(my Beeminder goal is asking me to write a post again today, so I’ll just do it)

Lately, I’ve been coming to the conclusion that strategy and execution improvements don’t really matter as long as the overall context of the day isn’t controlled; i.e.: the state of mind and the shape of the day.

So, today, I’ve decided to draft my dream day out.

Interruptions⌗

I absolutely hate getting interrupted. My #1 problem is that it’s super hard to get working. My #2 problem is that I get interrupted early when I do.

There are so much reasons for getting interrupted; some of them are valid, but I hate them all:

  • phone notifications
  • Beeminder deadlines
  • family asking for something
  • having to take a break for physical reasons
  • having to eat
  • having to fix a failing infrastructure for a coworker.

Ideally, I should be able to focus 3 x 4 hours, with 4 hours

The first thing to do with interruptions is to notice them and to note them.

I currently have no way to know what is interrupting me; I’m thinking about creating a Telegram bots to whom I could send what has interrupted me before each time I start working again.

With all these stats, I should be able to create countermeasures in place. For example, I’ve noticed that I have the tendency to burn an hour a few times a week on Reddit. Simply adding a 2-seconds delay before opening the app reduced the amount of time I spend on Reddit overall. I suggest that there are ways to do this for other areas of life, for example, eating.

Dream day blueprint⌗

  • I wake up and take Nootropics; go back to sleep
  • Dream for a few hours
  • Wake up
  • Go for my morning sunlight walk at 9:00
  • Back home @ 9:15
  • Eat breakfast, work on either fun project for 4 hours
  • 13:15: midday break, start preparing meal
  • 14:00: finished eating, start taking a break
  • 14:15: work on BeeMinder maintenance tasks (I’m not super useful between 14-16h anyway)
  • 16:00: work on today’s non-fun project for 4 hours: new features!
  • 20:00: work on new features is done; start beeminding + putting out fires + answering messages
  • 21:00/22:00: eat, family time, take breaks, wind down for tomorrow!

How do I achieve the dream day?⌗

By default, I believe that I should be able to follow my schedules.

HOWEVER! There are potential problems.

Poor executive function⌗

I cannot start working⌗

  • executive function mismatch: the task that I need to do isn’t matching my executive function power: I cannot work on client projects when my brains are fucked up.
  • unhappy: I feel unhappy because I don’t do fun stuff
  • depressed: I forgot to take my antidepressants soon enough and end up in the “antidepressants hell”
  • hyperstimulated: I’m watching tons of YouTube videos and numbed myself as a result. The only way to feel is to watch one more video. And then I feel more guilt.

I cannot work for long enough⌗

  • I cannot stick on my task long enough for flow/hyper-focus to kick in

I work for too long on the wrong project⌗

  • I’m super focused on my task and really, really don’t want to break my flow

Lack of social boundaries⌗

  • mom: she gets back home and chats with me for 30 minutes while I’m trying to work (I love you mom but it’s disrupting me a lot more than it might appear)
  • sister: enters into my room to talk about her life
  • sister: enters into my room to say that she’s hungry
  • friend calls me while focusing

Poor planning⌗

  • Beeminder wants me to complete tasks before I can even enter a 4 hours deep work period.
  • I have an appointment at an inappropriate time
  • I don’t know when to start working and when to start relaxing

Solutions⌗

  • Work in my room
  • Plan at least 2 deep work blocks; block them with Beeminder

Conclusion⌗

My life feels like shit; but stuff is moving.

Success is coming, but it really doesn’t feel like it.