Comment by crawfordcomeaux | Hacker News Reader

Comment by crawfordcomeaux | Hacker News Reader

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crawfordcomeaux

I have a cycle of habits that revolves around reading the internet. It goes like this:

Have an idea -> google for its existence

If idea is novel -> Google to answer questions about implementation; Else -> come up with new spin on idea or stop

Confirm findings or test idea -> have a new idea or new questions

I also have ADHD & can sometimes (ok...often) hyperfocus when I catch this cycle. I can lose hours upon hours in it. But that's not the main problem...

There are numerous ways to enter this cycle (ie. Triggers for any of the habits) & they occur so frequently that they disrupt the development of new habits. The standard triggers are having/encountering a new idea, a question without an answer, or an answer that needs confirming. I can also jump into it accidentally through procrastination means (eg. reading HN) or just as a result of everyday work (eg. searching for something on stack overflow).

I'm a programmer without a support system to enable me to disrupt these habits without unplugging for months, which I can't afford to do.

I am exactly the same way. I have ADHD too, I hyper focus all the time, I have triggers that cause me to think of certain ideas and everything you said I do the same. I am all out of wack right now, I have been procrastinating on my homework like crazy this and hyper focusing on random projects, like Thursday I spent 3 hours working on crime data around temple's campus, when I should have been studying for my homework.

But what I try to do with all the ideas I come up with is to let the idea sit, I too have a lot of things that trigger my ideas but I only really think about the ones that have stayed with me, like I have a really solid start-up idea right now and I have had it for about 6 months now. In between that 6 months I was consistently thinking of other ideas. But I think I am just going to focus on this, because it keeps coming up in my mind, and I have thought of some awesome ideas for it.

But what I do is I exercise, it really keeps my mind fresh and throws out a lot of shit. I know its not a software solution but it has helped me so much.

I've experienced that same thing (who on HN hasn't? ;). Tips and tricks to cut down on info-addiction can help a bit.

But the only thing that really works for me is when I focus on a positive goal I want to achieve, instead of spending energy on avoiding the bad habits.

Now, I'm focused on building my business. It doesn't mean I have stopped getting lots of shiny new ideas. But now I don't have to fight with myself. I just don't have the time or energy for these new ideas. Too focused on the current idea.

Were that all it takes for me, I wouldn't be posting here.

Sorry I think I misunderstood you. If you have a medical condition, then ignore whatever I said.

I'm not sure if the issue is that when some people refer to their "info addiction," it actually isn't an addiction (eg. "OMG! I am SOOO ADD sometimes!" says some person without ADD who needs a loving dose of perspective or strangulation) or if there are other things specific to me that mix with the info addiction such that having a positive goal I'm focusing on isn't enough.

Sorry for the previous curt response. This is essentially the only thing I'm trying to deal with right now because it leads to failure in all the things. And progress is slow because getting people to invest time in someone who has no money is seemingly impossible.

I did read your "I have ADHD" in the casual way that most people say it. I certainly don't have ADHD (not that I'm aware of, anyway). The only thing I can think to suggest is to seek professional help, if you haven't already.

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