Group rationality diary, 10/15/12

cata

This is the public group instrumental rationality diary for the week of October 15th. It's a place to record and chat about it if you have done, or are actively doing, things like:

Established a useful new habit
Obtained new evidence that made you change your mind about some belief
Decided to behave in a different way in some set of situations
Optimized some part of a common routine or cached behavior
Consciously changed your emotions or affect with respect to something
Consciously pursued new valuable information about something that could make a big difference in your life
Learned something new about your beliefs, behavior, or life that surprised you
Tried doing any of the above and failed

Or anything else interesting which you want to share, so that other people can think about it, and perhaps be inspired to take action themselves. Try to include enough details so that everyone can use each other's experiences to learn about what tends to work out, and what doesn't tend to work out.

Thanks to everyone who contributes!

Previous diary; archive of prior diaries.

This is the public group instrumental rationality diary for the week of October 15th. It's a place to record and chat about it if you have done, or are actively doing, things like:

Established a useful new habit
Obtained new evidence that made you change your mind about some belief
Decided to behave in a different way in some set of situations
Optimized some part of a common routine or cached behavior
Consciously changed your emotions or affect with respect to something
Consciously pursued new valuable information about something that could make a big difference in your life
Learned something new about your beliefs, behavior, or life that surprised you
Tried doing any of the above and failed

Thanks to everyone who contributes!

Previous diary; archive of prior diaries.

I had some exams at the end of last week that I'd been working towards for most of the year, and for the few weeks prior I'd been eliminating all other distractions to focus on revision. I now have no more study commitments (or any commitments, beyond 'go into work and do my job') until mid-January.

As a result, right now I have a lot of free-floating focus. I have no demands on my attention, coupled with enough discipline to direct it all at specific tasks. Housework? BAM - done. Exercise? BAM - done. I'm also finding it hard to get absorbed in akrasiatic activities, even though I'm 'allowed' to do them now. It's like the voice in the back of my head telling me to do more productive things isn't fatigued enough to give up.

Past experience tells me I'll have adjusted in a few weeks, and filled my time up with enough distractions to rob me of my newfound superpowers, but I'm a little curious as to how sustainiable they might be.

Past experience tells me I'll have adjusted in a few weeks, and filled my time up with enough distractions to rob me of my newfound superpowers, but I'm a little curious as to how sustainiable they might be.

It sounds like it may be valuable to do low-value projects just to stay in the habit of working. Are there any online classes you would be interested in taking, local charities you'd like to volunteer for, or books you'd like to read? (I find reading a book to write a review a good way to give myself time pressure and make sure I'm paying enough atte... (read more)