I was exchanging email with another Less Wrong user, about the usefulness of researching new life hacks, and started wondering if people frequently try out the life hacks they read about on Less Wrong and elsewhere, or whether we need to work on the meta-skill of actually trying out life hacks/applying them consistently.
If you want to make an anonymous write-in answer, or you want to comment anonymously on the poll, please visit http://piratepad.net/kmHYWAgrzH
Of course, not all self-improvement advice necessarily fits the procedural “life hack” paradigm (in fact, most may not), and advice of other sorts may be easier to apply (e.g. reading Alicorn’s luminosity anecdotes may increase your self-awareness without further action on your part). Hopefully the survey will prove informative nonetheless.
There should be an option for “I don’t need to hack this part of my life.” I’m already good at not procrastinating, but answering “I don’t think this hack is worth trying” seems to imply that I judge the hack to be crappy, rather than I don’t feel I need it.
Hm, I’m not too surprised that so many have only intended to try lukeprog’s algorithm—the only time I ever tried it, I thought to myself “wow, this is convenient, I’m procrastinating and I remembered to try lukeprog’s algorithm”. If you use Anki regularly, you can try making “situation/response” type cards to deal with this problem—e.g. the front of the card says “You’re procrastinating” and the back says “Try lukeprog’s algorithm”.
I’ve been exercising regularly for too long to have a good idea of what not doing so would do to my energy levels. When I stop for a while, it’s usually because I’m on vacation or too busy to have the time, and either way I feel the resulting diffs would be worthless; being in new or unusual situations (as I generally am on vacation) consistently boosts my energy, and being busy enough that I don’t have six to ten hours a week or so to spare predictably drains it.
Within my usual range of variation, I’ve noticed effects on mood, but not on energy or willpower.
I was exchanging email with another Less Wrong user, about the usefulness of researching new life hacks, and started wondering if people frequently try out the life hacks they read about on Less Wrong and elsewhere, or whether we need to work on the meta-skill of actually trying out life hacks/applying them consistently.
If you want to make an anonymous write-in answer, or you want to comment anonymously on the poll, please visit http://piratepad.net/kmHYWAgrzH
lukeprog’s algorithm for beating procrastination
[pollid:219]
The Pomodoro Technique
[pollid:220]
Exercise for increased energy (counts as successful if increased energy outweighs time cost of exercise for you)
[pollid:221]
LeechBlock or similar
[pollid:222]
Of course, not all self-improvement advice necessarily fits the procedural “life hack” paradigm (in fact, most may not), and advice of other sorts may be easier to apply (e.g. reading Alicorn’s luminosity anecdotes may increase your self-awareness without further action on your part). Hopefully the survey will prove informative nonetheless.
Thanks for participating!
There should be an option for “I don’t need to hack this part of my life.” I’m already good at not procrastinating, but answering “I don’t think this hack is worth trying” seems to imply that I judge the hack to be crappy, rather than I don’t feel I need it.
This poll needed the “I don’t think I need this” option. Exercise (rock climbing currently) is so much fun I don’t remember what not doing it is like.
Hm, I’m not too surprised that so many have only intended to try lukeprog’s algorithm—the only time I ever tried it, I thought to myself “wow, this is convenient, I’m procrastinating and I remembered to try lukeprog’s algorithm”. If you use Anki regularly, you can try making “situation/response” type cards to deal with this problem—e.g. the front of the card says “You’re procrastinating” and the back says “Try lukeprog’s algorithm”.
I’ve been exercising regularly for too long to have a good idea of what not doing so would do to my energy levels. When I stop for a while, it’s usually because I’m on vacation or too busy to have the time, and either way I feel the resulting diffs would be worthless; being in new or unusual situations (as I generally am on vacation) consistently boosts my energy, and being busy enough that I don’t have six to ten hours a week or so to spare predictably drains it.
Within my usual range of variation, I’ve noticed effects on mood, but not on energy or willpower.
What do you mean by exercise (as a method to beat procrastination)?
I find physical exercise kind-of useful for certain things, but I’m not sure it enhances my willpower that much.