Managing time on forums?

NickWheeler

NickWheeler

Joined
Dec 3, 1999
Messages
9,437
For the average brain, I don't think this is an issue at all. But since I have noticed quite a few forum members mention ADD here and there... I thought this might be worth asking here.

So... according to several medical types, I have an ADD brain. Not the hyperactive kind, the inattentive kind... basically that means I was one of the kids that did really well in school when it interested me, but spent half my time staring out the window.

Whatever was going on outside the window, was a distraction that drew my attention away from what I was supposed to be doing, like calculus (ack!!! :eek:)

I find the forums can be like the window....

It's easy for me to get lost in them, and instead of spending 10 minutes looking at something, I find myself engrossed in 25 different threads and an hour has gone by without me even realizing it. And yes, that's WITH adderall. :o :foot:


So I often find it easier to just completely stay off the forums, rather than get on them and then later hate myself for spending too much time. All or none.... The story of my life.


Since I'm pretty sure there are many other guys in the same boat as me, even many that don't have ADD... do you have a good way to manage your time on the forums? A happy medium rather than an "all or none"????




And yes, I realize half of you probably didn't make it this far in the thread before clicking the back button. ;) :D


Thanks fellas :)
 
I just don't let it take away too much from what I'm supposed to be doing like work. I try to limit my time during the day while at work on forums to maybe 20 minutes first thing in the morning while I have that first cup of coffee then check it again after lunch.
 
I started to use a Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 tablet out in the shop and can access the forums and email. So I can take a break and not even go into the house. I find using the tablet I no longer sit at the computer as long and am able to take a peak at everything quickly and get back to work faster.
 
Nick, spending time on the Forums is just like everything else in life. There is a time and place for everything. It is all about priorities and self-discipline.

There are only so many hours in a day, and what we do with those precious hours makes us who we are. As time goes by, you will find that setting priorities and maintaining self-discipline becomes easier.

ADD is nothing more than an added bump in the road that you can overcome and use to your advantage. Never use it as an excuse, but rather use it as an asset that others do not possess.

Robert
 
I have trouble with that stuff, too... I love talking knives. I truly enjoy researching metallurgy and studying HT regimens, and arguing the finer points of various grind styles, and... you get the idea.

It's a whole lot easier (and mostly, more fun) to take a break and check the forums, than it is to hammer through and grind another blade or go ahead and step up to the next grit on that handle you're finishing. "Geez man, the weather is just right for a little fishin' this afternoon"... especially when no one's lookin' over your shoulder.

That's the easy part of being your own Boss.

But eventually, there is always someone lookin' over your shoulder. Often, it's our wives (God Bless 'em). But usually it's a client who wants to know why in Sam Hill they don't have their knife yet... and they surely don't want to hear about the lawn needing to be mowed or the dogs needing a walk or I had to go to a funeral or, oh hey, ESPN replayed the Packers' last SuperBowl win yesterday afternoon. Or even, "sorry dude, the leather for your sheath didn't come in yet." They don't give a damn about any of that. They're ready to lay out some serious cash and they want their knife.

At the end of the month that can really bite your behind... that's the not-so-easy part of being your own Boss. You have to actually be the Boss. Y'know, the mean guy who says, "look dummy, we have to get this done or the company's going belly-up... and we'll have to get real jobs :grumpy:"

The mortgage guy and the electric company don't give a hoot in heck if you had fun all month... they just want their money.

I find that a day-planner helps a lot. Setting specific goals for each day helps keep me focused. And you just plain have to set limits on the social stuff, like forums. Otherwise we would all spend every day explaining how we do stuff, instead of actually doing it :o
 
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In my opinion, procrastination is often the biggest problem. People sometimes confuse procrastination with ADD (I'm sure you understand the difference) but they do sometimes go hand in hand.

I was diagnosed ADD back in the mid 80's. I'm not sure that diagnosis was completely accurate, but I think they try to stay away from labels like "brain damaged psychopath". So whatever...

