Ambient noise generators like mynoise and noisli have been a great help in getting dev and documentation work done amidst noisy workplaces. What about you? Is there anyone out there who doesnt need noise cancellation headphones or ambient noise generators to get focus intensive work done?
Addy. 5 mg. Every other day.<p>I know this will be down-voted, but I've been having issues focussing at work and completing projects for the last 10 years or so.<p>Visited a Psychiatrist (in Palo Alto). After listening to my situation, she followed it up with a detailed Q & A. She then prescribed 5 mg XR (extended release) of Adderall. Apparently "mild ADHD" is a thing with software engineers in their 30s and up...<p>The difference has been night and day. I'm completely focussed now, in the zone. I've even gotten side-projects that were languishing for many years, done and shipped over 2 weekends!<p>I take it only on days I need to focus and get something done. I also take weekends off and also take 1 week per month completely off. This keeps me from building tolerance. Also 5 mg Addy is like the LOWEST dose dispensed, so I feel ok with it.
This sounds like a silly trick, but I literally put a post-it on my monitor with the name of the task I'm currently working on.<p>It's very easy to get distracted by things in my environment and on my screen, and just seeing a sign in my line of vision that says something like "making redlines for mobile screens" helps me re-focus.<p>---------<p>Edited to add: the task needs to be something specific, not an abstract like "doing UX work." I take advantage of Asana's sub-tasks to try and break down all my work into the most robot-like steps possible. That keeps me focused on the task itself, instead of figuring out what my next step is.
I listen to a lot of music and try to make myself work at late hours, when nobody else is around. ADHD medication helped me over the years as well, and allows me to function well every day.<p>The best way I've ever been able to explain my thought process is as a branching tree, in which the trunk is the primary focus and the branches are the wandering paths that I think of along the way. Unmedicated I cannot help but only suggest where to think, but when medicated I can choose.<p>Luckily I can make my own hours or else I can't really manage much social interaction without needing to leave.
<a href="https://musicforprogramming.net/?two" rel="nofollow">https://musicforprogramming.net/?two</a> is something that my wife uses with success.
At my current work my main distraction is in my peripheral vision as I can see every move made by co-workers either side of me.
I'm seriously considering buying sunglasses with side shields or some type of goggle, similar to a race horse.
In the spirit of Cato the Elder, Open Offices must be destroyed!
When I'm struggling to focus I just walk away from my desk. It doesn't matter where I go or what I do. I spend up to 10 minutes letting myself think about whatever my mind naturally brings to the table. Usually when I return to my desk the distractions I was struggling with no longer bother me.
I just don't focus and bounce around everywhere :D<p>But seriously, I try and psychotically keep Jira updated. It probably drives the PM crazy, but it's very satisfying to see your progress grow, and especially satisfying to close a ticket.
Pomodoro timer.<p>I work for 25 minutes at a time then take 5 minute breaks. This is more to help me start getting into flow. I know I don't do it right, but I'll start the pomodoro and that's my minimum. If I'm really into what I'm working on I'll see my time is up and commit to an additional work cycle or two.<p>It also helps me track what I'm working on and how long each task takes me. And gives me set breaks in which I get to write comments on HN, like this one :-)
Active noise cancelling headphones. Monitors set up to block rest of the office including peripheral vision. Wall behind my back.<p>Slack notifications and all in browser notifications off.
Communicate with your team a physical signal for what is focus time and when you're open to "office hours." The simplest example could be "if I have headphones on" or you can have some sort of trinket on your desk that shows when you're free or when you need to focus.<p>That combined with proper away messaging on Slack/IM, you should be able to get focused chunks of time
1) A bit of Adderall 15mg XR on the days I need it<p>2) An excellent automatic-time-tracker app, the transparency into your own habits is life-changing: <a href="https://www.rescuetime.com/" rel="nofollow">https://www.rescuetime.com/</a><p>3) NC headphones:
Sony WH1000XM2 <a href="https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B074KDJVS2/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1" rel="nofollow">https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B074KDJVS2/ref=oh_aui_se...</a> ORRRR apple's AirPods
Every trick helps, but when you actually get to work and into the flow, the room might be noisy or you might be hungry and you don't even notice. So I try to achieve that state more frequently. Its hard..
I hope that this isn't the culprit for you, but I was having a lot of trouble focusing. I kept finding lifestyle reasons for it (a life of attention issues plus a newborn baby were near the top of the list), but then my health went to hell.<p>Turns out that my blood pressure was through the roof. I fixed that and I can focus again.<p>I genuinely hope that your blood pressure is fine, but seriously, if this is a new thing, it might be a good idea to see a doctor for a checkup. From experience, it's far better to catch blood pressure early than when you end up in a cardiac unit...
As someone who grew up next to a highway in a place with constantly-on TVs, i don't notice most kinds of noise, so i can't offer any advice on that front.<p>What was a distraction in my case was internet browsing. This got solved by having a dedicated tablet for all sorts of non-essential browsing, and the work computers never having anything but work-related links.<p>You'd think that's not going to matter, but the little bit of friction that created was enough.
By work being more interesting than being bored out of my mind. If the work's boring though, an album or two from my collection; C418's One is pretty great.
For me, I have found it hard to focus mostly only when I have another externality in my life on my mind or something outside of work causing stress (mentally).<p>I also like to listen to video game music via rainwave.cc (OCRemix Radio basically), Bandcamp, or (this may be strange) the classic Retronauts podcasts (still available on Archive.org, not the new ones).
Currently I get my best work done in a cafe. Usually, without using headphones. There is the usual cafe background noises.<p>I find it hard to work from my small apartment, whether family is around or not, music or no music.<p>I forget the term but I think it has to do with the fact that I use this same room to watch TV, play video games, sleep, and eat meals. My desk and bed are only inches apart.
The OP makes it sound like inability to focus is a normal thing, but it's not.<p>I've never used white noise or headphones to improve focus, and it's rare that co-workers ever use headphones.<p>So maybe investigate whether the problem is you or the office. Or if you really understand what you're being paid to do - I can write documentation and diagrams effortlessly.