Too comfy
September 27, 2011 10:39 PM Subscribe
How do I stop my room from being the black hole of productivity/inspiration that it is?
When I'm in class or out with my friends, I feel like good ideas come to me somewhat easily and I can complete most of the stuff on my to-do list without much trouble. As soon as I walk into my apartment and into my room, however, it's like a wave of apathy washes over me. This becomes a problem on days when I really need to study and the library is closed, or when I have a project I really want to work on but instead I spend the whole day searching for an actor I vaguely recognized on a TV show the previous night.
I've gone as far as regularly rearranging the furniture in my room so it feels fresh, but that only works for a little while and I still feel too.. comfortable. Is there a way to snap out of this and turn me into the go-getter I'm apparently capable of?
When I'm in class or out with my friends, I feel like good ideas come to me somewhat easily and I can complete most of the stuff on my to-do list without much trouble. As soon as I walk into my apartment and into my room, however, it's like a wave of apathy washes over me. This becomes a problem on days when I really need to study and the library is closed, or when I have a project I really want to work on but instead I spend the whole day searching for an actor I vaguely recognized on a TV show the previous night.
I've gone as far as regularly rearranging the furniture in my room so it feels fresh, but that only works for a little while and I still feel too.. comfortable. Is there a way to snap out of this and turn me into the go-getter I'm apparently capable of?
Less comfy clothes (just say jeans instead of sweatpants or whatever), cooler temperature in the room, bright light instead of mood lighting, and here's an obvious one: keep your computer off if unneeded or kill surfing habits while you work. I figure you would have mentioned it if that last was your particular problem, but the trick there is the oldest one: delay of gratification. When I'm in your shoes, it's because I *let* myself waste time as a reward prior to doing anything that deserves it.
Also, you could, of course, try working elsewhere. I mean, sacrificing the comfort of your room may not be worth it if you can just work at the kitchen table, or wherever else may be available, and may not have such comfortable/relaxing atmosphere.
Lastly, you could create new "down to work" associations. Wear a particular item of clothing -- a certain hat, jacket, whatever. Music that energizes but doesn't distract (unless all music does). Coffee if that's your thing, etc.. Then sit down with the intention to push through a solid chunk of work (make some reasonable goal) before taking a break of any kind (more of that delay of grat). If you actually enjoy the work, which I suspect from your description you do, your problem is getting into it and you may find that time flies once you're in the zone.
posted by Durn Bronzefist at 11:11 PM on September 27, 2011
Also, you could, of course, try working elsewhere. I mean, sacrificing the comfort of your room may not be worth it if you can just work at the kitchen table, or wherever else may be available, and may not have such comfortable/relaxing atmosphere.
Lastly, you could create new "down to work" associations. Wear a particular item of clothing -- a certain hat, jacket, whatever. Music that energizes but doesn't distract (unless all music does). Coffee if that's your thing, etc.. Then sit down with the intention to push through a solid chunk of work (make some reasonable goal) before taking a break of any kind (more of that delay of grat). If you actually enjoy the work, which I suspect from your description you do, your problem is getting into it and you may find that time flies once you're in the zone.
posted by Durn Bronzefist at 11:11 PM on September 27, 2011
Two things:
1) Freedom, which is internet blocking software.
And 2) go work in the library, in a coffee shop, whereever you need to. Being alone at home means noone knows if you take a nap, play solitare, wash the dishes...being outside helps. Other people watching you helps.
posted by jrochest at 11:16 PM on September 27, 2011
1) Freedom, which is internet blocking software.
And 2) go work in the library, in a coffee shop, whereever you need to. Being alone at home means noone knows if you take a nap, play solitare, wash the dishes...being outside helps. Other people watching you helps.
posted by jrochest at 11:16 PM on September 27, 2011
I agree with what others have said, but I think you could also see this as a time management challenge. It's alright if you spend five minutes of a conscious break looking for an actor, but after five minutes have passed you can say "alright, can't find him, now back to work."
Keep your mind on the longer-term gratification that comes from finishing a project, and the short-term gratification of mucking about will lose some allure.
To really bring the long-term gratification within reach, set short, 30 minute goals for your progress and take a break after each one. You can even skip the breaks if you're getting into it!
Maybe one of your friends plays this kind of role already, and that's why you're more productive outside? Or, maybe it's just the simpler reason that you aren't under scrutiny at home.
posted by mostly-sp3 at 11:27 PM on September 27, 2011
Keep your mind on the longer-term gratification that comes from finishing a project, and the short-term gratification of mucking about will lose some allure.
To really bring the long-term gratification within reach, set short, 30 minute goals for your progress and take a break after each one. You can even skip the breaks if you're getting into it!
Maybe one of your friends plays this kind of role already, and that's why you're more productive outside? Or, maybe it's just the simpler reason that you aren't under scrutiny at home.
posted by mostly-sp3 at 11:27 PM on September 27, 2011
Along the same lines as Durn Bronzefist, I've had the same problem as you when I was at university a year or so ago. It sounds it bit silly, but try wearing smart cloths for the day/cloths you would wear to a work environment. Perhaps they work because you can't fully relax in them like you could in a comfy cloths or for some other reason. But that helps my mind prepare for a healthy session of working.
posted by sockpim at 2:02 AM on September 28, 2011
posted by sockpim at 2:02 AM on September 28, 2011
Go and sit in a coffee shop and spend a few productive hrs there and then go home and do whatever you normally do. I could never really get working at home to work, especially as student. I'd go so far as to print off anything you were hoping to read and to take a paper notepad for any notes so as not to be distracted by the internet whilst you're there - wifi was not ubiquitous when I was a student and laptops, if you had one, weighed a ton.
