commit a5fc212362ccbdab6e378bae1141ab918acb3fd9
parent a0f882a426345ebbafd196dfe799c7a1c6dde17c
Author: Jake Bauer <jbauer@paritybit.ca>
Date: Tue, 9 May 2023 23:04:34 -0400
New blog post: Computers as Workspaces
Diffstat:
2 files changed, 94 insertions(+), 0 deletions(-)
diff --git a/content/blog/computers-as-workspaces.md b/content/blog/computers-as-workspaces.md
@@ -0,0 +1,91 @@
+Title: Computers as Workspaces
+Author: Jake Bauer
+Date: 2023-05-09
+Summary: Using different computers as different physical workspaces.
+
+# [%title]
+
+**Author:** [%author] | **Published:** [%date]
+
+I came across a page on [Dave Gauer's site](http://ratfactor.com), about
+how he treats different computers as [different physical
+workspaces](https://ratfactor.com/cards/computers-as-workspaces). That,
+along with Josh Ginter's post on [keeping a separate creativity
+computer](https://thenewsprint.co/2022/03/28/keeping-a-separate-creativity-computer/)
+and Alexander Cobleigh's post on making a [social media
+computer](https://cblgh.org/social%20media%20computer/) helped me to put
+words to the habits I've found myself falling into.
+
+Like Ginter, I seem to have a kind of mental block when it comes to
+being able to easily dive into and stay focused on things like writing,
+long programming sessions, or reading long-form content on my "primary"
+computer and it's hard to articulate why. This mental block doesn't
+exist at all when I use my laptop, leading me to use it instead for
+those tasks.
+
+My desktop computer, with its large 4K monitor and recent CPU and GPU,
+feels great for doing stuff that fits well on a large screen such as
+podcast editing or graphics work, but when it comes to concentrating for
+long periods of time on text-based tasks I find it awkward and tiring.
+I also tend to use the desktop extensively for entertainment—playing all
+manner of video games, socializing with friends, and watching various
+shows, conference talks, and videos—which might be a reason why it feels
+difficult to concentrate on the kinds of tasks that don't provide
+a constant dopamine drip while using it.
+
+Not to say that I can't use it for those "more productive" tasks; it
+just seems to take some outside pressure (like an imminent deadline) for
+that mental block to become less of a force compared to the need to get
+the task done, and it's not a very comfortable or enjoyable process as
+a result.
+
+On the other hand, my laptop, despite it's smaller screen and more
+compact package, doesn't seem to cause me the same level of fatigue,
+even when working at the same desk; sitting in the same chair. I've
+found myself much more able to dive into long-form tasks and stay
+focused on them when using it. For example, I've been able to wake up
+and immediately get right to work on my laptop without any sort of
+spool-up period, but that would always seem to be a struggle with my
+desktop. I've also been able to sit in front of it for a near six hours
+straight working on something that I'm passionate about, which I could
+never bring myself to do on my desktop. (Also, I've come to prefer the
+snappy feel of my laptop keyboard, especially when writing lots of
+text.)
+
+And, even when I do take longer breaks while using my laptop, I can
+actually re-focus easily after taking those breaks instead of going down
+another YouTube rabbit hole like I used to on my desktop because I just
+couldn't bring myself to get back into long-form work on what is
+ostensibly my "entertainment device".
+
+So, there seems to be something to this idea. That, much like having
+some kind of clear separation between physical "work" and "play"
+environments leads to being better able to keep the two separate with
+both mental health and focus benefits, I've found the same to be true
+when it comes to using different computers for different purposes, even
+when the actual physical environment around me doesn't change.
+
+Plus, setting up those different computers with different environments
+optimized—or at the very least tuned—for some particular set of tasks
+makes it easier to concentrate and stay focused on those tasks when in
+that environment, and provides even more of a separation between
+a computer that is used for play and one that is used for work.
+
+As Gauer mentions, this idea might seem a bit extravagant and wasteful,
+considering that there are many who can hardly afford one computer, let
+alone several. He mentions that relatively powerful computers are quite
+inexpensive these days, especially on the second-hand market, but I'd
+also like to add that a separate physical computer might not even be
+necessary. If you are strapped for cash or simply don't want another
+_thing_ in your life, a separate user account with a different set of
+programs installed and a different look and feel on the same physical
+computer might also work.
+
+If you've noticed the same trouble getting or staying focused on tasks
+using the same device you commonly use for entertainment, perhaps give
+this a try and [let me know](mailto:jbauer@paritybit.ca) how it works
+out. If you have any tips to share about using computers this way I'd be
+happy to hear them too.
+
+Until next time,<br>
+~jbauer
diff --git a/content/blog/index.md b/content/blog/index.md
@@ -21,6 +21,9 @@ year old—may not match my current views or practices.
<button type="submit">Search</button>
</form>
+[Computers as Workspaces](/blog/computers-as-workspaces)<br>
+<span class="date">May 9, 2023</span>
+
[OpenBSD on the Dell XPS 13 9380](/blog/openbsd-on-the-dell-xps-13-9380)<br>
<span class="date">March 17, 2023</span>
