Each day, I set up todos that result in me losing money if I don’t do them, using an app I built (forfeit). If I know I’m going to lose $10 if I don’t do something, I end up doing it, spending most of my day in the fun pressure-filled zone. I also have this set up for distracting apps/websites (ie, if I install Instagram for the next 70 days, I know I lose $50, so my mind doesn’t play with the idea at all, it’s certain that I won’t).
Excellent article! Really enjoyed listening to it so thanks for adding the voiceover.
For me, I've been making a plan for the next day ever since reading James Clear's Atomic Habits (described in there as Implementation Intention) last year. I've found it tremendously useful to simply have a schedule for an otherwise disorganised day, with plenty of things I "should" be doing but no plan as to when and how.
A tip also is to use ChatGPT to make your schedule for you. I throw it a list of what I need to do with roughly how long each task will take, and ChatGPT makes a beautifully organised timeline for my day. Usually needs tweaking, but simply because I find it fun it to make the schedule this way it ensures that I actually do it.
I wrote an article riffing on this topic, focusing more on the emotional & cravings side of willpower. After I finished it I realized I subconsciously copied the title from you, I guess I use it as an aphorism that much. Tell me what you think: https://metrep.substack.com/p/willpower-is-for-losers (I cite you at the bottom)
So lately I've been learning Italian and reading your articles on my commute to and from work. Would you consider this a good enough reason to take out my phone instead of practicing being bored? Or what would you say to this in general?
2 If you are distracted by others and that forces you to multitask you are very aware of that and feel frustrated, I guess this is so easy and naturally to see and be aware of that you don't need article's to remind you, I don't know maybe big part of population are so brainwashed that they lost that feeling and alarms body puts in that situations.
3 You are lucky if you can be bored
(Speaking from too much mental work, burnout, overtime)
4 "Write down what you want to get done each day".
Recipe for nervous breakdown from breaking your plans because interruptions ( colegues, bosses, users ).
I am very flexible and can work without a plan and react to day changes, I see that other people are totally nervous if they don't have a day or two planned for what to work. This doesn't bother me. I like when something comes up and I am putting out fires. I kinda like that. But I can be in fire putting mode and do lots of small but focused taskas in solving problems while talking to people, running there and there. The day that is for long and very complex tasks, that day I can't be putting fires, you need and hour to come in the zone and become productive. What totally beserks me is when distracted in that mode, then you should stop, but if there is a deadline you can't, that drains so much energy.
I'm probably a bit late to the party given that some of them are over a year old by now, but I've noticed an uptick in videos 'debunking' the concept of dopamine detox as a bro-science fad, e.g. Dr. K. saying there's no neurological basis for 'detoxing' from dopamine. Would be interested in hearing your thoughts!
How did you know I needed this... ?
:-)
😂
Each day, I set up todos that result in me losing money if I don’t do them, using an app I built (forfeit). If I know I’m going to lose $10 if I don’t do something, I end up doing it, spending most of my day in the fun pressure-filled zone. I also have this set up for distracting apps/websites (ie, if I install Instagram for the next 70 days, I know I lose $50, so my mind doesn’t play with the idea at all, it’s certain that I won’t).
Excellent article! Really enjoyed listening to it so thanks for adding the voiceover.
For me, I've been making a plan for the next day ever since reading James Clear's Atomic Habits (described in there as Implementation Intention) last year. I've found it tremendously useful to simply have a schedule for an otherwise disorganised day, with plenty of things I "should" be doing but no plan as to when and how.
A tip also is to use ChatGPT to make your schedule for you. I throw it a list of what I need to do with roughly how long each task will take, and ChatGPT makes a beautifully organised timeline for my day. Usually needs tweaking, but simply because I find it fun it to make the schedule this way it ensures that I actually do it.
I wrote an article riffing on this topic, focusing more on the emotional & cravings side of willpower. After I finished it I realized I subconsciously copied the title from you, I guess I use it as an aphorism that much. Tell me what you think: https://metrep.substack.com/p/willpower-is-for-losers (I cite you at the bottom)
Voiceover is great for me someone who hates reading.
Thanks Joseph! I remember watching that video years ago, but forgot many of the points. This time, I took notes!
So lately I've been learning Italian and reading your articles on my commute to and from work. Would you consider this a good enough reason to take out my phone instead of practicing being bored? Or what would you say to this in general?
1 Multitasking is bad
2 If you are distracted by others and that forces you to multitask you are very aware of that and feel frustrated, I guess this is so easy and naturally to see and be aware of that you don't need article's to remind you, I don't know maybe big part of population are so brainwashed that they lost that feeling and alarms body puts in that situations.
3 You are lucky if you can be bored
(Speaking from too much mental work, burnout, overtime)
4 "Write down what you want to get done each day".
Recipe for nervous breakdown from breaking your plans because interruptions ( colegues, bosses, users ).
I am very flexible and can work without a plan and react to day changes, I see that other people are totally nervous if they don't have a day or two planned for what to work. This doesn't bother me. I like when something comes up and I am putting out fires. I kinda like that. But I can be in fire putting mode and do lots of small but focused taskas in solving problems while talking to people, running there and there. The day that is for long and very complex tasks, that day I can't be putting fires, you need and hour to come in the zone and become productive. What totally beserks me is when distracted in that mode, then you should stop, but if there is a deadline you can't, that drains so much energy.
I'm probably a bit late to the party given that some of them are over a year old by now, but I've noticed an uptick in videos 'debunking' the concept of dopamine detox as a bro-science fad, e.g. Dr. K. saying there's no neurological basis for 'detoxing' from dopamine. Would be interested in hearing your thoughts!
Awesome article! Will definitely try to apply some of the stuff you said.