Using Home Assistant, adguard home and an $8 smart outlet to avoid brain rot

Modern problems require modern solutions.

But on a more serious note, distraction and focus are difficult topics. When I'm highly motivated, I'm utterly indistractible. When I have to do boring toil, absolutely anything & everything can distract me.

I have recently discovered that hardcore punk (like the album Feel The Darkness by Poison Idea) played at high volume in some headphones really helps me when I have to do those kinds of tasks. My hunch is that is translates my ennui into cathartic anger that I have to do this studpid f__king task, which generates motivation to show it who's boss and I plough through it. YMMV obviously - relies on you enjoying hardcore punk!

Hyperfocus is a defining trait of some types of ADHD and Autism spectrum.

But, don’t discount addiction in-general. Social media, internet use, and gaming are some of the things that can provide quick dopamine hits, which is the problem being addressed here.

Adding a button to turn it off for a short-time is like heating just a tiny spoon of heroin and injecting it. No AA sponsor should ever say, “Yeah, it’s ok to dip your tongue in that whiskey.” That’s nonsense.

Why aren't you motivated then? Is it because you're aware that most of your work is utterly pointless?

For me, the issue is, I always know that once I actually get into it it will be fine, but getting started even for that day is a toil.

For all my progress up there both intellectually and as a person, I'm still someone who will just sit in bed for 1 hour before work and watch brainrot instead of getting up and getting ready for work. Or sit in bed reading reddit for a few hours on a weekend before making myself breakfast.

Once I get into it, it's fine, but the thought of spending ~30-45 minutes getting up and properly starting the day is enough to make me procrastinate hours away :(

The "problem" is self-regulation, vs having someone else - a parent, a boss with a clipboard and your clock-in thingy, a military commander, etc - tell you what to do when. Self-discipline is hard and requires willpower, and I've always been of the opinion that willpower is a resource, but someone else telling you what to do when doesn't cost as much willpower as motivating yourself.

Blue collar work is better in that regard; you clock in every day at the same time, do a job that doesn't involve computers, often optimized for output so you don't have many lulls of activity, take breaks when the bell goes, and clock out and shut work off completely once you're done.

Meanwhile IT white collar work, especially WFH, requires a lot more self-direction, and since for most people in IT their entertainment is also digital, the boundary blurs by a lot.

Part of me wants a blue collar job.

I call it giving the boredom monkey something to do. As long as he's in the corner enthusiastically banging his little drum I can get stuff done.

Completely agree. I worked in a factory for a while, and while it was worse in many ways than my current tech job, it was so much easier to just show up and do the work.

I also worked at a factory before transitioning to programming, and can relate to everything you have said.

My research resulted in me getting an ADHD diagnosis. My brain is screwed up. It just has a weird relationship with dopamine and motivation.

Not sure if this would work for you but a low dose Adderall really helps me focus and feel good doing "slower" tasks like work. I would certainly speak to a physician if you haven't already.

I have a child, who is brilliant, and performing great at school but he is already presenting similar symptoms as myself, hopefully I can help him set healthy limits and cope without meds.

I code for fun and when I have an idea it is difficult for me to start.

The weird thing is that this is for fun, I have no pressure but still need some time to just start. Once I started I can go for a line time.