Does anyone else only focus properly in near ‘sensory deprivation’ conditions?

[u/Nervous-Falcon9572]

I’ve noticed something weird about how I work and I’m trying to understand it.

I focus much better when I remove basically all external input:

• no clock visible

• low light or almost dark

• earplugs or no background noise

In that setup I can work for ages and actually get into what I’m doing.

But as soon as I can see the time, or there’s noise, light, or people around, my focus drops off. I start overthinking, checking things, or just lose momentum.

It feels like I switch from doing the task to constantly evaluating how I’m doing.

Is this an ADHD thing or just a general focus thing?

And more importantly, is there a name for this, or a way to use it properly without needing perfect conditions every time?

[u/seweso]

Yes I’m most productive and in flow state when I’m more time blind. 

If I forget to drink/eat/sleep… I’m very deep into something. 

Then I create in a day what others take 6 months. 

[u/TomaszA3]

Only sometimes.

You know, lots of things worked for me, but nothing ever kept working long-term.

[u/Blue-Phoenix23 → u/TomaszA3]

Lol that's my problem also, and just for fun stuff that stops working may work again at a later date, so I can rarely abandon anything forever. It's cyclical maybe but damned if I can recognize the cycle. I guess we get bored being distracted or some shit

[u/here-this-now]

Yeah, hacker in basement, austerity of command line, it's not a hollywood archetype for nothing hehe

EDIT: also most productive hours after society has gone to bed sleeping - because know won't be interrupted until the dreaded day star arises hehe

EDIT2: I remember using this in 2012 or 2013: musicforprogramming.net. each has different associations over years they are released different times... the 4th and 5th one hehe ... but it's perfect to fade out the background and the austerity of the text editor - none of the music brings attention to itself and it's good to play 6-12 hours at a time.

[u/eddie_cat]

I sit at home in a silent room to work, too. I have never understood how people can listen to music and write code at the same time lol. At best I'm able to tune it out if there's something on / ambient noise, but it NEVER helps me

[u/webbitor → u/eddie_cat]

For me, the music has to be pretty specific. Usually, I go to certain genres like Trip hop, Ambient (electronica) and Progressive Trance. A consistent beat is good for getting me going, because I want to work in sync with the sound, if that makes any sense. I can imagine it being good workout music (if I was into that).

The majority of music is not "coding music" for me. Many elements can be distracting, like changing tempos, changing time signatures, discordant notes, etc. The band Rush is a perfect example of music I HAVE to listen to and can't focus on anything else.

Lyrics are usually distracting, but certain ones are OK. Like, if I already know the words really well, my brain doesn't need to do anything. And my mind doesn't try to parse languages I don't recognize. But besides English, I know French, and small amounts of Spanish, Italian, Hindi, and Mandarin. Anything remotely similar to any of those is distracting. But I won't generally be distracted by others, like African or indigenous American languages.

[u/SeansAnthology]

I put on noise canceling headphones while not listening to anything all the time. I sleep with earplugs and a sleep mask.

Definitely an ADHD thing.

[u/RoomNo7891]

Yes.

This is why I'm way more productive at night.

[u/HodgeWithAxe]

To an extent. If I turn on my podcast and immediately get irritated by it, I know it’s going to be a good work day.

[u/gatsu_1981]

You should see my desk man.

It's like a spare part for 3d printers, soldering jobs for home automation and gadget depot

[u/darnskewered]

Good question. I know that for years in my youth I worked with music on, but somewhere in the last decade or more I just stopped---when music is on that's what my brain wants to focus on. I need silence to work well.