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Re:Ask HN: How do you motivate yourself to do un-motivating ... by ScottWhigham on Monday October 12, 2009 @04:18PM (#877540)
Okay - let's get the obvious out of the way: are you ADD/ADHD and, if so, have you been taking any recent meds? If not, let's talk about your diet: tons of carbs but lack of protein? How about sleep - getting enough of it? Lastly, when was your last vacation?

These are all major factors in feeling a sense of restlessness or being lackadaisical towards critical, yet mundane tasks. Sometimes burnout is the term for this whereas other times it is simple procrastination. So which is it?

Re:Ask HN: How do you motivate yourself to do un-motivating ... by moosecake on Monday October 12, 2009 @04:38PM (#877581)
"are you ADD/ADHD and, if so, have you been taking any recent meds?"

Don't think so. I'm not on any medication.

"If not, let's talk about your diet: tons of carbs but lack of protein? "

I guess so, but I don't feel that my diet is particularly unhealthy. So far today I had: an apple, oatmeal, avocado, carrots, some (whole-wheat) toast, a hard-boiled egg, a sweet potato, and a bag of steamed mixed vegetables w/ corn, asparagus, green beans etc, and just water to drink.

"How about sleep - getting enough of it?"

I usually get 6 – 8 hours (except at the beginning of the week when I'm typically feeling apathetic about school and stay up late working on a project or something), so yes, I think so.

"Sometimes burnout is the term for this whereas other times it is simple procrastination. So which is it?"

A combination of both, I think.

Re:Ask HN: How do you motivate yourself to do un-motivating ... by ScottWhigham on Tuesday October 13, 2009 @08:37AM (#878915)
Okay - so those are the fundamentals and it seems as though you deem yourself healthy. From your diet, I would assume you are vegetarian - is that correct? I am a vegetarian and here's the main thing I have to watch out for: getting enough iron. If I don't get enough iron, I am sleepy, cranky, tired-feeling, and just have a general malaise. This leads to less focus and less "patience" to deal with the mundane. Is it possible you are either anemic, borderline anemic or whether you are iron-deficient?
Re:Ask HN: How do you motivate yourself to do un-motivating ... by kitt on Tuesday October 13, 2009 @08:56AM (#878941)
Although iron deficiency may be a concern, a word of caution about taking too much (such as iron supplements if you (the general "you") are not a menstruating female): you can ingest too much iron. If you are low in iron, eat iron-rich foods (eggs, spinach, beans/lentils, fortified cereals), rather than take supplements.

Easy non-scientific way to check if you're low: pull down your lower eyelid and check the color of your skin of the uncovered lid. A pale red suggests you should be checked for anemia.