You can try to convince yourself that the activity you want to perform is a given, just like eating and showering... you don't think whether you should do it, you just do it.
It works for me. I can go to gym religiously 3 days a week, and been doing it for years. Sometimes there's a company online after-hours or something... sorry, can't go , it's my gym day. If you start allowing certain things to stop you from doing what you want, then anything starts becoming a good excuse to not do it. Don't let that happen.
Regarding programming: I can keep up for months but sometimes I run into a problem that is really annoying to fix... I know I can fix it given enough determination, but then I think I am not getting paid for this, so what the heck... which results in me starting a new project and leaving that one aside until I actually need it (which happens every now and then).
> You can try to convince yourself that the activity you want to perform is a given, just like eating and showering...
I wish these activities were a given. It’s 5pm and I’ve not eaten since breakfast at 8am. I had to force myself to shower.
Note: showering wasn’t a problem pre-pandemic and perma-WFH hermit life. Eating, however, still was difficult to remember unless food was brought to me. And even then, sometimes, it just sat going cold on my desk
It can help to set more strict 'triggers' for yourself.
ie: - When it is 12, I will take a break for lunch.
- At 3 o'clock, I will take a break for a snack and stretch
I get what you are saying, in that once you are in a flow, you don't want to stop. But, you need to be strict about it, like the user you are replying to is saying. Don't let yourself off the hook.
Also, it helps me to realize there is value in stopping and stepping away from something. It helps me recharge, and step away from any problems I am trying to solve.
It works for me. I can go to gym religiously 3 days a week, and been doing it for years. Sometimes there's a company online after-hours or something... sorry, can't go , it's my gym day. If you start allowing certain things to stop you from doing what you want, then anything starts becoming a good excuse to not do it. Don't let that happen.
Regarding programming: I can keep up for months but sometimes I run into a problem that is really annoying to fix... I know I can fix it given enough determination, but then I think I am not getting paid for this, so what the heck... which results in me starting a new project and leaving that one aside until I actually need it (which happens every now and then).