another issue altogether) or any other high fiber moderately sweet cereal or make a bowl of oatmeal depending on the climate or immediate preference. Wash it down with water and two problems will soon be solved.
Sleep
When I'm working and tired, my want for sleep will invariably win -- I will rationalize and convince myself that after a certain amount of work, I DESERVE to sleep which usually amounts to committing a very small amount of work before getting frustrated and going to sleep.
Instead what I usually find will work, given that I for my whole life have never had a set steady sleep schedule is that rather than fight the sleep and waste time trying to work, I'll:
- have a small but satisfying meal
- drink a small cup of black or green tea
- chase those with water
- set an alarm clock for one and a half hours to 3 hours
- doze off while organizing my thoughts on where to start and the step immediately following, with the mindset that when the alarm goes off, I will wake, and do nothing but that one first step and take it from there.
Usually this works. If for any reason it does not, there is something else amiss and really needs to be evaluated.
Once the ball gets rolling and I achieve the first immediate milestone, such as getting past the starting point and laying down an initial plan PLUS an initial structure the rest comes easily and naturally up to reaching a stopping point. Once the motivation finally hits, I just let it pull me as far as I can physically manage. Sometimes working for 72 hours straight with only 2 or 3 hour naps every 18 hours.
--Always stop all caffeine consumption at least 4 hours before attempting to go to sleep or else just like trying to work while tired, trying to sleep while wired is counterproductive.
After which I will probably feel ragged and may then sleep a whole day - well, maybe 12 hours straight and another few hours after waking up, potty break, and drinking a bunch of water/eating until I feel refreshed and bright eyed (in other words, sleep until my eyes just PING open) -- this sleep diet usually addresses the issue of caffeine tolerance which happens quickly as it will all work its way out of my system.
Wake up, shower, shave, eat, take care of any pending real-world matters then the whole process can repeat.