physiological "productivity" hacks

ive recently got excited about some new hobbies, but even though i definitely have enough time for them i always choose to brainfog instead of doing things that are actually deeply enjoyable and make me a better person I'm sure everyone knows what I'm talking about, that's not the topic of the post though What I'm actually interested in are the physiological "hacks" that i can apply to my life to make it a bit easier to overcome it just like making sure you minimize amount of blue light in the evening and maximize it in the morning to make falling asleep and waking up easier I've heard 10s breaths and exhales make your heartbeat go down which signals your brain that instead of instinct for surviving, it should rely on rationality and logic, which consequently makes it easier for you to do things that are better for you like choosing reading a book over browsing an imageboard it kinda sorta like meditation, and it really does work! another one that i have not yet tried out is doing different things in different environments just like your brain switches to "work mode" when youre at school or work and to "entertainment mode" when youre in front of your pc you could probably just have different desks for each in your room for it to take effect i was wondering if lainons are aware of any different ones i could try to incorporate into my life in order to make it easier to overcome addicting nature of internet and modern life in general

The changes required to modify behaviour can be incredible small. For example if you put your tv remote in another room chances are the little extra effort will stop you putting the tv on. In reverse you should make what you want to do as accessible as possible. In terms of modern work enviroment just block all sites that kill productivity on your work station. If you want to boost brain performance you got to exercise. Memorization during exercise seems to be also stronger on top of it.

The number one best thing you can do is exercise. 90 minutes of intense exercise OR 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week. Mostly cardio and some weights included

I've been using a habit tracker app to try to build new habits. Doesn't help too much but better than nothing. You also should focus on what you want to do instead not focusing on not doing something you're trying to reduce or avoid. While it looks a bit silly sometimes there is a method to briskly walking or running that ninjas use by utilizing your body weight for less energy expenditure.

Besides working out, you should have a lot of light movement throughout the day. If your new hobbies involve you sitting around at home a lot, just get up and jump around or punch the air a bit every 20min. It does make a big difference. Also, according to what I've read, exercise alone isn't enough to make up for the reduction of life expectancy you get from sitting for long periods of time. >>34319 I totally agree about blocking sites, but personally I found it more useful to block them in my wifi router and not in the device.

>>34317 > I've heard 10s breaths and exhales make your heartbeat go down which signals your brain that instead of instinct for surviving, it should rely on rationality and logic, which consequently makes it easier for you to do things that are better for you like choosing reading a book over browsing an imageboard This is more like a de-stressing technique, but it can be used introspectively. If fitness is your thing, you can start doing hundreds of pushups a day, just do 5 or 10 every hour or so, or every time you get up to do something. If you like vidya, do pushups during match making or loading screens. Changing behavior is a mental thing. If you tell yourself you are weak willed, you will stay weak willed. Just like raep, no means no. if you feel agitated from stress caused by the desire to so something you don't want to do, use destressing techniques. It is important to note that stress is a SYMPTOM of the agitation caused by a weak will, not a cause for you to be weak willed. Stop, think about it, and just don't do that. If you still have serious issues doing this, you might have developed a compulsive behavior which takes additional measures to undo. If you want productivity, start a paper calendar, write things in different colored pencil to indicate things you want to do, need to do, and have done for each day. Most convenience stores and supermarkets sell small planners that have months of the year with 4 or 5 lines for each day. You can use it as both a diary and to map out your days.

Dopamine fasting

>>34317 I believe nootropics would help, although I did try them myself and felt nothing but that may be because, due to being obese and having a crap diet at that time, nootropics couldn't have done anything for me. I remember reading that there's a hierarchy to boosting brain performance: Diet Exercise Nootropics You really shouldn't even consider Nootropics until you've got your diet and exercise routines down though, is what I read. I do look forward to experimenting with nootropics but I'll have to leave that for another time.

>>34317 * Sleep: > Use red light at night. > Get off the computer at least 1~2h before sleeping * Exercise: > Cardio > Weight lifting / Body weight * Drink Really drink enough water > Get a bottle of water to sip during your work (add cucumber slices of you don't mind them) * Environment > Put things related to your task where you can see them. > Take mental images of them or call them out so you'll remember where they are > Remove distractions (pack up your console/ use ublocker to block distracting parts of the gui) * Meditate Meditation is really a personal thing do it however you like, there are only a few guidelines that you have to stick to. * Tracking Use different methods of tracking, they should be enjoyable I like to use: > Mayonnaise jar with colored papers > To do lists in joplin (recently org-mode all hail doom emacs) > Calendar for no-fap * Fasting > Intermittent fasting > Skip two meals once in a while > Dopamine detox * CBT? This is what Marcus Aurelius does to avoid negative though patterns. e.g. > you are mad that someone is better than you in your new found interest > you get jelous > point out to yourself you are being jelous > ask yourself don't you want other people to enjoy the same feeling as you do? > wouldn't that be better to be a part of a community with so many great people? ...and so on. * Rituals Have certain routines that make you feel ready before starting a task. * Time management > Time boxing > Pomodoro * Chain your habits * Join a group of people with the same interest * Learn how to learn > Memory techniques > Spaced repetition > Critical thinking * Diet > No/low sugar >>34415 >Nootropics I've taken ritalin and piracetam. I can't recommend ritalin for consistent use. Piracetam did almost nothing to me. Took some benzos for stress too, they aren't bad but alcohol worked better on me special at that low doses I took.