I find it is helpful to have a few different projects going on at once so my natural tendency to procrastinate is still productive. I can't help losing interest in something and when I do my productivity goes down and my errors go up and I can't help it. Errors are a real problem when mixed with CNC machine tools. But I have enough self control to redirect my energies into something else productive rather than burn through a lot of hours goofing off. Being self employed helps and having a number of projects without hard deadlines (platen chillers anyone?) helps too.

It is best to have certain fixed routines (I get up at 6:00 AM during weekdays unless I'm sick or it is a holiday) and there are certain lines you don't cross (no beer before 5:00). And if I feel like working, I work (I like to work 7 days a week) and if I need a distraction I take a break (toy helicopter with 5 min battery life is pretty harmless).

You need predefined boundaries and you need to stick to them. My wife is involved in my scheduling and planning and once I say I'm going to do something I do it. Jo keeps me honest.

100% of this household's income is derived from my business. We have health insurance and a mortgage every month. One needs to maintain one's focus but still have fun while doing it. That last bit is important too. Positive motivators are more effective then negative motivators. If you're not having fun, you need to try harder.
 
Nathan the Machinist said:
...I think they try to stay away from labels like "brain damaged psychopath". So whatever...
Click to expand...

Yeah... well... obviously we're all a little warped. I'll bet you a dollar that no high-school guidance counselor EVER said, "Hey, kid, become a knifemaker! Yeah, that makes sense!" :D
 
In retrospect, I'd have to say my high school guidance counselor was just about completely useless.
 
Come to think of it, mine was a notorious and constant drunkard... so maybe that was a bad example. You get my point though, smarty-pants. ;)
 
I'm more of an all or nothing person too Nick. My excuse is that I'm learning. I use my iPhone for forums because I only have a work laptop. I noticed that I spent way too much time on the forums.

A couple things I do.
No forums when I'm with someone.
Leave my phone in my pocket as often as possible instead of checking messages and "ending up" in Shoptalk.
No forums in the shop(unless it's research!)
Okay okay... I break all those rules. But I'm trying.
 
I hop on the forums on my down time at the end of the day. Work is done, family time is over and kids are in bed, and nothing else has to be done that day.
 
I have the exact same problem. Rather than ban myself from the forums, I have started to limit the forums I visit. First, I decided to stick with BF only. Next, I only read this forum and quickly browse through the for sale forums to see what everyone is doing. Finally, I do this at night just before I go to bed once I am done with everything else for the day. This is a daily ritual for me, but I am able to read all of the daily threads that interest me in about 30 minutes. This helps me keep my forum time and effort focused on what I "need" and keeps me from getting lost in the stuff I don't need. I have to take a similar approach when I go shopping ;-)
 
I have ADHD without the H and have struggled with it all my life. I just have to keep saying "move on...move on..." to myself constantly.
 
I'm like you Mr. Wheeler, I too have ADD, and have found that the forums are "my window". I work in IT, so not only is most of my time spent on a computer, but a lot if is spent online. If I feel that the forums are taking up too much time, I close the browser. That work... sometimes. I spend most of my time here trying to absorb knowledge to either finish what ever it is I'm working, or the inevitable, starting my first stock removal. When it comes time to do something... Anything... whether be it laundry, brushing my teeth or cooking dinner... my first step is to walk away from my computer, not too hard seeing as at the end of the day the last thing I want to do is be on a computer... but the forums still beckons... What if someone posts a key tip to help me past this or that hump. what if that one knife I've been looking for pops up for sale... still I have to walk away and start working. Once started I can usually find rhythm and continue on... sometimes I find myself just sitting in front of the TV... it might be on, it might be off... but I'm still not doing what I should be doing. That's when I need help the most... when the window changes.
 
when working i am usually at school which has a specific open/close time and i never open my laptop while in the shop
 
I have ADHCBXWZ2U. I don't know how I manage it. I work when I have things to do. I take breaks, hit the net to much. Sometimes I just go fishing.
 
Umm I didn't just read all of this.

Oh no, I'm doing research!

lol

Up way to early here! I cut out early yesterday from work and now I'm up way too early and thinking about knives. I have this idea for some titanium but it is too early to crank up the grinder... looking at knives and any Nick Wheeler thread I can find! :D
 
I don't see it being a problem. BTW I just bought the new iDenial for managing forum time. :D
 
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