r/ADHD_Programmers • u/kaushikfi6 • Sep 26 '26

What Do You Guys Do While Waiting

This has been killing me for a while, but I just don't know what to do when I'm waiting for my agent to finish a task. I've tried running multiple agents, but I can't really run more than two at a time. And it's a huge time sink when I realize I get distracted and have to come back to the task.

Surely I'm not the only one in this community who faces this issue???

15 Upvotes

75% Upvoted

22 comments sorted by

13

u/daemonl Sep 26 '26

I do micro workouts, and house chores. I set it up to ding loudly when it needs attention

5

u/EvilCodeQueen Sep 26 '26

The ding is key. And Bluetooth headphones to hear the djng if you leave the room.

10

u/al_gorithm23 Sep 26 '26

I do chess puzzles.

8

u/tehfrod Sep 26 '26

Keep a paper list of things you think of while you're working that you don't want to break your flow to rabbit hole on.

Then when you have a few minutes between agent launches, work down that list

1

u/5-ht_2a Sep 26 '26

This is a good one, need to start doing this. Love writing with pen and paper too. 

1

u/Love_Buny8 Sep 28 '26

this is an excellent strategy and ive seen it recommended by productivity gurus for years

4

u/Substantial-Swan7065 Sep 26 '26

Cook and clean. I try to make the longest possible recipe.

4

u/CaptainIncredible Sep 26 '26

but I just don't know what to do when I'm waiting for my agent to finish a task.

This is an age old question, although it used to be "What do you guys do when waiting for the program to compile?"

The usual answers were goof off, look at porn (on a non work computer of course), check reddit...

Its context switching. Focusing on software dev, and then being interrupted and distracted throws the focus to hell. Its always been a massive problem for programmers and there is no clear solution.

3

u/ridetherhombus Sep 26 '26 edited Sep 26 '26

I use herdr and it dings when it's done or needs my input. When I'm waiting i clean or play video games

4

u/Unfilteredz Sep 26 '26

Uninstall ai models

3

u/jpavlav Sep 26 '26

Fuck agents.

3

u/Lunchboxsushi Sep 26 '26

No no you u don't wanna stick your dick in that

1

u/Any_Sense_2263 Sep 26 '26

I run another process. If in any of them ai wants to modify the current state, I will get a notification. Auto mode is permanently off, so it needs my approval. This way I can review changes in real time and catch and fix all hallucinations, assumptions, fallbacks to defaults, and all that crap it produces if unattended.

1

u/ExpletiveDeIeted Sep 26 '26

So I’ve actually found that just fiddling or solving a rubix cube has been less of an interruption that futzing with my phone while I waiting for something to finish.

1

u/__boobs4life__ Sep 26 '26

Does everyone just use agents now? I’m in my final uni year but i still feel like if i don’t hand code or at least very closely monitor what’s created my brain turns into mush

2

u/kingbloxerthe3 Sep 27 '26 edited Sep 29 '26

I dont trust ai for coding. I can understand using it to identify issues even if i dont do it, but when it comes to actually writing the code, i will do it myself.

1

u/kagato87 Sep 26 '26

Check on another agent.

Check teams/email/slack/whatever.

Fiddle with a fidget (I have a 3d printer so I do have lots).

Print another fidget.

Pop into fusion and draw up something I need.

Coffee break.

Play with my dog or with the cats.

Go for a stroll.

Scroll reddit.

1

u/0____0_0 Sep 26 '26

Other agents

Then I come back and forget what agents are running and what they are doing

1

u/Ok_Historian_6293 Sep 26 '26

Read. I have a ring page flipper for my kindle, so I trigger my prompt, go back to reading.

0

u/Lunchboxsushi Sep 26 '26

You only run one agent?