Unlearning a bad habit

[je]

How possible is it to unlearn something?

I'm trying to unlearn some bad habits that I do in computer programming and artwork. I'm finding it pretty hard now that it has been maybe four years since I learned to program, and about two years since I started doing computer based art.

Is anyone else having trouble unlearning a habit in their life? If you have successfully unlearned an ingrained habit, share some of those secrets for unlearning something. I'm sure that there is no real secret, but if there is please share it with me.

Edit: I read that the easiest way to kick a bad habit is to replace it with another habit. Any thoughts on this?

[lady amarant]

As I understand it, the only way to really unlearn a habit is by replacing it with a new one. You need about a month to learn a new habit, and it boils down to repetition. I find the best way is post-it-notes EVERYWHERE with a reminder on there. It really does work.

~Simone.

[Just Mandy]

I think you have to focus on the bad habit and everytime you do it correct yourself.

What are the bad habits with programming? Maybe we can offer more specific suggestions. There are many
programmers on this site with years of experience.

Amanda

[Kate]

As I understand it, the only way to really unlearn a habit is by replacing it with a new one. You need about a month to learn a new habit, and it boils down to repetition.

Exactly. It works well with unproductive thought-patterns too I've found. There were a number of issues and worries and obsessions that early-on in transition I simply refused to think about anymore. They were wearing me out. So I just STOPPED. No excuses or special techniques, I just stopped doing it. I don't even remember what it was I don't think about, rofl.

But seriously, it works. It takes determination and persistence, but you can really change who you are, how you think... if you really REALLY want or need to.

~Kate~

[je]

What are the bad habits with programming? Maybe we can offer more specific suggestions. There are many
programmers on this site with years of experience.

I guess I was a bit vague. I'll try and give a better idea now.

Overall I tend to take shortcuts. I tend to be lazy at times. My worst problem is my persistence. I will sit stubbornly on a programming problem for eons. I know that it isn't good to just focus on one thing for a huge amount of time. It is very unproductive.

Another problem is that I don't comment my programs well enough. Furthermore my comments are not descriptive enough.

In addition to those problems, I will sometimes throw in magic numbers. I have trouble giving good names for files and classes (in c/c++.) Sometimes I'll forget to use the const keyword when it is needed. Finally I overuse global variables.

In art I have a tendency to do things the same way. I'm trying to break out of that mold by looking around on art sites to see how I can continue to evolve. I don't want to keep using the same formula over and over.

You all have offered me some encouragement. Ultimately this is a problem only I can solve.

[lisagurl]

Put your computer and TV in storage. Get a brush and paper with paint. Use your imagination for a year then figure out how to do that on the dumb machine if you still want to use it.

[Constance]

As I understand it, the only way to really unlearn a habit is by replacing it with a new one. You need about a month to learn a new habit, and it boils down to repetition. I find the best way is post-it-notes EVERYWHERE with a reminder on there. It really does work.

~Simone.

I have to echo what Simone has posted.

With regards to programming, I developed (no pun intended) different habits (write all comments FIRST!). Same thing in other aspects of life. In order to for me to kick a habit, I have to replace it with another.

[Seshatneferw]

I don't know some of the relevant particulars (like if you program just for fun, or for a living, and if so what kind of constraints your employer has), but so what. 

It may be easier to make a major change in how you program instead of trying to just fix the problems. For instance, learn a radically different language (like Lisp or Prolog) and play with that exclusively for a few months before going back to C++, hopefully with a new set of habits. Or change your intended audience: stop writing programs for a computer, so that it will do what you want it to do, and instead write programs for other people, so that they will understand what you want the computer to do.

  Nfr

[je]

I might just quit programming altogether for a while.

Or change your intended audience: stop writing programs for a computer, so that it will do what you want it to do, and instead write programs for other people, so that they will understand what you want the computer to do.

I try to emphasize readability above almost everything. Yet even so it is something I need to work on.


On a side note I'm not a beginning programmer. I have a good amount of expertise in c/c++, and I know my way around in the windows api. I also have a good amount of experience in assembly and java. Even so I'm no expert programmer. I don't know a million computer languages, but the ones I do know I'm pretty decently skilled.

[Mnemosyne]

I try to emphasize readability above almost everything.

A programmer who is concerned about the UI? You are a rare breed.

What kind of computer art do you do?

[je]

Someone who actually wants to know? Wow you have made my day.

At first I delved into doing anime styled artwork. Back in the early days, my guinea pig was Ranma-chan of Ranma 1/2. I also practiced on Amelia of the Slayers.

Although anime styled art isn't bad, it just never suited me. As I slowly improved in art, I began to try out what I call anime realism. I began to give realistic features to some of the less realistic anime characters while maintaining what makes them unique. That is the kind of artwork that I do right now. So I guess it is realism, but with anime characters.

I'm sure you can tell how one dimensional I am, but thanks for asking.

[Mnemosyne]

Are you using a Wacom and drawing stuff in by hand? 3d art applications like poser? Do you post your work anywhere?

I dabble a bit in 3d and with Gimp. Nothing to brag about and probably explains my interest.

[je]

I have posted on deviantart. In fact my last piece of art got about 150 views in a week before I took it down. I don't know if that means anything, but that is the facts I know of.

I use a wacom tablet intuos3. I don't know what others use it for, but I use it for specialized things such as hair. I draw everything by hand. I might get into 3d soon because that can get very tedious. I might try out milkshape3d.

It is always nice to see someone sort of like me. I find art to be a peaceful experience. Although when doing hair it can be a pain in the ass.

[Mnemosyne]

Back when I was drawing, I hated doing hair. I would have pages full of expressions and heads, mostly bald. I tried doing just simple outlines but then it looked like something was exploding on the head. I did copy a scene from a graphic novel one time and even the hair came out great but then I had something to base it on. On my own, not too good.

Art of Illusion and Maxwell are also good 3d apps. Also Daz Studio, which is free and comes with some basic content and can use a lot of Poser stuff.

Why did you take your piece down from DA?

[je]

A few people posted some hateful comments. Some people just know how to ruin things for everyone else.

I tend to be very sensitive to that junk unfortunately.

Have you tried blender? I'm not sure about that one through.

[tekla]

Kid, if you can't take the critics, you can't do art.  Art is public, and the public is entitled to its reactions, not the reactions you want them to have.

Every night I work with bands that got good and bad reviews.  Not being able to take it is the difference between performing in public and staying in the garage.

[je]

You are not wrong in what you say. I need to learn to just smile about it.

[tekla]

You don't "smile about it" you just ignore it.

[Mnemosyne]

I tried Blender out awhile back, running under Linux. I did not care for the interface but, to be honest, I did not have a lot of time to invest into it. Right now on my Windows partition I have the latest Hexagon that I picked up for $2. I have created some odd things with it to learn how to shape a model and reduce/increase the polygon count. I have also used Gimp to do some textures for existing models. Baby steps...