Dull Tasks

[gothwalk]

I need to figure out how to focus my mind more on dull tasks. At the moment, I'm working on replacing image urls in files across the website, and it's dull as ditchwater. It took me a good chunk of the morning and afternoon to work the problems out of the process, and that was interesting enough, but it's done now. So I'm staring down the maw of two days or more of very very dull work. It's not really something that can be automated, either, since some images will need it and others won't, and it's not really clear even to me which ones should and shouldn't change. So the clever use of regexp and other such arcana is denied me. Ambient music helps. But still, I find my mind drifting off in various odd directions, few of which have anything to do with the job in hand. And I do need to concentrate.

Any tricks you use to maintain focus?

Comments

[iresprite.livejournal.com]

I imagine barbarian hordes raging over the wintery plains of New England, overwhelming and massacring everyone in their way. I think to myself, "Do I want to spend the last moments of my unexpectedly short life gazing off into the distance as a madman cleaves me in twain?"

Actually, this doesn't help me focus so much as glance around for handy instruments with which to defend myself. Finding none, I consider good sources for battle axes, broadswords, or an assault rifle.

There goes my focus again.

Hmm

[cheerfulcynic.livejournal.com]

For something like that, I'd work out how many new/different vim commands I could use to do it and form them into a pattern.

[fluffworld.livejournal.com]

Take frequent breaks, and set tasks to rhythem helps. You know...
"Check the DATE
Check the NAME
Is that the SAME
As the ADDRESS!
And don't forget to sign the rest."
was one I used to use when sending out stock letters... Only problem is that you tend to start head-banging along to it and then people think you've gone mad. Again.

[ailbhe]

This is the kind of thing I do. Turn it into a singsong system if possible. Failing that, do it in bursts - stop every 30 minutes to check mail, or something, so that I have to think about something else so that I don't get complacent and skip bits.

[hisgreyeyes.livejournal.com]

I set a goal, drink a ton of water, and do not let myself go to the loo until I've accomplished what I'm supposed to be doing. You'd be amazed how it helps to focus the mind.

[radegund.livejournal.com]

I find that a pattern of short bursts punctuated by more interesting work keeps me going. Rewards are good. Or milestones. If you have, say, 500 of these fuckers to do, keep count, and when you get to 50, celebrate. Time yourself. See can you do the next 50 a little faster (but without losing quality).

Hey, you think I could sell this stuff?