Comments on: Can You Concentrate? (I Mean Really, Really Concentrate So Well That’s It Annoying)

By: Juuso

Juuso — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 06:00:52 +0000

@Brian: that hyperfocus & better half story sounds so familiar.

@Jake: yeh… “countryside here we come?”

By: Brian 'Psychochild' Green

Brian 'Psychochild' Green — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 17:44:13 +0000

I’ve found many programmer types I know (including me) have the ability to “hyperfocus”, especially when coding. In this state, you kind of shut out the outside world. My better half learned that she needs to make sure she has my complete attention if she asks something while I’m working at the computer. What’s worse is that I’ve learned to automatically make the little sounds that make it sound like I’m listening, so if you don’t know that I’m hyperfocused, you might think I really was listening.

I’m not sure sleeping has much to do with it. I find it hard to get to sleep if there’s something unexpected going on (like a strange noise, etc.), but once I’m asleep I’m often hard to wake back up.

By: Jake Birkett

Jake Birkett — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 15:37:27 +0000

Wish I didn’t sleep so light. Would have been useful in caveman times, but is not now when living in a city with a house full of noisy kids and pets.

I can concentrate ultra well in peace and quiet for long periods, but noise does distract me such as people talking at work.

By: Juuso

Juuso — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 14:33:22 +0000

@hermitC: I’m no alarm state. My computer could be robbed and I would not notice a thing. Even when I was coding..

@spunkmeyer: yeh, naturally… :)

By: Vibhu

Vibhu — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 12:34:30 +0000

Pretty good while on the comp or watching movie much to the annoyance of my wife.

But I sleep light.

By: Spunkmeyer

Spunkmeyer — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 12:21:54 +0000

It really depends! If the project is something I really like, it is no problem to concentrate.

But if its something I don’t like but I have to do, even if it is a part of something I like, I am getting distracted very easily.

By: hermitC

hermitC — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 10:31:25 +0000

Concentration works well but my senses are always in alarm state. Sleeping only works in dark rooms. When light beams hit my eyelids I’m awake, no matter what.