[skyhawk133]

I've got ADD which certainly doesn't help, but how do you motivate yourself when you just don't feel like working on client projects? I typically crack open a Coke, crank up some music, and try to eliminate outside distractions. But I kind of like having Fox News on in the background while I work.

How do you hold yourself accountable and keep working when you don't want to?

[RodgerB]

Exact same problem as you.

[markhazlett9]

Coffee is my tool, that and the library at school.

[janotte]

I set myself a goal with a reward when the milestone is reached.

"When I write this class I can have a coffee."

"When I fix this bug I can go to the park and feed the ducks for 15 minutes."

Simple things like that.

This post has been edited by janotte: 23 November 2008 - 12:17 AM

[musya]

Well thank God I dont have ADD but I just think to myself I have a family who needs me and relys on me, and also I just force myself and discipline myself, and think of it as a way to build a reprotoire and get experience as well as more knowledge.... some are really boring and I just take my time sometimes and take breaks, but dont take breaks when your in the middle of something or you'll loose your train of thought and "the moment" i guess. so yea... hope that helps.

Musya

[ludjer]

coffee and i play an hour of somthing just to say i have had a "break"

[badjava]

RodgerB, on 22 Nov, 2008 - 05:38 PM, said:

Exact same problem as you.

Ditto here, I have to pop in my skull candy ear buds since they block out all outside noises, then usually jam some kinda aggressive metal, also have to close the blinds so i can't see anything outside or I'll end up day dreaming about something wack for who knows how long, caffeine helps if I'm out of the adderall too.

[Abozekry]

it is worse in my case ...as i am still studying in a boring environment ..boring materials ...nothing motivates

[Smurphy]

Need to be completely alone, turn up the music grab some kind of juice or soda, and just code away.

[BenignDesign]

My motivation comes from therapy-worthy childhood trauma where my parents spent 18 years telling me I would never amount to anything if I didn't work harder. Now, I feel guilty if I'm not working... evenings, weekends, holidays... you name it, I'm always working on something - client sites brought home from the office, freelance contracts, house cleaning, laundry, yard work..... always something to be done. Although, I spend an awful lot of time floating around DIC when I REALLY don't feel like doing something.

[homemade-jam]

I just sit down in a quiet corner with my books/pc and force myself to shutdown all distractions and focus on what I need to do. Requires a bit of willpower but works

[_net]

I reward myself with some porn

[TonicX57]

I, too, have ADD, although not officially diagnosed. But I am usually able to keep myself on task with projects if it's for a client. But if it's a personal project, I never seem to finish it.

[lanec42]

Usually I just picture whatever I need to do as a fight. If it's schoolwork, I usually think of all of the bitchass kids who I want to score higher than. If it's one of my own projects, I pretty much tell myself "I'm going to work like hell for the next x hours. If I do, then I can quit."

Sometimes when I'm coding (and it's really late) i find myself loosing my train of thought more and more frequently until I just have no clue what I'm doing. I usually just start talking out loud to myself, describing the path of the program. That seems to help jump-start my thinking.

[b.ihde]

If i think i need a break, i´m gonna take the dog for a walk..
get a little bit of fresh air, refill my power to go on with work..

If that doesn´t help, i make a coffee, take a look in this forum and
i get motivated of all these good programmers


regards

Ben Ihde