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[Exclamation-One]

GAF, I've got this problem, see. It's simple.

When I work with another person on a creative project, I'm full of life, making impassioned arguments... there's almost a drive to 'outdo,' 'outwork,' and all-around 'outperform' the other guy. There's a competitive edge. Shit gets done. It's exhilarating and incredibly rewarding.

When I'm by myself... well... fuck. Nothing gets done. I have an irrational fear of the blank page. I am both listless and restless, and can earn a place in Guinness for the world's greatest procrastinator.

My recent collaborator quit on me. Probably for the best; he was unreliable, constantly showing up late for meetings with myself or with third parties, and just got progressively lazier and lazier, insisting on having conversations about 'creative control' when he wasn't putting forth any effort. And, of course, the quality and consistency of work he produced was questionable.

And yet, even with having to deal with his childish behavior, shit got done, and in turn, I felt validated. Now that I'm currently on my own, I feel like I have nothing.

If any of you have read The War of Art, the author outlines that the true difficulty is not in writing itself, but in actually sitting down to write. He personifies this trend as 'Resistance', and it's choking me. I feel guilty as fuck for all of the wasted hours playing games, watching streaming video sites of all kinds, and in general just avoiding the work I really want to do. I avoid going out with friends and become obsessed with 'work' that never comes to fruition.

Have you ever experienced anything like this? And, if so, how do you deal with it?

 

[wenis]

I'm going through the same thing right now, but I try my hardest just to push through it. I read the War of Art a couple weeks ago, pretty good read, but it's hard to put a lot of that knowledge into action. Lately I've been setting up goals for myself for the day and if I don't finish them I don't get all crazy about it or get sad I just focus on the next day.

If you figure out the way to get out of this let me know.

 

[Deleted member 81567]

Procrastination is the devil. Willpower is what it boils down to but maybe making someone hide all your alternative outlets that distract you might help.

 

[deadbeef]

Here is a neat little application that helps, I think.

http://www.focusboosterapp.com/

It is based on the Pomodoro Technique, which is basically this:

There are five basic steps to implementing the technique:

1. decide on the task to be done
2. set the pomodoro (timer) to 25 minutes
3. work on the task until the timer rings; record with an x
4. take a short break (5 minutes)
5. every four "pomodori" take a longer break (15–20 minutes)

Sometimes it helps give me a kick start, when I really need to get stuff done. I like it, because I know there's always a short break waiting on me just 20 or so minutes away. It's like getting a little treat. Haha

 

[NEOPARADIGM]

Sometimes you just gotta break down and get done what needs getting done. There's no real trick to it outside of determining what needs to be done, and then doing it.

Right?

Procrastination is the devil.

Agree.

 

[Anteater]

Yes, but it's not the exact same problem as you where I work better being competitive, I don't like to compete with people but I just... can't do anything on my own without someone or something to lead me, or something i could compare to, I'm not sure if it's insecurity or if I need validations, but I work a lot better if I have someone accompanying me or having a teacher to lead me.

Especially when it comes to doing things in a group, I'm often so enthusiastic when ideas are being tossed around and people just inspires each other, but when I do shit alone, I just stare at a blank piece of paper and I just can't get anywhere.

 

[akira28]

In simple terms you have motivational issues. You need a muse, or inspiration. From within or without, you have plenty of options.

Here is a neat little application that helps, I think.

It is based on the Pomodoro Technique, which is basically this:

Very interesting.

Anteater: nothing wrong with being a brainstormer or a group thinker as a strong point, nothing wrong with collaborating with an imaginary partner, either.

 

[dr3upmushroom]

I'm the same way with the solo vs. collaboration thing. I grew out of procrastinating after high school though. It's true, all there is to it is just forcing yourself to sit down and work. The only "trick" is to start forcing yourself to work for a set amount of time at the same time, every day (or at least weekdays, though you'll start forming the habit better in you do it every day.)

The more you tell yourself "I'm a procrastinator" and procrastinate, the easier it is as you grow older to fall back on those habits. If you force yourself to work though, even just sit down at a computer or notebook not writing, just brainstorming ideas or writing down thoughts or anything, you'll start to internalize that habit, and get a lot of work done.

 

[dr3upmushroom]

Here is a neat little application that helps, I think.

http://www.focusboosterapp.com/

It is based on the Pomodoro Technique, which is basically this:



Sometimes it helps give me a kick start, when I really need to get stuff done. I like it, because I know there's always a short break waiting on me just 20 or so minutes away. It's like getting a little treat. Haha

This sounds good in theory, but in practice a lot of these gimmicky organizational methods tend to be a lot like fad diets. You may lose some weight in the long run, but if you don't change your base habits, and if you're still constantly craving food you shouldn't be eating, chances are you're going to gain it back.

