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When you're too distracted to code...
Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2006 6:48 pm
by RobertPaul
What do you do when you're too distracted/unmotivated to code? When you know what needs done ... and you know how to do it ... you just don't feel like going through the motions?
I sat down to bang out some code a little while ago. Cued up a couple hours of music, grabbed a good drink, and got comfortable. Got about 20 minutes into it and now I don't feel like doing it. I tried walking around (if it weren't dark and winter, I'd go for a "long" walk ... that usually does the trick). But ... nothing.
So in the interest of giving me something to read whilst I procrastinate ... what do you do when you're unmotivated?
Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2006 6:52 pm
by hawleyjr
Watch a movie mayhaps the Matrix

Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2006 7:24 pm
by m3mn0n
Tell myself to stop being lazy and keep my eye on the prize. Works well if that happens... especially when very sleepy.
It all depends on will power.
Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2006 7:28 pm
by Bill H
I'm 62 and have Parkinson's Disease, emphysema and cardiac arrythmia so my options are limited.
I usually read a book, or crank up a fps on my computer.
Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2006 8:31 pm
by Chris Corbyn
Watch p0rn

Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2006 8:36 pm
by timvw
Yeah, but after that porn i want to go to sleep.. But when i wake up a couple of hours later... I'm really motivated

Don't see this pattern happening at office space though

Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2006 9:15 pm
by neophyte
Play video games, read non-technical literature. Gotta take breaks!
Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2006 9:43 pm
by Deemo
I go to the bathroom
I have solved more problems in my code on the toilet than sitting at my computer looking at code. Its amazing how your mind works when you dont have the code in front of you
Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2006 2:50 am
by Jenk
make a thread on DN asking what to do when I have a coding block.

Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2006 7:18 am
by pilau
Jenk wrote:make a thread on DN asking what to do when I have a coding block.

It really all depends on will power. I just sometimes tell myself to stop being lazy, and when I get down and sit I just start to code.. If it gets boring at some point I just take a break and go to other things, any thing possible.
Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2006 7:30 am
by timvw
Just make sure that you've got enough (diverse) tasks to complete... That way you can easily switch

Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2006 12:14 pm
by Maugrim_The_Reaper
That last suggestion works for me - I keep a few tasks handy and switch from one to the other if things are going downhill. I also find a little music while coding does no harm...

Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2006 12:46 pm
by Gambler
What do you do when you're too distracted/unmotivated to code?
Sleep. Could be very helpful sometimes.
Posted: Sun Jan 08, 2006 2:46 pm
by Zoram
I've been having that trouble a lot lately... i get done with a section and code and just don't want to start another... That the hardes part... to actually start coding. Once i get started usually i go until i have to do something else or until i get done with the task... they it repeats again.
Posted: Sun Jan 08, 2006 10:19 pm
by josh
Play with the beta application and mark it in my time log as "usability testing"