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Ask HN: What are productive activities when motivation is drained/recovering?

2 points by mattwilsonn888 ↗ HN
I find that working on hard problems constantly detriments my performance (constantly is different from consistently). When I am intellectually drained and not properly motivated to work on hard problems, what are some productive soft problems or skills to work on?

5 comments

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skydhash
Why do you need to keep working? Every time I feel not working, I just don't work. That ranges from taking 10 minutes break on my balcony (I work remotely) to taking the whole day off. Unless I have an urgent deadline, I just move to something relaxing.
mattwilsonn888
Well I still felt a desire to do something 'productive', but just not something terribly difficult or important.
tsol
Exercise is nice. Reading is good for you, even fiction books can be challenging and engage your mind in new ways. Time spent with family, if you have that option. Never underestimate how big a part being social plays for humans
andersource
Seconding the exercise and social interactions. Also, for me: going outside, preferably near nature; learning a topic I've been wanting to learn; and finding some other, easier problem to play with.
tra3
I used to feel guilty when I wasn't being productive. It took me a while to realize that if you're drained, then you should look away from being "productive" and instead look at "recreation". One way I think about it, is that if I take a break today, I can come back stronger tomorrow. Or, I can push through it today and then be forced to take a longer break because my mind/body won't perform.

I wish a retained a reference (next time), but apex predators spend a very little time hunting and the vast majority of their time resting and recovering. Maybe something worth learning.