When you work, the world disappears...

[intpz]

I've noticed this often around this place, and I also have wondered on many occasions what it means, even before I've been participating in the discussions here. Since I do not know what it means as of now, I am going to describe how it is when I do something I really enjoy.

• I hate any kind of noise around me, except music, preferably not too loud.
• I don't want to be disturbed by someone talking to me, however if it happens, I respond instantly as if we were conversing prior.
• If there's noise around, I do think both about the thing I'm working on and the noise as what may be happening, I may even as something about it unrelated to stopping it.
• Sometimes I chat when I work and/or check forums or similar sites in process. Preferably chatting with a slow typists, that way I can do part of what I'm doing in between the replies. I hate those who send 25 messages for one fucking sentence.
• I often think of ways to improve the project I'm working on WHILE I'm working on it. I may write it down to work on it when I'm done with the current situation.
• If I have a list made of things to do about that project, I pick the tasks in a logical order as well as what I want to do at that moment and work on it until I'm done.
• I seldom feel like I need a break, often I just go to the very end of what I'm doing, unless it takes a really long time.
• I am aware of the time, and I am aware that I want to eat or drink, I finish up what I'm doing to a logical breaking point and eat/drink, then get back to it.

So that's me working. I don't see it as "the world disappears," therefore I am wondering, how do you guys work? Especially those who have mentioned somewhere the expression in question, how do you compare to me?

 

[PhoenixRising]

What I mean by "the world disappears" is that when I'm working, I'm completely focused. I block the outside world out. Even if someone is talking to me, I don't hear them, they have to tap me on the shoulder for me to realize they exist. I can sit and work for 24 hours straight or longer without realizing that time has passed at all. I often forget to do things like eat or go to the bathroom. Then when I finally finish my project, I realize I really need to pee! lol

 

[A22]

I'm confused. Are the dinossaur and the no-avatar the same guy?

 

[intpz]

What I mean by "the world disappears" is that when I'm working, I'm completely focused. I block the outside world out. Even if someone is talking to me, I don't hear them, they have to tap me on the shoulder for me to realize they exist. I can sit and work for 24 hours straight or longer without realizing that time has passed at all. I often forget to do things like eat or go to the bathroom. Then when I finally finish my project, I realize I really need to pee! lol

LOL. Well that's somewhat what I have had in mind about "block the surroundings when working" statement. I wonder if it's a good thing or a bad thing. I know that I've always found it strange and I have never been in such a state. The closest to this is when I finish a code sentence (<5s) before saying something, but even that is extra-rare for me.

 

[Architect]

I tend to get easily distracted. One reason I decided to be a computer nerd was because I concentrate the best while on the computer, there (here) I will lose track of the time while I'm working. Even so I need to take somewhat frequent mental and physical breaks, but I'll be back at it out before too long.

I'm experimenting with different work styles, such as playing music or video in the background while I'm doing something. It's common for some creative types, such as painters, to work with music playing for example.

 

[Vidi]

Even if someone is talking to me, I don't hear them, they have to tap me on the shoulder for me to realize they exist.

The same here.

Not necessarily even working, just plain thinking suffice. People get annoyed or offended, they think they're being ignored. This makes me feel concerned a little, because even relatives do and after years of knowing me they should know better then get offended. My theme song on the subject should be 'Don't let me be misunderstood' or something.

 

[intpz]

I tend to get easily distracted. One reason I decided to be a computer nerd was because I concentrate the best while on the computer, there (here) I will lose track of the time while I'm working. Even so I need to take somewhat frequent mental and physical breaks, but I'll be back at it out before too long.

I'm experimenting with different work styles, such as playing music or video in the background while I'm doing something. It's common for some creative types, such as painters, to work with music playing for example.

Since music stimulates emotion, it's logical for visually creative work to have music on, as it creates the stimuli for certain parts of the painting.

 

[PhoenixRising]

I'm confused. Are the dinossaur and the no-avatar the same guy?

No, I'm a completely different person, I assure you. I believe intpz is male, and I am female.

His question was sparked by something I said in another post.

 

[PhoenixRising]

The same here.

Not necessarily even working, just plain thinking suffice. People get annoyed or offended, they think they're being ignored. This makes me feel concerned a little, because even relatives do and after years of knowing me they should know better then get offended. My theme song on the subject should be 'Don't let me be misunderstood' or something.

@Vidi I know what you mean, people think I'm rude because they feel ignored. It is interesting how that works isn't it?

 

[intpz]

No, I'm a completely different person, I assure you. I believe intpz is male, and I am female.

His question was sparked by something I said in another post.

I think he was being sarcastic.

 

[PhoenixRising]

I think he was being sarcastic.

I don't know about that. In order to be sarcastic, his comment would have had to allude to the fact that you and I were saying the same thing. However, in my description I express the exact opposite of what you said, you integrate the world around you with what you are doing, while I completely exclude the world around me.

I think he was genuinely confused because I related my comment to the other post where I first mentioned "the world disappears". Since you used that phrase, it is likely that he took my description of what I mean by "the world disappears" as you adding a description to further explain your post.

@A22, is this correct, or were you being sarcastic?

 

[skip]

It depends on the kind of work. If it's SJ busy work I need something else to occupy my mind so I usually listen to the radio. If it's something I need to think about, I need quiet with no distractions but I always found that very difficult to get in a traditional corporate workplace.

 

[intpz]

It depends on the kind of work. If it's SJ busy work I need something else to occupy my mind so I usually listen to the radio. If it's something I need to think about, I need quiet with no distractions but I always found that very difficult to get in a traditional corporate workplace.

I wonder, can one wear earplugs in such an environment?

 

[skip]

I tried and was told not to, so I tried to listen to the radio with earbuds and that was frowned upon, too, but I kept doing it.

 

[intpz]

I tried and was told not to, so I tried to listen to the radio with earbuds and that was frowned upon, too, but I kept doing it.

You can get those earbuds that go into the ear, they should cancel the noise combined with some pleasant noise coming out of them. They are a bit costly though, shitty ones cost about $20, while good ones about $50-70, last time I checked. Was about 2 years ago though.

 

[A22]

I wasn't. The thread title was "when you work, the world disappears" - created by no-avatar

Then the dinossaur answers: "when I mean the world disappears..."

I was confused

 

[PhoenixRising]

I wasn't. The thread title was "when you work, the world disappears" - created by no-avatar

Then the dinossaur answers: "when I mean the world disappears..."

I was confused

Understandable A22, sorry for being confusing

 

[pjoa09]

Being focused is a once in a blue moon thing for me unless if I am playing very fun game.

But when I truly buckle down I can be a masochistic perfectionist.