I read that telling someone about a project triggers the same neural responses that finishing that same project would do, and can make you more prone to leaving it unfinished. I’ve started doing my best to keep super quiet about stuff if it’s a project that I really want/need to actually finish. It’s been working surprisingly well for me!

[–] Sabata11792@kbin.social 18 points 7 months ago (2 children)

Most of time finishing something feels like getting home in time to poop rather than an accomplishment.

[–] yuriy@lemmy.world 5 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Yeah I still don’t know how to make half-finished projects more exciting than new ones. That might be a forever problem, but let’s just say the science isn’t out yet. Gotta stay hopeful lmao

[–] Sabata11792@kbin.social 6 points 7 months ago (2 children)

Same, Half the time I think I bite off more than I can chew and intimidation sets in after the excitement drops.

[–] yuriy@lemmy.world 7 points 7 months ago

You might have luck with some of that intimidation with just repetition/experience. Like I hardly get scared away from metalwork anymore because I’ve been doing a ton of it this year, but I’m still really slow at and kinda scared of painting.

The big killer for me is when anything starts going better then expected, and now I’m suddenly more worried about ruining it than I am excited/confident to finish it. I try to remind myself as often as possible that I stand to learn more from one failure than I could from ten successes.

Anywho I’m definitely rambling now, sorry for that lol

[–] Nommer@sh.itjust.works 2 points 7 months ago

I get that with learning programming and without my friend pushing me I get worried that I can't learn and just kind of stop trying.

[–] Brickhead92@lemmy.world 1 points 7 months ago

Is getting home in time to poop not an accomplishment?

I've been doing it wrong this whole time. Well, not today!

[–] akrz@programming.dev 8 points 7 months ago

I feel like that is really true for me

[–] Okokimup@lemmy.world 6 points 7 months ago

This explains a lot.

[–] CaptDust@sh.itjust.works 5 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

I've heard this advice before, it's true you lose that dopamine hit which can help, buuut I also learned peer feedback and external affirmation is apparently an important motivator for me... by keeping quiet I never had anything to talk about, because nothing is finished, which later morphed into nothing even starting, because what's the point.

It's still good advice but be careful don't end up like I was, adjust appropriately.

[–] Infynis@midwest.social 3 points 7 months ago

No wonder Brandon Sanderson has been writing so many secret novels

[–] NocturnalMorning@lemmy.world 2 points 7 months ago (1 children)

No wonder I never finished stuff. I can't bare the thought of not showing someone, anyone the awesome stuff I just did in my project.

[–] null 3 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Showing off stuff you did is great.

You want to avoid telling people what you're "going to do".

[–] NocturnalMorning@lemmy.world 1 points 7 months ago

Ahh, that explains why I can never finish making my video games.

[–] ghostrider2112@lemmy.world 5 points 7 months ago

The universe appreciates your excitement. My issue ultimately ended up being comfortable to give myself permission to spend time on the things that excited me.

[–] ghostrider2112@lemmy.world 18 points 7 months ago

Also, it’s been days since you picked up a new hobby for your hobby collecting hobby.

[–] agent_flounder@lemmy.world 15 points 7 months ago

Barbara Sher, "Refuse to Choose"

My takeaways...

Keep an ideas journal. Write down your project ideas. Let yourself go wild on paper. Sometimes getting the creativity out on paper "scratches the itch" and you no longer need to actually start the project

We sometimes take on new hobbies and projects for a purpose other than conventional completion. And that's perfectly ok. We might want to get a sense of what it is like, or achieve some level of recognition, or gain proficiency but not expertise.

For example, I used to do autocross racing and after a couple years I won a podium finish and a trophy in a local race and I felt like "ok cool good enough" and the interest waned.

It is still important to be able to learn how to accomplish goals, though. Because it feels good and builds some self esteem and gives us a chance to learn how to plan better, and improve our ability to stick to something, even if only a little.

I've had to recognize that I have to significantly pare down what I work on, and be choosy about which projects to actually commit to. That's why the ideas journal helps me.

I know I don't have to start everything, won't forget anything, but be able to recognize those projects of greatest interest that I keep thinking about long term. Those are the ones I am going to be able to finish.

[–] ramenshaman@lemmy.world 15 points 7 months ago (1 children)

I feel attacked.

[–] FiniteBanjo@lemmy.today 5 points 7 months ago (1 children)

I'm convinced this sub isn't even real and half the posts are made by pharmaceutical companies.

[–] Fuck_u_spez_@sh.itjust.works 4 points 7 months ago

Big if true.

And if so, it's working.

[–] Xanis@lemmy.world 12 points 7 months ago

What we need is an adhd pass along. Get 20% through a project? Post it and let someone take it to the halfway point! You might be interested again once they post the follow-up.

[–] variants@possumpat.io 11 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (1 children)

When my wife asks if maybe I should sell some of my old hobby stuff

[–] TheSambassador@lemmy.world 3 points 7 months ago

This is an incredible use of this as a meme.

[–] Fuck_u_spez_@sh.itjust.works 6 points 7 months ago

No, but thanks for asking.

[–] Pencilnoob@lemmy.world 4 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

looks up from soldering a keyboard from scratch like a feral raccoon I'm absolutely not in the middle of countless projects

[–] sanpedropeddler@sh.itjust.works 3 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Currently building a wearable pc after being inspired by a Kurtis Conner video. I estimate about a 10% chance of me actually finishing it.

[–] Brickhead92@lemmy.world 1 points 7 months ago (1 children)

10%! How'd you get a finish chance that high?!

[–] sanpedropeddler@sh.itjust.works 2 points 7 months ago

It probably should've been lower, I've already given up.