Ask HN: Peer Programming Without a Peer
So the last 3 months has taught me something about myself. Solitude makes my brain explode in inspiration and ideas very easy to explore without anyone looking over my shoulder and at home with easy access to all my hobbies and beloved gadgets. - I'm pretty sure now I could get an ADD diagnosis or maybe some other letters.
Problem is - I don't get much work done and in the end the people paying me to work will probably stop.
Procrastination is not new to me but I manage it a bit better when in the office. There I hate the noise and stress, but at least I kind of "feel" that I need to do some work.
It's frustrating - BUT - I found a solution: Peer programming.
I did have a chance to work with a colleague - a new guy who need to learn the way around old code. So he watched and listened to me sharing the desktop while I got work done - I was telling about why stuff was implemented, getting a lot of insight myself and having razor focus for 4-5 hours straight.
I was amazed! - but this was temporary. We don't use peer programming all the time and having a redundant peer who just pretend to listen is an expensive way to work.
- So my question: how can I trick my brain into this : "someone is watching and you need to keep focus" mode, where I actually enjoy working ?
I actually like what I do and I am OK at it - it's not because my work is boring - the procrastination I do is very similar to the real work I need to do.
I might just be hopeless - I might be the only one with this disorder. I see lots of people praising this work from home period, where they can work in silence and get focused. I envy this!