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Geek Culture / Cooling Down and Chilling Out...

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Oolite
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Joined: 28th Sep 2005
Location: Middle of the West
Posted: 28th May 2008 03:08 Edited at: 28th May 2008 03:09
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I've been working on a project for over 6 months now and its coming down to the final 2 weeks of it so everything is coming together but I still have a list as long as my arm of things i have to do and its getting quite stressful. Although i find i work better under pressure, when something gets on my norks, it really gets on my norks.
Earlier i was trying to iron out a bug in my code for about three hours, it really started to get on my wick and i ended up getting highly frustrated and ended up being really short with my poor old girlfriend.I decided to get up out of my chair and go for a drive to cool down. I ended up driving through Cannock, Kidderminster then back up and into Bridnorth, where i parked up, had a beer and a few cigarettes then drove back, purposefully getting lost in the process. Two hours later i ended up back at my house where i opened up my laptop and ended up finding and fixing the bug in about 15 minutes.
Like i said, i work better under pressure but sometimes stepping back for a moment and taking a break can really help and going for a long drive or walk really helps me.

Anyone else have anything they use to clear their head/calm down when working late on any projects?

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Zotoaster
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Joined: 20th Dec 2004
Location: Scotland
Posted: 28th May 2008 03:24
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My best adviced? Don't let your life rotate around your project. Your project is lucky to get your attention, you are only paying attention to it because you enjoy it. Keep in mind, I have had a bit to drink... but it sounds like it would work... well, it's what I do with my projects (not just programming, but everything, including music, studying, etc).

Don't you just hate that Zotoaster guy?
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Oolite
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Posted: 28th May 2008 03:25
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You kind of don't have any choice when its paying the bills and a lot of your future depends on it.

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Sid Sinister
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Posted: 28th May 2008 03:27
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So... how's the girlfriend... She give you hell for it?

"If I have seen a little further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants" - Isaac Newton
-Computer Animation Major @Baker.edu-
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Zotoaster
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Posted: 28th May 2008 03:27
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Oh, that far eh? Well, you have a whole forum at your disposal. Ask for help, and do what you were already doing, just take time out to chillax. You proved to yourself that doing so will clear your concience and let you think better (also works for me).

Don't you just hate that Zotoaster guy?
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Oolite
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Location: Middle of the West
Posted: 28th May 2008 03:34
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Quote: "So... how's the girlfriend... She give you hell for it? "

You bet.
Quote: "Oh, that far eh? Well, you have a whole forum at your disposal. Ask for help, and do what you were already doing, just take time out to chillax. You proved to yourself that doing so will clear your concience and let you think better (also works for me)."

I'm quite chilled now and working smoothly, thankfully i have one more thing to complete before i can get some kip. I usually make lists for each and every day and try and stick to it. I might start on some of tomorrows list so i can head off to the pub earlier on Friday, then again, i could do with catching up with some sleep.

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Lucifer
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Posted: 28th May 2008 03:41
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Quote: "had a beer and a few cigarettes then drove back"


very smart thinking right there

Your signature has not been erased by a mod... yet...
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Oolite
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Posted: 28th May 2008 03:43
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Quote: "had a beer and a few cigarettes then drove back"


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Lucifer
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Posted: 28th May 2008 03:46
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I wasnt thinking very smart right there

Your signature has not been erased by a mod... yet...
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soapyfish
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Posted: 28th May 2008 04:09 Edited at: 28th May 2008 04:11
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I'm the same when it comes to games (admittedly, that is something I do out of choice, not to pay the bills). If I get stuck at a certain place in the game to the point where I'm not enjoying it then I will go back in a few hours or even the next day and often manage to complete the same section after only 1 or 2 attempts.

Unless you really have left something to the last minute it's worth reminding yourself that a few hours off doing something else won't do any harm and will often be a help in the long run. The only thing to get over then is someone asking "shouldn't you be working?"

Your p0st count
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Megaton Cat
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Location: Toronto, Canada
Posted: 28th May 2008 07:21
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Haha, Lucifer basically just admitted he can't drive after having one beer.

Oolite, walks late at night god knows where actually do it for me! Get em a try!

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El Goorf
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Location: Uni: Manchester, Home: Dunstable
Posted: 28th May 2008 14:12
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Driving works for me too, the change in environment and concentration shift rly helps clear the head ^_^

http://notmybase.com
All my base are not belong to anyone.
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Seppuku Arts
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Joined: 18th Aug 2004
Location: Cambridgeshire, England
Posted: 28th May 2008 14:13
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Quote: "Haha, Lucifer basically just admitted he can't drive after having one beer."


To be fair, in Iceland 'a beer' is slang for 6 pints of mead.

Well Mr Oolite, as you've just shown, moderation is good for anything in life - when you push yourself to hard, it takes a bit of meditation (whatever meditation is for you, sitting down and humming, long walks, yoga, martial arts, booze, smoking or whatever) to clear things out - I'm one who works better under pressure too, yet I need time to stop and think sometimes. So like with anything, moderate yourself and not take too many extremes and you'll work yourself just fine.

"Experience never provides its judgments with true or strict universality; but only (through induction) with assumed and comparative universality." - Immanuel Kant
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Oolite
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Posted: 1st Jun 2008 01:44
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I'm sure i replied to this
Quote: "Oolite, walks late at night god knows where actually do it for me! Get em a try!"

Walks really help me too, i did used to go for a good midnight jog/walk but my area got really dull.

I've just gotten back from yet another drive, it really cleared my head. I managed to get a few sketches of some nice buildings i found in (god knows where, i got lost) and i came up with a few nice puzzle/action game ideas. Its starting to get really productive doing this, although a little expensive...


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tha_rami
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Posted: 1st Jun 2008 15:54
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Instead of being short to my girlfriend, I rather relax a bit with her .


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