6.8M views · Apr 30, 2020 · 10:59 · 17 HN recommenders · 20 mentions · discussed 2020–2022
CGP Grey argues that your brain treats a whole home as one room during lockdown, blurring work, rest and leisure. He recommends creating separate spaces and routines for different activities to stay balanced.
Why Hacker News points people here: HN recommends it constantly in work-from-home, burnout and procrastination threads as practical advice for separating work from life at home.
“i watch it once a week to keep things in perspective.”HN comment, 2020
“has an excellent video on this.”
Separate spaces for activities while at home
If you can setup a dedicated work area, even if it's temporary, do it and restrict work to that space. That means you only use that space for work, and don't use the rest of your home. Your sofa is for relaxing, don't let work ruin a perfectly good sofa. CCP Grey [^1] has an excellent video on this. [^1]: this video (Video warning)
“I'd recommend these[1] two[2] videos from CGP Grey to help.”
Coping strategies and space partitioning during lockdown
I'm doing well. Ironically I think I'm doing better now than I would have been if the pandemic didn't happen; but still not in a particularly good position. Optimistic, though! If you're struggling, it's probably because the systems that you put in place at the start of the pandemic have broken down. (Kinda like how we eventually forget/give up on New Years Resolutions...) I'd recommend these[1] two[2] videos from CGP Grey to help. The first talks about the kind of things that you might be doing that are making you miserable, and the second about specific ways in which we can cope with the pandemic (and specifically a lockdown, if you are still in one). Brief notes: Avoid doing any of these things: * Staying still, avoiding exercise * Having an irregular sleep schedule * Maximizing screen time; going to sleep looking at your phone, and using it as soon as you wake up * Encouraging negative emotions, eg: by looking at the news * Setting unmeasurable or unachievable goals. Waiting for motivation to strike. * Obsessing over trying to be happy. * Following your self-destructive impulses Partition your house/space into the following spaces, and try to obey these rules about the spaces: * A space for exercise. If you don't have equipment, you can do body weight exercises. If you have access to safe outdoor spaces, make sure to use that too. Make sure you set a minimum amount of time, and stick to it. * A space for sleep. Do not use your phone here. Do not eat here. Do not linger he
“has been a really powerful re-calibration tool for me whenever I feel unbalanced”
Recalibration tool for feeling unbalanced
"Spaceship You" by CGP Grey has been a really powerful re-calibration tool for me whenever I feel unbalanced: this video
“i watch it once a week to keep things in perspective.”
Helpful perspective, rewatched weekly
this video i found the above inked CGP Grey video to be helpful i watch it once a week to keep things in perspective. hope this helps others too
“this is a must watch video!”
Likely the video the other commenter meant
I think this is what he's talking about: this video Even if it isn't - this is a must watch video!
“Checked out the video- really great!”
Thanks for recommendation after watching
Checked out the video- really great! Thank you for the recommendation and here's the link for anyone else curious: this video
“which I think you may enjoy if you haven't yet seen it.”
Reflective lockdown video from CGP Grey
> It feels like we are on a space ship, drifting through time, but basking in peace and solitude. This comment reminded me of this video by CGP Grey which I think you may enjoy if you haven't yet seen it. this video
“CGP Grey did a video about the importance of having different spaces for different activities”
Importance of different spaces for different activities
CGP Grey did a video about the importance of having different spaces for different activities¹, and in one of the comments for the video², one Vallejo B. said that they have handled the lack of physical space by using tricks to fool the mind into thinking it is a different space, using different lighting, sounds, tastes for different modes. Like stage set design, a simple difference goes a long way, and as long your own brain is fooled, it works. 1. this video 2. this video
“There is a great cgp grey video about this”
Create boundaried areas within the home
There is a great cgp grey video about this: this video TLDW: create areas with boundaries inside your home and make sure you follow these boundaries.
“CGP Grey is great.”
Body-mind connection and routines during pandemic
What's your physical routine? Do you exercise regularly? Regardless of the pandemic, there's still truths here to learn about the connection between your body and mind. CGP Grey is great. : this video Do you have a boredom routine? I find as a creative it's important for me to force myself to be away from the productivity grind for a little bit each week so I can get hungry to get back to it.
“Give CGPGrey's "Lockdown Productivity: Spaceship You" a watch”
Dedicated spaces and mindsets for work
Give CGPGrey's "Lockdown Productivity: Spaceship You" a watch -- this video In large majority it's about making dedicated spaces, which can be hard in a small space. But you can at least make dedicate mindsets spaces. Ex: I do these 5 things to prepare my desk for work at the start of the day, and I do these 5 things to clean up my desk at the end of the work day. These can be routines or physical things you do (Ex: get out work laptop, work notebook, etc). I'd strongly believe in coming up with a schedule that works for you and your needs. Then try and stick to that schedule. In my case, I (San Francisco Bay Area) have calls with Europe starting at 7am every morning. So I get up at 6:30, take a shower (always, never skip, even if I slept late), put my shoes on, have calls for at least 2 hours. At about 9am I take an hour to make breakfast (and eat) for my wife and I. Also, if you have trouble "disconnecting" yourself at the end of the day, turn off notifications from work apps on your phone. If you're someone who say has your work email and slack on your phone. Tell people that if it's urgent they can text/call you.
