2018-11-18 at 9:14 PM UTC
gadzooks
Dark Matter
[keratinize my mild-tasting blossoming]
So, in the interest of trying to boost my productivity, I decided to take a bunch of illicit crystal methamphetamines this morning.
This may sound counter-intuitive, but my ultimate goal, was to find just the right balance of neurotransmitters to enable focused cognitive processing.
You see, my academic background is in psychology. I have a bachelor's degree in the subject, and I volunteered in a lab, and started an honors thesis, etc. All of this was focused around cognition.
Now, I am a (self-taught) software developer.
I want to apply what I learned about cognition to being a more productive software developer.
So I am making this thread to document some of my findings thus far.
I have experimented with many different nootropics (noopepts, racetams, stimulants, eugeroics (such as modafinil), as well as microdosing hallucinogens to enhance creativity).
I plan to also try rTMS (Repetetive Trans-Cranial Stimulation) and/or tDCS (Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation) soon. I bought a tDCS device recently and am building myself up to using it.
I also use various behavioral techniques to enhance focus, such as implementing Kanban (a task management methodology common in software development), and timeboxing / using the Pomodoro technique (where you set aside a precise amount of time to work on a task, and then when that timer runs out, you stop).
Basically, I plan on trying everything that I can to improve my overall productivity.
The title of this thread is named as such because it refers to the phenomenon wherein you achieve that perfect balance between emotional arousal and performance.
There will be more to come, but I wanted to get everybody ready for some truly mind-expanding experiments that I will be performing.
Stay tuned.
Or don't.
P.S.: One other big thing I learned from psychology is that the "glass half empty" types are generally less successful in life due to the self-fulfilling prophecy phenomenon.
But whatevs, you do you, I'mma do me.
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2018-11-18 at 9:26 PM UTC
gadzooks
Dark Matter
[keratinize my mild-tasting blossoming]
Oh, and I posted this in Spurious Generalities rather than Reinvent Yourself for several reasons:
1. That forum gets like, 10 posts a month.
2. I'm a narcissist that believes what I have to say is so important that it just has to be seen by the most people possible.
3. I really think it will benefit everybody, not just in self-improvement per se, but also in just generally being better at whatever it is that you do in life. So it's pretty agnostic / abstractly applicable that way.
Ultimately, it's Lanny's call to move it, but if it moves there, I may lose interest.
2018-11-18 at 9:32 PM UTC
gadzooks
Dark Matter
[keratinize my mild-tasting blossoming]
Oh shit, and I forgot, the rest of you should post things you've tried that have worked, and things that have failed, to make you more productive.
Refer to my stricken-through text in my previous post about my narcissism if you need an explanation as to why I didn't make that clear in the original creation of this thread in the first place.
2018-11-18 at 9:38 PM UTC
I always find focus to be the main area I am lacking in, especially when working on my own projects. I lack self-discipline.
Have you tried common OTC stimulants like caffeine and nicotine?
I started experimenting with snuff recently, it gives a slight little kick, helps me wake up.
Also how do you dose meth? Sublingually I assume is safest as it avoids the sudden rush.
2018-11-18 at 9:47 PM UTC
gadzooks
Dark Matter
[keratinize my mild-tasting blossoming]
I'm going to classify my experiments/techniques into:
1. Pharmaceutical (including supplements).
2. Behavioural (habits and ways of doing things).
3. Neurostimulatory (rTMS, tDCS, etc).
Perhaps other categories will emerge...
2018-11-18 at 9:49 PM UTC
gadzooks
Dark Matter
[keratinize my mild-tasting blossoming]
So to kick things off, I am going to present BEHAVIORAL TECHNIQUE #1: TASK FOCUS.
I'm going to close all my NIS tabs, and stay right away for a few hours while I get some work done.
Trust me, this is one I have found to work miracles for increasing productivity in the past.
So, see you all in due time.
2018-11-18 at 11:30 PM UTC
Have you heard about using booze as a stimulant? You have to drink just the right amount to get "buzzed", but not enough to get slowed down or start making mistakes. It's very difficult to do.
2018-11-19 at 1:49 PM UTC
gadzooks
Dark Matter
[keratinize my mild-tasting blossoming]
PHARMACOLOGICAL TECHNIQUE #1: METHAMPHETAMINES.
My field report for today is basically just... just don't do it.
It might have some compelling rationale behind it, but the addictive need for hit after hit, or the need to boost an orally-induced session (just cuz euphoria, why not?).
I'm not taking all stimulants off of the table yet necessarily, but I will be trying to switch to weaker, less recreational ones such as Modafinil and Caffiene.
2018-11-19 at 1:51 PM UTC
gadzooks
Dark Matter
[keratinize my mild-tasting blossoming]
PHARMACOLOGICAL TECHNIQUE #2: BENZODIAZEPINES
Shortly above, I mentioned that I plan on trying an anxiety-addressing approach, inspired by your suggestion Odigo.
I am actually going to take some clonazepam early in the morning to see if it can help me achieve a less perfectionistic mindset, so that I can simply focus on the task at hand.
2018-11-19 at 1:53 PM UTC
gadzooks
Dark Matter
[keratinize my mild-tasting blossoming]
Also, I'd wager dollars to donuts that this thread isn't going to get many contributions from anyone but us, Odigo.
The plebeian masses are too good for attempts at self-improvement. :p
But we'll keep it going though; with the devotion of a soldier.
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Op, for an academic, u disappoint me. You did not once mention the title of your thread, (your topic or 'thesis'), in your extremely long and doddering introductory post... in the future, please do a better job of integrating your topic into the body of content.
2018-11-19 at 7:59 PM UTC
Imagine being this smart and devoting all that energy into... being a better-oiled cog in the global machine, maaaaaan.
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2018-11-19 at 8:09 PM UTC
you can only expand your mind so far before it becomes a complete goatse,
and nobody wants a goatsed mind.
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2018-11-19 at 9:50 PM UTC
Gadzooks, do you feel that your priorities will change over time?
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2018-11-19 at 10:29 PM UTC
Originally posted by gadzooks
Productivity does not necessarily have to refer to work.
If you are more engaged in even the pleasurable tasks in life, they may be more rewarding in the long run.
My goal of being hyper-efficicent so that I can have more time to do the things I truly want to do: appreciate art and nature and beauty in the world, contemplate philosophical questions, and getting fucked up with the homies.
I get that, yeah. Mostly I was just trolling, because there is something about wanting to "increase your efficiency" that sounds wrong to me. Like, my gut reaction to that sentiment is to give you a pat on the head for being a good slave. You know? 🙃
Like if you work a 9-5, all increased efficiency is gonna do is get you to middle management. You're just going to be doing more work in the same amount of time, and not freeing up anything for yourself.
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