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Ask HN: Are you happy, well-rounded? (dealing w/ depression/lack of motivation)

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Re: Ask HN: Are you happy, well-rounded? (dealing w/ depression/lack of motivation)

#111

Post by tmsh »

ddemchuk wrote: post #86
johnnyg wrote: post #67

I'm 28, own successful businesses and have plowed this ground. These aren't going to be standard answers, but its what has helped me. YMMV. 1. Get in a situation where you can balls out fight. I prefer jiu-jitsu but did TKD for a while too. We live in a controlled, over analyzed society. You talked about going to a shrink. That's valid but consider the alternative - you are so controlled and repressed that what you n…

For the love of god yes, everyone here, start a garden. When you find yourself pissed because ssh is taking too long, being able to go outside and water your plants that won't be flowering for another two months is a welcomed slap back into reality. I can't believe how much it keeps you grounded, it's crazy.

It's funny how much founders like gardening. I wonder if there's something to that.

Re: Ask HN: Are you happy, well-rounded? (dealing w/ depression/lack of motivation)

#112

Post by ApolloRising »

nlwhittemore wrote: post #74

I think the advice you're getting here is great, but I'd for sure add a big validation of therapy, and should it be right, medication. Therapy is one of those things that, if you find the right therapist, sort of becomes like "why WOULDN'T I have a professional to help with this?" I saw someone in Chicago on and off for about three years post college to help with transitions. I'm an extremely self-reliant person who…

SSIR should read SSRI (Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor). Only adding this comment to be helpful to anyone that needs to Google it for help.

Re: Ask HN: Are you happy, well-rounded? (dealing w/ depression/lack of motivation)

#116

Post by nosse »

dotBen wrote: post #17

I started to go through this a few years ago and I'm slowly recovering from it (I'm 28 now). The experience cost me my marriage (although that may have been a good thing, looking back on it) but it also cost me a lot in terms of opportunity cost. You could write a book on this subject but my advice in a nutshell is to find a therapist. If you are like me (and most HN'ers) - highly logic brained - then it can be hard…

This helped me a lot, and has worked for my friends.

In my case it was more about illogical sabotage of my own work. I thought I was just lazy, but when I started to realize I was using more energy avoiding my work than doing it would have required. Going to therapist may seem stupid at first, but it starts working only after you've done it couple of times.

Re: Ask HN: Are you happy, well-rounded? (dealing w/ depression/lack of motivation)

#117

Post by flog »

lionhearted wrote: post #70

When I get into a funk, I travel. It always snaps me out of it. How much are you spending per month, in what country? Because it's actually cheaper, including airfare, to live for a couple months in somewhere inexpensive. You can live an extremely nice in Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand for between $150 and $500 per month. It's $5 a night for a crummy room, $10 for a pretty nice room, $1 per meal for decent local food,…

I try a different city/country every couple of years. New Zealand, England, Australia is next on the list.

You can probably get a work visa for all of these places relatively easily.

Re: Ask HN: Are you happy, well-rounded? (dealing w/ depression/lack of motivation)

#118

Post by oscardelben »

tmsh wrote: post #111
ddemchuk wrote: post #86

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For the love of god yes, everyone here, start a garden. When you find yourself pissed because ssh is taking too long, being able to go outside and water your plants that won't be flowering for another two months is a welcomed slap back into reality. I can't believe how much it keeps you grounded, it's crazy.

It's funny how much founders like gardening. I wonder if there's something to that.

Gardening is an activity that involves a lot of thinking and more importantly it's not a quick fix. You learn to value your time and expect results after months.

Re: Ask HN: Are you happy, well-rounded? (dealing w/ depression/lack of motivation)

#119

Post by endgame »

smachimo wrote: post #91

I am mostly an on-looker during these discussions, however I had somewhat of a similar situation myself awhile back. I've ran a company for several years now, and although I am still in my early 20s, I hit somewhat of a similar hurdle. At the time, nothing seemed to really interest me within my everyday life, but along came something that would change my entire life thereafter - KITESURFING. One of the common quirks…

I'm also early 20's, just moved out from home, but I discovered tall ship sailing instead of kiting. (Actually, I'd done a 10-day voyage on the Sail Training Ship Young Endeavour before that and that's what made me keen for more.)

I'm (trainee) volunteer crew of a replica tall ship called the Enterprize. She's a replica built with period techniques and materials as much as possible. Tarred hemp ropes, hand-turned belaying pins, hand-sewn sails, that sort of thing. The ship's mission is to maintain a piece of living history that the general public can access.

It sounds like kitesurfing grabbed you like the Enterprize grabbed me: the major consideration when I'm planning a weekend now is whether or not I can sail.

I've found that I've met an entirely different class of people in tall ships than most other things I've done. There's a real difference in the interactions, like the forcefield that people put up when they're in commute/work mode is gone. It's not just the crew, either. The sort of people who sign on as passengers are often easy to talk to and have fascinating stories to tell.

Perhaps it's the wind? Keeping lookout while the wind's blowing through you is a fantastic feeling. Perhaps it's the chance to do something physical and immediate? Working together to get a sail set right is extremely satisfying.

I guess that concludes my first post on HN.

Re: Ask HN: Are you happy, well-rounded? (dealing w/ depression/lack of motivation)

#120

Post by froo »

flog wrote: post #117
lionhearted wrote: post #70

When I get into a funk, I travel. It always snaps me out of it. How much are you spending per month, in what country? Because it's actually cheaper, including airfare, to live for a couple months in somewhere inexpensive. You can live an extremely nice in Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand for between $150 and $500 per month. It's $5 a night for a crummy room, $10 for a pretty nice room, $1 per meal for decent local food,…

I try a different city/country every couple of years. New Zealand, England, Australia is next on the list. You can probably get a work visa for all of these places relatively easily.

Cool, you'll find that us Aussies are definitely a welcoming bunch.

What part of the country you visiting or is it going to be one of those whirlwind tours?

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