“The fantastic educational YouTuber CGP Grey did a video detailing why working from bed is a terrible idea”
Why working from bed is a bad idea
The fantastic educational YouTuber CGP Grey did a video detailing why working from bed is a terrible idea this video
“CGP Grey had a pretty good video about living in the lockdown”
Lockdown living advice on bed and sleep
> As a rule of thumb, your bed should be dedicated to sleep CGP Grey had a pretty good video about living in the lockdown titled "Spaceship you". this video I'd say that a lot of work that isn't really work can be done from bed, but it does mess up your training for "bed == sleep". I used to work from bed before 2020, but the lockdown has made the "walk downstairs to work, grab a coffee along the way" into a natural thing rather than putting a number of other high attention activities (shaving, driving) between being awake-enough to sitting at my desk.
“I also found this video to be helpful”
Helped with extended lockdown burnout
Yes, 100% this. When the virus isn't spiking in your area, I recommend meeting coworkers in coworking spaces. When it is spiking I've been going to parks to have beers with friends. A warm coat can help a lot. I also found this video to be helpful this video [edit] Oh, and remote pairing over teamviewer turns a terrible isolated work day into a casual conversation with a friend about code. I find that 2 developers actually getting 1 job done is better than both being isolated and just scrolling reddit.
“Most times I've seen this question asked, I see a reference to "Spaceship You".”
The usual go-to for staying focused at home
Most times I've seen this question asked, I see a reference to "Spaceship You". So here's the obligatory link: this video
“Relevant videos”
Separate spaces for different life aspects
True. But you also need empty space not to feel trapped in a cage or else you'll catch that cabin fever. You can always go the park provided you got into that discipline, that you there is a park less than ten minutes away or that it's not too cold/raining/snowing: Not ideal. And it might a shitty square surrounded by cars. Mentally, it is also very helpful to have separate spaces for different aspects of your life. When your room is also your office and your kitchen, it doesn't make for good sleep, good work or good cooking. Relevant videos : link this video
“Either dedicate a room to study and work or change the environment when you have to”
Change environment to separate work from rest
Either dedicate a room to study and work or change the environment when you have to (like assigning a specific color with led lights). this video If that doesn't work, I would go out and study in a library or park.
Cited for fixing sleep and exercise habits
Hi! Fellow ADHDer here. Inattentive subtype. I'd need to know your specific brain better. What I really _should_ do is listen to you and really dive deep into the habit patterns you get into. (As I'm trying to get my brain to shut up about, thats what real engineering is.) But it is hard to do that over an internet forum and I lack the time. So instead I'm just going to barf solutions at you. 0. Top priority is to fix the sleep and exercise schedule. Everything else flows from that. this video 1. See if you can get a standing desk and a stationary bike. I took the handlebars off mine so it could fit underneath the desk. It lets me cycle while programming which makes it easier to be tired at night. If your brain hates shopping, then just go with these links: link link 2. Double down on automated testing. Write scaffolding tests even if the company wouldn't need them and you delete them before pushing. You are worth it. 3. Buy the actual book on the Pomodoro technique and take notes on it. link 4. Get some dotted paper and nice mechanical pencils to take notes: link 5. ADHDers need external words. Find a podcast you can use to replace the narrative that plays in your head. (Hell, if you find yourself getting into thought spirals of being really hard on yourself and unable to forgive yourself for distraction, you may want to go full Matthew 4:4) 6. Create a calendar event called "silent coding" at work and invite people to join. Humans need camaraderie. 7. Read this: link
“Idea courtesy of Vallejo B”
Trick your brain into separate work space
Tip: You don’t have to actually have a separate room, all you have to do is trick your brain into feeling like it’s another room. Design two completely different lighting schemes for work and off-work, and connect the lights to a switch to change between them. Use two different chairs. Switch to another keyboard and mouse. Reposition your monitor. If you have an height-adjustable desk, change it. Idea courtesy of Vallejo B: this video
“Too much time at home and I get reminded of CGP Grey's "spaceship you”
Too much time at home brings Spaceship You to mind
My only 2c is that the WFH vs office conversation often seems to pretend that there aren't a ton of businesses with desk workers where many of their colleagues can't feasibly work from home -- manufacturing for example. It's not even only the people physically building the products who obviously have to be there, but even mechanical engineers have a reason to. My job is to build software to make the lives of the people building our product better. I'd prefer myself and my team to be there with them frequently, instead of considering ourselves to be part of some class of special people that have the luxury of working at home most of the time. That said, I do appreciate the flexibility of being able to work from home for house maintenance, deliveries, family stuff, etc. Beyond all that, going into the office (or factory really) is energizing. Too much time at home and I get reminded of CGP Grey's "spaceship you" this video
