Live data from Hacker News

Ask HN: How do you use 5–10 minute gaps productively?

news.ycombinator.com

11–20 of 60 posts

Re: Ask HN: How do you use 5–10 minute gaps productively?

#12
It's best to just practice mindfulness in these periods. Literally just observe the world around you. Or observe yourself, your breath. Be silent and observe the thoughts that fly through your head like you would watch cars go by on a road.

It's a fancy way of saying do nothing. But it's still a productive way of taking no actions. You're appreciating the world you live in and the body you inhabit.

If you can't spare 10 minutes a day for this, then you need a lot more. Those who aren't mindful about their lives end up misaligned - efficient in the wrong direction.

Re: Ask HN: How do you use 5–10 minute gaps productively?

#15
1) Consciously clear your mind (i.e. "abandon" everything mentally), get up and walk (pace the room/corridor etc.). No stimulus to any of the senses and no use of memories. Calms your mind and gets your circulatory systems going.

2) Sit quietly, completely relaxed, spine straight (consciously against the back of the chair), tip of tongue in touch with upper palate, close your eyes, abandon everything mentally and try to focus at a point just in front of the middle of the eyebrows. If you get the focal length right you will feel a sensation in your body starting with the dilation of blood vessels in the head and foot.

Both are very refreshing to Mind/Body but the second is especially powerful (even better when done lying on your back since you can relax even more completely) when you get the physiological trick right.

When you get back to tasks after spending a few minutes practicing the above, you will feel a distinct sense of greater engagement, focus, energy all in a calm frame of mind and relaxed body.

Post reply on HN