It's interesting that you mention this, because someone that I used to work with used the same analogy. From my perspective, it's good that the tortoise is steady, but how can the tortoise know that he's going at a quick enough pace? Let's say it was the tortoise vs. the hare vs. the snail. Maybe the tortoise and hare act as they did in the fable, but the snail is even slower than the tortoise. The tortoise would probably win, even if the snail were also going at a steady pace.

So I'm apprehensive to be a tortoise, because I'm afraid of being too slow.

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be immersed

Great idea. I think that prioritization is something I should do more of. I really like this post.

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be immersed

I like this analogy. Think of it as: the tortoise and the hare each get where they're going in a reasonable time (counter to the fable, where the hare was lucky to finish at all). The snail never gets to the end, because the race has long ended and been shut down by the time he arrives.

At my job we have a lot of tortoises and a lot of snails. I'm also much more like the hare in this updated fable, and I think, or hope, that it's appreciated. I think I'm beyond fixing, though... I am the opposite of detail oriented, but many of the detail oriented people (who may work MANY extra hours) often never seem to get where they're going (or at least are directionally misguided).

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When you're working on something that you care about, I think that avoiding a matter of distractions is not hard work per se, so much as good habits. It's hard in the sense that many people fail to focus on things that they actually do care about. But it's not hard work in the sense that you get burnt out because you're expending so much energy on not checking L19. Instead, focusing on the thing you want to work on is energizing and fun.

At least that's my two cents, as a severe procrastinator.

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Occupy Babel!

experience. practice. training.

you have to learn to set goals (realistic goals), and then learn when you need to sprint to reach those goals in spite of whatever setbacks come along the way. learn to prioritize and be flexible.

but mostly experience. don't be too quick to jump to conclusions and make the wrong choice. I've seen programmers quickly code a "solution" before the problem has yet to be fully analyzed. take your time to read it out first.

Work, even work which you enjoy, is stressful.

A lot of people have good advice here, but IMHO, it really comes down to stress management, and self motivation.

When you get up in the morning on a work day, what is it that you think? If it's 'crap, work again', you may need to look at your motivation, and attitude.

If you get up thinking 'Work today, here's what I need to get done today', that's a good place to be.

If you get up thinking 'Hooooray, work!' You may be the most energetic work loving person I know.

I believe a lot in the power of attitude adjustment. Coming from a manic depressive home, sometimes that attitude adjustment comes in the form of little pills. Sometimes it's meditation. Sometimes it's just reaching a point of being content with your work.

But, as people have mentioned, it's hard to stay positive, and focused, all the time.

For a traditional 9-5 work week, it's important to set aside time on the weekends, and in the afternoon, where you absolutely don't think about work. This may be difficult, especially if you have a job that comes home with you, but, focusing more for shorter periods during a day is often more productive than losing focus for long periods.

Take breaks at work. Even if you're on a roll, and having fun, and 100% focused, schedule work breaks, and take them if you can. Clearly, emergencies or desperation level workloads can interfere with breaks, but that's special case sort of thing.

If you feel yourself growing frustrated, or losing focus, take a break. Be it 15 minutes, or a day, take a break, calm yourself, and evaluate your goals and what you need to get done now. No matter what your job is, you can only fix/work on one thing at a time. Figure out what needs done, in what order, and head back in with a positive outlook.

Hope some of that is useful.