IDK what to do! I don't like my tasks! This task is impossible! I'm running out of time! I can't focus! I want entertainment! I'm feeling unproductive!

I'm Bored! What am I supposed to do during a break?

Bored?

• do you have anything in particular that you need to get done soon?
• make a plan (to keep your day organized)

Christian

• pray
• read bible
• preach the gospel
• read books

Care

• shower
• shave
• trim nails

Sport

• go running
• go cycling a long distance (with friends?)
• go in-line skating

Social

• game online with friends
• meet up with friends
• play physical (not virtual) games with friends
• Meet some old friends
• find new friends (at a bar, at a festival, on the beach...)

Learn

• learn musical instruments
• learn new software (programming languages; photo, audio, or video editors; blender; or FL-studio)
• learn to sow
• learn knitting
• learn new knots
• learn first aid skills
• learn survival skills (edible plants and mushrooms)
• learn new languages
• learn how appliances work to the point where you can service them yourself
• learn how to control vehicles (like trains, steam trains, planes, boats, excavators, forklifts, and tractors)

Organize

• organize cheap events (like a barbecue)
• dropping
• plan a vacation (with friends?)
• organize a reunion (not a revolution)
• memorable experiences

Chores (tiring)

• shop
• trash
• dishwasher
• cook
• prepare the table
• vacuum
• laundry (or learn it)
• taxes (or learn it)
• car maintenance (or learn it)

Postponed tasks (tiring)

• fix computer issues
• set up a system of backups
• fix or scrap broken appliances
• clean your room
• fix 3D printer
• find old to-do lists that I postponed

Business (tiring)

• make YouTube videos
• make apps, websites, and games that could be profitable
• develop 3D-printed parts that could be profitable
• get a new job

So it's impossible?

Relax!

1. RELAX okay, click this button, it makes a funny sound click
2. just take 5 minutes do some pushups

Analyze

1. Don't get overwhelmed, do what the planning tells you to do, Do you need to know what steps to plan? Just number the numbers from the document or exercises you are following
2. Write down the problem as a subtask
3. Split it into smaller and smaller subtasks

Seek help

1. chatGPT
2. Tutorials on the internet: Youtube videos, documentation
3. group chats
4. classmates or collegues
5. Teachers or supervisors
6. Contacts from companies you happened to know
7. Online forums

Skip it!

1. go to the next task so that you can return later with a fresh view, Try a different task click

Fix it!

1. know that your problem can be easily solved with a different mindset
2. Write down a few solutions to the problem
3. Estimate how long each of your solutions will take
4. assess whether or not any of these will be worth the time

Conclusions from a big project (I had to design four microchips using verilog in Vivado)

• errors? Ask a question and continue with the next project, to return later with new hope and insights
• too much work? Stop looking ahead!
• be attentive! Spot small errors and fix them before they become deeply buried needles in a haystack. don't accept anything that looks off, don't assume that it will work, don't be lazy: "it mostly works... so I can proceed to the next step"
• If you have multiple separate and equally urgent projects that all require rendering, you should skip rendering processes that can't be performed while you are working on something else and continue to the next project, this way you can focus on getting everything done first. Otherwise you may spend too much time debugging any errors on the first project.

The troubleshooting mindset

• isn't overwhelmed
• is curious
• doesn't mind work
• is focused
• can analyze complex problems

Code troubleshooting checklist

1. Take a break
   1. with a clear mind you'll be able to solve this puzzle 10x faster
2. Isolate the issue
   1. revert changes until the problem disappears
   2. slowly add changes back until the problem comes back
3. Data
   1. Print values at specific points and analyze their correctness, or add an array of reference data and automatically compare the result to the reference
   2. Graph values or plot positions, lines, and angle lines so you can easily track multiple values at once and more easily spot anomalies
4. Common errors
   1. check types of variables
   2. Check boundaries of arrays and buffers and check for edge cases (don't ever allow your code to divide by zero)
   3. Check typos: names, capital letters, symbol order, forgotten symbols, compare to a reference, type it again
5. Analyze
   1. Ask chat GPT what it thinks about your functions, could it be that you didn't understand a specific element all along
   2. Install a spelling checker extension to catch those invisible typos
   3. Write an explanation of your issue or explain it to a friend so your mind will go over everything
6. Rewrite
   1. If all else fails, rewrite it. But do it orderly though: choose clear variable names and keep your functions no longer than ten lines, make a new function otherwise.

Desperate for entertainment?

• turn on some music you like
• can you focus? yes / no
• NO: take a break and open the can't focus page
• YES: click this button for a minigame
• Write down any plans you have for your games
• Check out "no motivation"

can't focus?

• Take a break
• Do you have or want a different task or a fun task? yes / no
• Drink some water
• Open a window (if it's stuffy)
• Eat something
• Take a nap (or coffee if you are into that)
• Turn on some music you like at a low enough volume to not be distracting
• Still too tired? Find a mindless task to do like checking emails

running low on time?

1. Give up! (lower your expectations)
2. Just see how far you can get
3. you can divide the work over smaller chunks of time with smaller goals until the goals are manageable

can't start?

1. figure out what you will become if you get through it; if you like it, you should have motivation; if you don't, think of something you like about it, like the fact that you are doing something productive.
2. make detailed plans that you can follow without ever having to consider what you need to do
3. If all else fails then follow your planning because it is the best way to spend your time, gaming for hours straight without breaks isn't fun, spending your time productively makes you satisfied. Then don't care about the test weeks glooming in the distance, or the "I can't game anytime soon", but rather "I want to get better at following my planning", "I want to learn to be productive", "I don't want any of my time to leak away". By always following a plan, you should become more disciplined and happier.
4. Do you still like to game? Plan it in: I don't care, but please be realistic: can you game for five minutes and then stop? If not, you should plan 55 minutes with a 5-minute buffer. Also, remember that your mind may prioritize the game over the planning during the gaming. So maybe you should take a break from gaming every 25 minutes just to get your priorities straight. PlannedOut could even allow you to plan with your friends to game together at a set time.
5. Imagine you had motivation for productive tasks, you wouldn't care about playing games anymore. You can learn to get motivated for something, but you may need to learn it for each of your courses individually.

can't find what you should be doing?

1. Take a good break
2. create sub tasks
3. look online for solutions
4. start
5. take a look at "This task is impossible!"

can't start?

1. Take a good break
2. update your planning
3. go!

wanna know how to take a proper break?

• stare out of the window
• get a drink or snacks
• do some push-ups
• go for a walk or go running
• or practice the guitar
• but don't watch YouTube videos or play video games those tend to be less effective
• take a look at the bored page for more inspiration