I'm sure that some people have had great results improving their productivity with this, but I'd only try it your work already allows for work being down in clean twenty minute segments. If you ever find yourself working longer than that at once on one thing, I think you'd be far better off just becoming disciplined enough to turn off the video games and internet.

 

[narcosis219]

Compete with yourself.........?

Well, if you had multiple personalities I guess that would make it easier.

 

[Exclamation-One]

Compete with yourself.........?

Well, if you had multiple personalities I guess that would make it easier.

Here is a neat little application that helps, I think.

http://www.focusboosterapp.com/

It is based on the Pomodoro Technique, which is basically this:

This sounds excellent, I want to give this a try right away.

 

[deadbeef]

This sounds good in theory, but in practice a lot of these gimmicky organizational methods tend to be a lot like fad diets. You may lose some weight in the long run, but if you don't change your base habits, and if you're still constantly craving food you shouldn't be eating, chances are you're going to gain it back.

I'm sure that some people have had great results improving their productivity with this, but I'd only try it your work already allows for work being down in clean twenty minute segments. If you ever find yourself working longer than that at once on one thing, I think you'd be far better off just becoming disciplined enough to turn off the video games and internet.

Yeah, like I said, "Sometimes it helps give me a kick start". I don't use it daily but I have found it to be helpful here and there, even for tasks that can't be broken down into 20 minute chunks.

 

[Exclamation-One]

nothing wrong with collaborating with an imaginary partner, either.

Also wanted to comment on this. I've actually thought of creating a fictional version of someone who holds opposing views, but to me that always seemed like the first slip towards complete insanity.

 

[Count Dookkake]

Not everyone can be Johnny Rico. It's okay to be Ace Levy.

 

[Alien Bob]

I'm a maximum procrastinator myself, but using the pomodoro technique (with focusbooster) has really helped my productivity. No need for books or complicated systems, or anything like that, just a good structure to work in. It works because it still allows you to waste time, just in much smaller chunks. You'll still need discipline to plan pomodoros and hold to them though.

 

[Tenck]

Haha, felt like this yesterday. I work as maintenance for McDonalds, and getting things done by myself is tough. I manage though, but I'm never taking a break.

So my manager brings this guy on Wednesday who's the back-up maintenance that works on the weekends. She wants him to show me how to do even more things and she had him till Thursday. During the few days I was with him, I tried my very best to keep up with this guy. He's used to working for a restaurant controlled directly by the corporation. So he was asked to do a lot more than I would ever be asked.

Anyways this guy was lightning fast and would do what I do in half the time I did it. Just being around him made me competitive. I tried my best and was keeping up with him. It felt good too because I knew I was working much harder than I did when I was alone.

So on Friday he comes for like 3 hours and leaves because he's nearing his 40 hours for the week (we can't work overtime at McDonalds). So when he leaves me, I have nothing motivating me to work as hard as I could. I was really sluggish and barely finished my job again =/ I even forgot to clean the orange juice machine.

 

[Ketchup Boy]

Like I said before, if you want to get stuff done by a certain deadline, you either have to get paid or suffer a consequence where you lose something valuable to you. Those are the perfect incentives to get you to motivate yourself to do something that you want to do, but are just too lazy.

Seriously, try it out. Give someone you trust to hold on to $100 that belongs to you. Then tell them if you don't get this task you want done by a certain deadline, then they can keep the $100. You also have to prove to them that you got it done by like sending them a picture or something. It is as simple as that. The perfect motivator.

 

[akira28]

Also wanted to comment on this. I've actually thought of creating a fictional version of someone who holds opposing views, but to me that always seemed like the first slip towards complete insanity.

I look at it as a different way of playing devil's advocate. Taking your good ideas and trying to plonk them full of holes is a good way to test them for soundness. Like taking your different aspects and assigning them different tasks.

Or something as simple as making a list of traits for your silent partner to have and then when you're evaluating your work, make sure you answer questions related to each of those listed values, as if you were working to satisfy someone else's desires or questions.

 

[FutureZombie]

*Write one paragraph of research paper*

*Read Gaf for 10 minutes*

*Repeat ad nauseum*

 

[Exclamation-One]

something as simple as making a list of traits for your silent partner to have and then when you're evaluating your work, make sure you answer questions related to each of those listed values, as if you were working to satisfy someone else's desires or questions.

That doesn't sound so bad. I was picturing literal back-and-forth conversations with myself.

 

[Always-honest]

same. I need a challenge

I am getting better at motivating myself though. should, cause i work alone...