General > General Technical Chat
Design engineers: Can you shut off your brain during non-work hours?
abeyer:
I think I'm echoing what a number of others have said, in that I think that this can be a good thing, to the degree that it's 'natural' where you aren't feeling pressured or expected to do it as part of the job, and it doesn't otherwise interfere with your life. There are plenty of times where you don't really otherwise benefit from attending to something you need to do (washing the dishes, in the shower, taking the garbage out...) and there's quite a bit of anecdotal evidence, as well as some more formal study, that points to this kind of "letting things simmer in your mind" as a positive part of creative problem solving.
That said, there's one thing I find important: If in the course of doing this I have an idea or solution or any kind of thing I need to come back to and isn't just idle contemplating, or when I'm in the middle of thought and need to set it aside to pay attention to something else, I capture it in writing someplace that:
* Doesn't mix/overlap with personal life stuff, so it stays out of my way until I'm ready.
* I know I will come back to 'on the clock' when I am ready to follow up.
My go-to is just sending myself a quick email from my phone to my work email so I'll see it next time I log in to do work stuff. But a note taking app, a dedicated notebook, or even just a pile of stickies or something, could work just as well.
If I don't do this I find that my mind knows there's something it needs to remember, and will kind of keep coming back to that to keep it fresh... leading me to dwell on it longer than necessary or to feel like I need to sit down and actually "do it" now. Getting it written down in a system where I know I'll come back to it when I need to helps me get the benefit of this kind of thought without it becoming a burden.
SiliconWizard:
--- Quote from: T3sl4co1l on June 19, 2023, 11:27:00 am ---Self-abuse is often a response to external abuse,
--- End quote ---
Yes, and there are a number of reasons why. One of them, and maybe the most common, is that it allows us to regain control over the pain we feel.
Essentially, we "cover" (mask) the pain inflicted to us by external factors with a pain that we inflict to ourselves, which we feel we have control over and which is more predictable, and thus usually more bearable.
Note that the fact we have more control over self-inflicted pain/abuse is usually only temporary. Just consider how much control you have over your drinking habits once they have become an addiction.
But at least in theory, we're still potentially in control. Feels less desperate.
Pain masking with another kind of pain is a very common behavior, and it works to a degree, until the masking stuff gets worse than the original source of pain.
helius:
Thanks, that's a trenchant observation.
On a less morbid note, it is similar to how an itch can be relieved by a counterirritant.
PlainName:
--- Quote from: abeyer on June 19, 2023, 08:08:18 pm ---That said, there's one thing I find important: If in the course of doing this I have an idea or solution or any kind of thing I need to come back to and isn't just idle contemplating, or when I'm in the middle of thought and need to set it aside to pay attention to something else, I capture it in writing someplace that:
* Doesn't mix/overlap with personal life stuff, so it stays out of my way until I'm ready.
* I know I will come back to 'on the clock' when I am ready to follow up.
--- End quote ---
Excellent advice.
DiTBho:
--- Quote from: DiTBho on June 16, 2023, 09:03:47 am ---
--- Quote from: Nominal Animal on June 15, 2023, 06:57:56 pm ---Pulling up your cellphone instantly doomed you to failure, I'm afraid. :(
--- End quote ---
After the previous failure, as a compromise, I told the trader "I specifically want one of these" - showing a couple of pic of the Bianchi Champion bicycle water bottle - "find it, and make your price"
That's what he is very happy to hear
- the product name/product and vendor id, instead of the product specs
- a pic of the product, instead of the product datasheet
- have a generous margin of gain to make his price (maybe that's what widens his smile the most)
The Bianchi Champion bicycle water bottle is less aesthetically cool than the Campagnolo BioTherm because it is not aerodynamic, and it's also more fragile because it is made of glass and steel, almost like a common camping thermos, so if it falls it breaks up, also 100g heavier, but better for me because it's able to supply fresh water for many more hours!
Problem solved :D
--- End quote ---
strategic success, it worked!!!
not one, but two items got -20% off!!
;D ;D ;D
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