One thing that will greatly improve your energy is doing Win Hof breathings, for me it's extremely hard to do, but the benefits are almost instantaneous. Another thing that helps but just for a short period is stand upside down for a minute or more, I think the blood flowing trough your brain make it more active for a brief moment.

not sure why i havent replied to anyone yet thanks for help guys >>34319 >The changes required to modify behaviour can be incredible small. For example if you put your tv remote in another room chances are the little extra effort will stop you putting the tv on. In reverse you should make what you want to do as accessible as possible. im trying to do this as well but my i tend to ignore everything almost instantly >In terms of modern work enviroment just block all sites that kill productivity on your work station. ive done that, however it takes 15s to undo this which is why it isnt very effective for me, maybe i could try to do the same on router and make someone change the password and dont tell me but i guess i could just reset it anyway still, it doesnt sound like a bad idea >>34323 >The number one best thing you can do is exercise. 90 minutes of intense exercise OR 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week. Mostly cardio and some weights included ive been planning to start going to the gym 2/3 times a week after all the corona stuff, at the moment all i can do is jogging and some bodyweight stuff, but its hard to make a habit of doing this every day >>34330 to be honest i find them kinda useless, ive used to use one before and it didnt help at all, i also try to minimize my smartphone usage not a bad advice but i guess it wont work for me specifically >>34394 >Also, according to what I've read, exercise alone isn't enough to make up for the reduction of life expectancy you get from sitting for long periods of time. i dont really care about living a long life as long as im healthy and can live a happy life in general. i dont necessarily fear death but since im already here i might as well make it enjoyable killing myself doest seem like a bad idea in general but we all have a strong will to live (unless we are mentally ill) and there are still some thing id like to do and it is unrighteus in general so im not considering it, but i dont hate this idea either >>34408 ive heard about it but im not sure how to approach it >>34415 >I believe nootropics would help im quite conservative when it comes to drugs so im not interested to be honest >I remember reading that there's a hierarchy to boosting brain performance: >Diet >Exercise >Nootropics i guess its true no matter how you look at it, diet and exercising are the most important >>34417 >Use red light at night i do and it really does help >Get off the computer at least 1~2h before sleeping i know i should but i spend 99% of my time in front of computer monitor so unless i make drastic changes to my life its not gonna happen (im trying to diversify my hobbys so i hope thats gonna help) >* Exercise: >> Cardio >>Weight lifting / Body weight i do some but its hard to make a habit out of it >* Drink >Really drink enough water >> Get a bottle of water to sip during your work (add cucumber slices of you don't mind them) i keep forgetting, i should work on it >* Meditate >Meditation is really a personal thing do it however you like, there are only a few guidelines that you have to stick to. ive heard about how important it is, but i find myself procrastinating and end up not doing it maybe i should go to the woods or something, then i wouldnt be so distracted its been raining recently so unfortunately i cant try it today > * Tracking >Use different methods of tracking, they should be enjoyable I like to use: >> Mayonnaise jar with colored papers not sure what you mean >> To do lists in joplin (recently org-mode all hail doom emacs) i dont really like tracking apps, i find them kinda useless >> Calendar for no-fap not a bad idea i guess >* Fasting >> Intermittent fasting ive done this before, cant get back to it (even though it isnt that hard at all) > Dopamine detox not sure how to approach it >* CBT? >This is what Marcus Aurelius does to avoid negative though patterns. e.g. > you are mad that someone is better than you in your new found interest > you get jelous > point out to yourself you are being jelous > ask yourself don't you want other people to enjoy the same feeling as you do? > wouldn't that be better to be a part of a community with so many great people? ...and so on. yeah i often find myself feeling this way, i guess he is right >* Time management >> Time boxing >> Pomodoro >* Learn how to learn >> Memory techniques >> Spaced repetition >> Critical thinking will check those out >* Diet >> No/low sugar ive been trying to do this as much as possible >>34567 ive heard about and tried the win hof method, i guess i should try it out again >>34403 >Changing behavior is a mental thing. If you tell yourself you are weak willed, you will stay weak willed. Just like raep, no means no. if you feel agitated from stress caused by the desire to so something you don't want to do, use destressing techniques. It is important to note that stress is a SYMPTOM of the agitation caused by a weak will, not a cause for you to be weak willed. Stop, think about it, and just don't do that. If you still have serious issues doing this, you might have developed a compulsive behavior which takes additional measures to undo. i like your way of thinking, ill definitely apply some of this to mine im quite suprised nobodys mentioned amount of sleep one should get i find myself more motivated when i get 8+ hours of sleep and have a hard time doing anything productive if i get less than 7

>>34571 >> Mayonnaise jar with colored papers >> not sure what you mean lol i'm a dump ass, shouldn't have sacrificed the details to fit it into that stupid format. I put colored papers in a jar then lay one of em on my desk when I take breaks, I like to autistically create patterns, you might not enjoy this but i'm sure there are other ways that you might like. > Dopamine detox Limit yourself to certain activities throughout the day, the hardcore mode is meditating for a day. I recommend limiting yourself to walking,talking with other people. then gradually pick up other things just don't even for a second do anything that would result it something even resembling instant gratification or else you've ruined your progress.

>>34571 Also there is something called a chronotype, which is supposed to tell you when you should sleep and when to wake up. I found a questionnaire which doesn't seem to be scientific at all... https://sleephabits.net/morningness-eveningness-questionnaire