I like the theory. And, I've already implemented much of what he's talking about for myself. However, the details can be adapted to your own personal situation. For example, I don't have separate...
I like the theory. And, I've already implemented much of what he's talking about for myself.
However, the details can be adapted to your own personal situation.
For example, I don't have separate "create" and "consume" stations - it's all done on this computer I'm typing on right now. I use this computer to work from home. I use it for my radio news reading shift (I'm a volunteer newsreader for a community radio station). I use it for study. However, I also use it for consuming news, checking Facebook, my Reddit activities, and posting/reading Tildes. And I use it for socialising - my boardgames group has moved online and we had our first official session last night.
So, while it is important to maintain boundaries between the various stations, those boundaries can be time-based rather than space-based. Rather than moving into a different room (or even a different corner) to perform a new activity, you can move into a different time. Allot a certain time for whatever activity you're going to do - and then do that activity. Don't do another activity during that time. Do do that activity for the whole time you've planned to do it.
Boundaries are important. But don't stress if you don't have the space for these different "stations". You can achieve a similar outcome by allotting time, rather than allotting space.
But the bedroom is sacred. It's for sleep. That's important. If you're going to catch up on social media or watch content or read Tildes, move to another space (even if it's just sitting in a chair next to your bed!). Learn to associate lying down in your bed with going to sleep and nothing else.
Setting an alarm for the same time every day is also important. Like he says, it doesn't matter what time that is, just that it's the same time every day. Whether you're an early riser and want to get up at 6am or a late riser who gets up at 11am or a night owl who wakes up at 3pm, that's fine. You do you. (But try to get some daylight in your routine.) The important thing is to maintain the same schedule every day, whatever that schedule might be. If you find yourself going to bed later, make sure you still wake up at the same time every day, even if that means getting only a few hours' sleep. You'll be tired through the day, but that'll remind you to get enough sleep when it's bedtime again. (Of course, getting only a few hours' sleep for too many days leads to other problems, so make sure you go to bed at the right time.)
I've had some experience with sleep disorders, and I know these things: keep the bedroom for sleeping, and wake up at the same time every day.
If you have windows 10 or one of many linux distros, you can use virtual desktops to simulate separate workspaces. KDE has activities, which do an even better job at this, but I never bothered...
If you have windows 10 or one of many linux distros, you can use virtual desktops to simulate separate workspaces. KDE has activities, which do an even better job at this, but I never bothered setting that up when I ran KDE. This is not as good as physical separation, but it can help. You can also use apple screentime on osx and iOS to enforce time regulations. There is similar software for windows and (I assume) Linux. If you have a laptop, you can separate some tasks between your desktop and laptop, although that is not always possible. I am so glad that I am still working full time through this. The office politics are pretty bad right now, but I think it is still preferable to isolation spaceship.
Another suggestion that I absolutely adore: multiple user profiles to log in and out of, even 'switching accounts' is incredibly fast these days. One for work, the other for play. Helps keeps...
Another suggestion that I absolutely adore: multiple user profiles to log in and out of, even 'switching accounts' is incredibly fast these days.
One for work, the other for play. Helps keeps things marginally separated since they are in their own way, their own physical spaces.
TL;DW: Just keep swimming. Or else. It's really easy to fall into woe in times of isolation, and CGP Grey is here with a video to help us all keep up the momentum. His emphasis on using physical...
TL;DW: Just keep swimming. Or else.
It's really easy to fall into woe in times of isolation, and CGP Grey is here with a video to help us all keep up the momentum. His emphasis on using physical exercise to jump start other motivations is a key point that I don't see mentioned enough in these types of discussions. Just getting down to do some pushups can really quiet the anxious mind and help clarify mental blocks.
I like the theory. And, I've already implemented much of what he's talking about for myself.
However, the details can be adapted to your own personal situation.
For example, I don't have separate "create" and "consume" stations - it's all done on this computer I'm typing on right now. I use this computer to work from home. I use it for my radio news reading shift (I'm a volunteer newsreader for a community radio station). I use it for study. However, I also use it for consuming news, checking Facebook, my Reddit activities, and posting/reading Tildes. And I use it for socialising - my boardgames group has moved online and we had our first official session last night.
So, while it is important to maintain boundaries between the various stations, those boundaries can be time-based rather than space-based. Rather than moving into a different room (or even a different corner) to perform a new activity, you can move into a different time. Allot a certain time for whatever activity you're going to do - and then do that activity. Don't do another activity during that time. Do do that activity for the whole time you've planned to do it.
Boundaries are important. But don't stress if you don't have the space for these different "stations". You can achieve a similar outcome by allotting time, rather than allotting space.
But the bedroom is sacred. It's for sleep. That's important. If you're going to catch up on social media or watch content or read Tildes, move to another space (even if it's just sitting in a chair next to your bed!). Learn to associate lying down in your bed with going to sleep and nothing else.
Setting an alarm for the same time every day is also important. Like he says, it doesn't matter what time that is, just that it's the same time every day. Whether you're an early riser and want to get up at 6am or a late riser who gets up at 11am or a night owl who wakes up at 3pm, that's fine. You do you. (But try to get some daylight in your routine.) The important thing is to maintain the same schedule every day, whatever that schedule might be. If you find yourself going to bed later, make sure you still wake up at the same time every day, even if that means getting only a few hours' sleep. You'll be tired through the day, but that'll remind you to get enough sleep when it's bedtime again. (Of course, getting only a few hours' sleep for too many days leads to other problems, so make sure you go to bed at the right time.)
I've had some experience with sleep disorders, and I know these things: keep the bedroom for sleeping, and wake up at the same time every day.
If you have windows 10 or one of many linux distros, you can use virtual desktops to simulate separate workspaces. KDE has activities, which do an even better job at this, but I never bothered setting that up when I ran KDE. This is not as good as physical separation, but it can help. You can also use apple screentime on osx and iOS to enforce time regulations. There is similar software for windows and (I assume) Linux. If you have a laptop, you can separate some tasks between your desktop and laptop, although that is not always possible. I am so glad that I am still working full time through this. The office politics are pretty bad right now, but I think it is still preferable to isolation spaceship.
That looks like excellent advice for all the programmers/developers out there. Thanks.
Another suggestion that I absolutely adore: multiple user profiles to log in and out of, even 'switching accounts' is incredibly fast these days.
One for work, the other for play. Helps keeps things marginally separated since they are in their own way, their own physical spaces.
TL;DW: Just keep swimming. Or else.
It's really easy to fall into woe in times of isolation, and CGP Grey is here with a video to help us all keep up the momentum. His emphasis on using physical exercise to jump start other motivations is a key point that I don't see mentioned enough in these types of discussions. Just getting down to do some pushups can really quiet the anxious mind and help clarify mental blocks.