Procrastination-Working solo at home

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roscoenyc
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Procrastination-Working solo at home

Post by roscoenyc » Wed Mar 14, 2012 6:38 am

If I go to the studio I walk in the door, say hello, get a coffee and pretty soon after get to it. At home it's another story if I'm working on stuff all by myself. After all these years this one still vexes me.

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ott0bot
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Post by ott0bot » Wed Mar 14, 2012 8:24 am

Maybe you are conditioned to associate your studio with working and your home with relaxation? Our brains adapt to things without us even knowing it.

Plus there are too many distractions at home, which is why my solo record is still half done 6 years later.......

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ott0bot
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Post by ott0bot » Wed Mar 14, 2012 8:25 am

doubled!
Last edited by ott0bot on Wed Mar 14, 2012 1:56 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Nick Sevilla
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Post by Nick Sevilla » Wed Mar 14, 2012 8:34 am

I have my home studio.
You have to disconnect your brain from thinking it's at home.
This takes some time... but not ottobot's 6 years.
Cheers
Howling at the neighbors. Hoping they have more mic cables.

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Post by jhharvest » Wed Mar 14, 2012 10:51 am

Working from at home is difficult. There are strategies around it and many, many books written on the topic.

What's worked for me:
*Having concrete deadlines
*Starting at exactly 9am or whichever arbitrary time you choose
*Keeping a morning break, lunch and afternoon break at exact times, every day
*Being accountable for how much work you've done that day, be it your boss or your spouse
*Getting dressed like you were going to work, because you are going to work

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ott0bot
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Post by ott0bot » Wed Mar 14, 2012 2:02 pm

Nick Sevilla wrote:I have my home studio.
You have to disconnect your brain from thinking it's at home.
This takes some time... but not ottobot's 6 years.
Cheers
ha....yeah, that's just ridiculous.

I've been productive on other things, I swear.

but jh's points are definitely those which lead to a more successful home studio.

also....
having an understanding wife/parter/roommate or whatevs.

and....
it helps when you have a dedicated computer, just for audio

and another thing...
not having a full time day job.

wren
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Post by wren » Wed Mar 14, 2012 2:42 pm

I have this on the wall right behind my workspace:

Image

It helps.

Also: I've noticed that I'm lazier about cleanliness and making my workflow easier at home vs. in the workplace. Ever since I've made a conscious effort to remedy that, I've been able to get a lot more done at home.

But I'm also used to working at home, so psychologically it's not that odd for me. I can still remember when it was, but I don't remember what that mentally felt like or what I did to eventually fix it...
"I don't need time, I need a deadline." -Duke Ellington

"I liked the holes in it as much as I liked what was in them." -Tom Waits

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Post by sessionsatstudiom » Wed Mar 14, 2012 10:07 pm

I like working from home. I can get way more done in less time at home than I can at work. I am constantly being interrupted at work by other engineers with questions about time code or routing etc...

at home I can just get on with it. I usually find when working from home that I am most productive around 7pm on. Mornings are not my thing.

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Jitters
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Post by Jitters » Wed Mar 14, 2012 10:16 pm

wren wrote:I have this on the wall right behind my workspace:

Image

It helps.

Also: I've noticed that I'm lazier about cleanliness and making my workflow easier at home vs. in the workplace. Ever since I've made a conscious effort to remedy that, I've been able to get a lot more done at home.

But I'm also used to working at home, so psychologically it's not that odd for me. I can still remember when it was, but I don't remember what that mentally felt like or what I did to eventually fix it...
I like that, but I can't help but imagine that you were revising that and playing with the fonts while you should have been overdubbing hand claps. :wink:

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Snarl 12/8
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Post by Snarl 12/8 » Thu Mar 15, 2012 8:51 am

wren wrote: Image
Do you have that in a PDF or whatever? Printable?
Carl Keil

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Post by A.David.MacKinnon » Thu Mar 15, 2012 9:18 am

It helps allot if the home studio is separated from the rest of your living space in some way. It tricks your brain into thinking of it as a work space and helps you focus on work when your in that space. It also helps to have a door you can close when the work day is done.

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Post by clowrymusic » Thu Mar 15, 2012 10:13 am

Since moving my mixing to my home, I have struggled with not only the things mentioned but also making my wife and family realize I am working. Yes I am at home, that is no excuse for me to stop and run errands and do things for you. If I were at the studio, you wouldn't be asking my opinions on stuff and wanting me to pick up the kids.

So what to do? How do I make clear boundaries?

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Post by wren » Thu Mar 15, 2012 10:57 am

Jitters wrote:
wren wrote:I have this on the wall right behind my workspace:

Image

It helps.

Also: I've noticed that I'm lazier about cleanliness and making my workflow easier at home vs. in the workplace. Ever since I've made a conscious effort to remedy that, I've been able to get a lot more done at home.

But I'm also used to working at home, so psychologically it's not that odd for me. I can still remember when it was, but I don't remember what that mentally felt like or what I did to eventually fix it...
I like that, but I can't help but imagine that you were revising that and playing with the fonts while you should have been overdubbing hand claps. :wink:
I didn't make it, I stumbled across it online.

And Snarl, you can find the massive printable png version here.
"I don't need time, I need a deadline." -Duke Ellington

"I liked the holes in it as much as I liked what was in them." -Tom Waits

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Post by Burnt Ernie » Thu Mar 15, 2012 3:13 pm

+1 on the pdf,+10 on seperating your space,which is not possible for me.
2 cats prevent any mixing,listening,playing of guitar,etc. Music=MEEOOOWW.
A librarian wife who deals with an incredibly rude,demanding public needs
what space we do have to decompress,and not grab the 30/06.
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I'm Painting Again
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Post by I'm Painting Again » Tue Mar 20, 2012 9:42 am

You?ll get around to it. You?ll start tomorrow. Heh.

I don't think it has anything to do with separating your space or motivational posters..
You must be adept at thinking about thinking to defeat yourself at procrastination. You must realize there is the you who sits there now reading this, and there is a you sometime in the future who will be influenced by a different set of ideas and desires, a you in a different setting where an alternate palette of brain functions will be available for painting reality.
here ia a great article on procrastination

http://youarenotsosmart.com/2010/10/27/procrastination/

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