To be honest I still struggle to work from home most of the time because there are way too many more fun or at least less onerous things to do than work.
The only time I can get working from home to work is if I am really strict with myself, get up like at 5am, get a coffee, turn on the computer and just work, in my PJs, radio on in the background. Quite often get to end of the day, still in my PJs, and have had a really productive day, at least compared to the numerous interruptions you can get in the office.
posted by koahiatamadl at 3:48 AM on September 28, 2011
To be honest I still struggle to work from home most of the time because there are way too many more fun or at least less onerous things to do than work.
The only time I can get working from home to work is if I am really strict with myself, get up like at 5am, get a coffee, turn on the computer and just work, in my PJs, radio on in the background. Quite often get to end of the day, still in my PJs, and have had a really productive day, at least compared to the numerous interruptions you can get in the office.
posted by koahiatamadl at 3:48 AM on September 28, 2011
before you go home, write yourself a list (with an actual pen and actual paper) of things you MUST accomplish that night. put it on top of your (closed) laptop. every time you do one of the items, write VICTORY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! in huge red pen beside it.
posted by andreapandrea at 5:26 AM on September 28, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by andreapandrea at 5:26 AM on September 28, 2011 [2 favorites]
How's the light in your room? Crummy lighting kills my motivation. I like lots of natural light the best, but failing that, a few good lamps will work.
I am guessing you are a college student living in a dorm - if that's the case, maybe try leaving your door wide open when you're studying, and arrange your room so your desk is in clear view from the hall but you're facing away from the door. This might make you feel a little more exposed and less likely to get comfortable or putz. Don't try this, though, if you have loud neighbors or friends who are likely to drop in unexpectedly.
posted by Metroid Baby at 8:05 AM on September 28, 2011
I am guessing you are a college student living in a dorm - if that's the case, maybe try leaving your door wide open when you're studying, and arrange your room so your desk is in clear view from the hall but you're facing away from the door. This might make you feel a little more exposed and less likely to get comfortable or putz. Don't try this, though, if you have loud neighbors or friends who are likely to drop in unexpectedly.
posted by Metroid Baby at 8:05 AM on September 28, 2011
I work from home part of the time, and here I am...
Well, what works for me when I am actually working, is getting dressed in "work" clothes, including shoes, though I hate it when silly things like this work.
I have a vaguely uncomfortable work space - a table and a chair that are only for this purpose, though I could do what I need to do on the sofa in my sweatpants.
I set a timer, as if I'm punching a clock. I can take a break to get a coffee or run an errand as if I were still in an office, but not to flip laundry or do dishes. I don't answer the phone.
I make an Action Plan, rather than a To Do list, so I don't get derailed. There is a difference.
I hide everything distracting on my desktop, hide email alerts, and work only in a browser with no tempting bookmarks or surfing history. I'm that weak.
In short, I treat work like "work". And, as much as I'd like for "work" to be fun (though right now I'm on a really enjoyable project that I can't believe I'm getting paid for), it's not actually fun, or it would be called "fun".
posted by peagood at 8:08 AM on September 28, 2011 [2 favorites]
Well, what works for me when I am actually working, is getting dressed in "work" clothes, including shoes, though I hate it when silly things like this work.
I have a vaguely uncomfortable work space - a table and a chair that are only for this purpose, though I could do what I need to do on the sofa in my sweatpants.
I set a timer, as if I'm punching a clock. I can take a break to get a coffee or run an errand as if I were still in an office, but not to flip laundry or do dishes. I don't answer the phone.
I make an Action Plan, rather than a To Do list, so I don't get derailed. There is a difference.
I hide everything distracting on my desktop, hide email alerts, and work only in a browser with no tempting bookmarks or surfing history. I'm that weak.
In short, I treat work like "work". And, as much as I'd like for "work" to be fun (though right now I'm on a really enjoyable project that I can't believe I'm getting paid for), it's not actually fun, or it would be called "fun".
posted by peagood at 8:08 AM on September 28, 2011 [2 favorites]
I find I can't work productively without shoes on...
For me, the first 15 minutes of work-at-home is torture. After that, I'm into the problem, and it's easy. So, I promise myself that, if I'm not into it in 15 minutes, I'll go do something else... which almost never happens.
posted by underflow at 5:28 PM on September 28, 2011 [1 favorite]
For me, the first 15 minutes of work-at-home is torture. After that, I'm into the problem, and it's easy. So, I promise myself that, if I'm not into it in 15 minutes, I'll go do something else... which almost never happens.
posted by underflow at 5:28 PM on September 28, 2011 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
Anyway, maybe you could try to train yourself to respond to a particular corner of your room in a pro-work fashion. Only sit there when you aren't surfing the internet. Maybe use different kinds of sensory information to "cue" work/inspiration feelings (like always drink a certain flavor of tea when you're sitting there, or play a certain kind of music). If you can start a habit of working effectively in that one corner, eventually maybe when you go to that corner your body will be like "OMG it's time to work now."
posted by hungrytiger at 11:04 PM on September 27, 2011