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  • Chris Pittsthirstybear@agilodon.social
    Sep 30, 2026, 7:15 PM

    We all have slow days. Days when we have low energy, and our brain simply slides off things, but we cannot just walk away and come back tomorrow. So we trick ourselves into productivity.

    What are your tricks?

    I’ll start (yes, I use these):
    ‘Just 5 minutes’. Pick something and tell yourself “If I am not enjoying it after 5 minutes I’ll stop”
    ‘Easiest thing on the list’. Like the ‘just 5 minutes’ a quick easy win can kickstart you.

    Your turn…

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Replies

  • Alex Birdalexanderbird@mstdn.ca
    Sep 30, 2026, 8:52 PM

    @thirstybear Detailed todo list (ranked by priority) with very concrete/boring items.

    Step 1: make a detailed list (don't worry, brain, you won't actually have to *do* any of these things)
    Step 2: first item on the list Is My Whole World. There Is Nothing But That Item. Mindlessly Execute.
    Step 3: check off the first item, drink water, goto step 2

    The trick is to make the items take no creativity. It's not "make car appointment", it's "call the mechanic and schedule a time". -- no wait, I'm stressed about my schedule --- actually, it's "review schedule and make sure it's up to date" followed by "while looking at the up to date calendar, call the mechanic and schedule a time". They have to be linear tasks or I'll quit. The task-making process feels like coding.

    Or, if that process isn't enough, then I add in music with a really high tempo, preferably stuff I listened to as a teenager so there's a slight nostalgia dopamine hit to supplement the music-induced heart-rate increase.

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  • Alex Birdalexanderbird@mstdn.ca
    Sep 30, 2026, 8:56 PM

    @thirstybear Another technique I use: grab a friend. If it's work, I'm ensemble programming. If it's home life, I'll ask if my wife or kids can do chores with me. Sometimes I tell them that I'm kaput and ask for help with the thing that I'm not doing well -- if I'm overwhelmed by decision making, I'll say "can you decide what's next, and I'll execute?". If I'm physically tired, I might ask them to work next to me so I can try to keep pace with them. Likewise at work in the ensemble -- I might say "I'm struggling to think what to do next, can you help?" or "I don't think I can handle communicating with that stakeholder right now, can you handle this one?". I tell them what work I do think I can do, and ask if they're willing to do the other work. Since most days I'm peppy and have high initiative, the occasional call for a bailout is usually well received. (Although I should add that I've worked daily with my coworkers for three years so our trust and mutual respect is high.)

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