PostieDay 26 · 25 September 2026
Chapter 1 · 9 days to the chapter deadline
- The Obligation to Work on This
I spent today working again on my paid job so I didn't have enough time to work on Postie... I remember specifically having a thought going to bed. It was 10pm at night and I was like "if I send prompt then I did something today on Postie" and that's when I was like "what's the point?".
Yes AI makes things super fast and all and the actual act of writing code has vanished so we can focus on the fun things like actually building... but this whole last week where I've effectively taken a break from Postie (admittely forced by my health and all) I've come to ask "Why?"
I love that AI enables me to do projects (like Postie) where the barrier for trying and doing things has effectively down. Starting is now easier. What I realise is maintaining focus on a project through is actually now harder as at any point I can just be "New Shiny Project Time". How very ADHD but it's true.
I've recently been finally "clinically" diagnosed with ADHD (although I've known I've had it for at least 2 years at this point). It's changed how I view my behaviour towards my work and personal projects. Just the act of stepping back and asking why has really helped quiet the impulses to continue building and building and building "just because".
Whether it's 11pm at night and I get the itch to just send one prompt or I want to keep working on something even though it's effectively complete. I reason with myself "I need to do this because of x" but then I am like "Why? You need to relax and go to bed" or "Why? You need to do this instead"
Specifically the prompt example really stood out to me because when I started this dev diary I wanted to do something "every day" to keep this project "alive and worked on" but I realise the things I was doing at 10pm / 11pm at night weren't actually that high quality with AI becuase even though I don't watch AI implement the work the output is never how I expect and requires me to be present enough and work collaboratively with it to do so.
I don't want this project to become an obligation or a box ticking exercise. It might not get my attention every day but that when when it does get my attention it can be fully focused and mindful.