Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Ask HN: How are you holding up?

news.ycombinator.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

111–120 of 398 posts

Re: Ask HN: How are you holding up?

#111

Post by virtue3 »

screye wrote: post #16

Really badly, but could be worse. I am entirely sure that I have moderate-serious depression since the lock down started. I rely entirely on external structure and physical separation of spaces to keep myself sane. So WFH has been disastrous for me. I have been eating worse, not working out, stopped pursuing hobbies/side projects and have been incredibly unproductive at work. Thankfully, a year of good results prior…

Are you me? Seriously hit all the nails on the head for me. Except my country is not yet currently at war. And I used to go out social dancing and that is basically dead until next year most likely.

I ruined two coffees the other day. Put too much peppermint oil in and screwed it up.

And then I let my coffee friend screw with my grinder/machine settings and it got hosed. ugh.

I really recommend getting a workout buddy and making yourselves accountable. It's helping so far.

Re: Ask HN: How are you holding up?

#112

Post by patio11 »

(Offered in the hopes that this helps someone.)

After struggling with it for about twenty years and dealing with a particularly bad episode, exacerbated by 2020 things, I was diagnosed with major clinical depression and started treatment today.

Socially distanced Internet fistbump to anyone else having a rough go of it. Some subset of the problems are within the purview of medical science; consider asking.

Re: Ask HN: How are you holding up?

#113

Post by DarrenDev »

Pretty good, all things considered.

We elected to stay in Lanzarote for the duration of the lock downs, working remotely. It’s been great here, with good weather and very few cases, though the Spanish lockdown was very extreme compared to Ireland’s. Working remotely played out better than anticipated — an island far from home is no different to home when the whole company is working remotely. Bit of an eye opener there for sure!

We’re Leaving in four weeks to return to Dublin. Lost a lot of weight due to healthy eating and a lack of junk food and processed food. Cut out the alcohol almost entirely, and the stress levels dropped off a cliff after the first week of lockdown.

The whole experience has raised a lot of questions about where and how we live and work. The first thing I'll be doing when I get home is handing in my notice on my over priced apartment in Dublin.

Re: Ask HN: How are you holding up?

#114

Post by csunbird »

jaynetics wrote: post #56
screye wrote: post #16

Really badly, but could be worse. I am entirely sure that I have moderate-serious depression since the lock down started. I rely entirely on external structure and physical separation of spaces to keep myself sane. So WFH has been disastrous for me. I have been eating worse, not working out, stopped pursuing hobbies/side projects and have been incredibly unproductive at work. Thankfully, a year of good results prior…

It never ceases to amaze me how different people are. For me, all effects have been the exact opposite. Less going out, so more cooking and healthier eating. Less tired from open office noise, so more energy for sports. More free time without commute, so I picked up some long forgotten hobbies again. This means my advice might not apply to you, but if I may still recommend one thing: ignore most of the news for a whi…

I feel like the traditional office/working culture is built around extroverts and not compatible for introverts, since extroverts value face to face conversations and feel stimulated and prefer the open office and other noises.

This change made introverts more comfortable, because all the other distractions are gone. I feel the same way like you do, I have more time and I was able to improve my daily life.

Re: Ask HN: How are you holding up?

#115

Post by virtue3 »

thom wrote: post #72

Keep expecting it to get easier but being stuck with a toddler and two older kids with 1.5 jobs between me and my wife has been tough. It's exhausting, there's basically no downtime, and we end up in spirals of shame and guilt at being terrible parents, partners, employees. All of this to a constant backdrop of fear and uncertainty, trying to balance sanity with following the rules and the science, trying to mediate…

I recommend detoxing on the FB poison. It's not real life. It's all pretend.

That shit is basically guaranteed to make you feel worse about yourself. Take care of yourself so you can take care of your kids!

Re: Ask HN: How are you holding up?

#116

Post by woohoo7676 »

I've worked remotely for the past several years, so that part has unfortunately not been a benefit for me.

Not being able to go to coffee shops/coworking spaces for socialization, as well as not seeing friends in person has really started taking a toll in terms of depression. I am an introvert, however people often confuse that for not wanting any social interaction. I do prefer to have social interaction, just with close friends and usually in smaller groups (followed by rest after).

I do realize that I am lucky to still have a job and be healthy. Still, it has been a tough time.

Re: Ask HN: How are you holding up?

#117

Post by bigpoppa »

Y'all are spoiled rotten. This entire thread is millenial'ist first world problems. You should be ashamed of yourselves. Come on people, have you really gotten this weak? Do you forget where you live and what opportunity has been put forth before you? Have you no shame? The majority of the rest of this world would die to provide a fraction of your miserable lives to their children.

Re: Ask HN: How are you holding up?

#118

Post by taylortrusty »

It’s okay. I live in New York City and am a very social person. Our company is all WFH but I was going into a coworking space each day. I went to tech and social events every night. I did a lot of happy hours. I saw friends every day, pretty much.

March / April I saw no one other than my girlfriend a couple times a week. Time became slow. I became a lot less motivated. I was cooking more than ever and saving more money than ever. I felt depression coming on. I live in a giant building and even leaving the apartment felt like a big production - can I trust the elevator? My doorman? People on the elevators? Why are they out too?!

By late April I realized I was going crazy without human interaction and no changes in my routine. Started organizing sidewalk happy hours with friends, where we distanced and drank and walked around the empty city. I think I’ll really cherish those memories for many years.

I used to travel a lot and missed that stimulation. Me and my girlfriend decided to drive NY - Los Angeles and stay on the west coast for the month of June. Stopped in national parks, saw some beaches, a lot of hiking, got a haircut in Manhattan Beach. Restaurants are open out west. Then ten of us rented a house in Lake Tahoe and had the most amazing time. Currently heading to San Diego to see family.

It’s turning around. My work motivation is back and work is now going better than ever. Working from new locations most days is fun. I feel great again. Interested to see how much NYC has changed when I go back July 1.

Re: Ask HN: How are you holding up?

#119

Post by dccoolgai »

axegon_ wrote: post #15

Contrary to what I imagined, better than ever. Work: Incredibly smooth, even if I'm confined to a 13 inch laptop as opposed to 2x 26 inch screens (OK, I occasionally hook up my TV for extra help). Peace, quiet, fully able to focus on my tasks. Physical health: Several years ago I decided to dedicate a portion of my spare time to sports and I got into my best shape ever by end of last year(body fat ~10%, down from 20+…

>Peace, quiet, fully able to focus on my tasks.

So no kids, lol. The hardest part of this is how I think it works this way for everyone else on my team at work. They are (normal work + 100%). I'm (normal work - 80%). Got my first negative performance review ever a couple weeks ago. It's rough.

Re: Ask HN: How are you holding up?

#120

Post by UnpossibleJim »

It's weird is an understatement. On the one hand, the remote work is great. I don't commute, so I see my 5 year old all day even though I'm working. I don't have to go into the city. My lunch breaks are in the backyard with the dog and my kid and my mom who watches my son. I've switched to 4 tens, which I love.

On the other hand, the news cycle is an ever present anxiety machine. Even when I don't tune into it, it filters in through texts and my wife. I worry that the medical supply lines are going to become unstable and that will be that, and there's only so long a type I diabetic will last without medical supply. It's odd that everyone else seems to be excited for some Mad Max style revolution, and I just want some kind of normality. I feel like the kid at the house party worrying about people scratching the table and breaking dishes while everyone else is having fun.

It's a strange dichotomy, this time we live in.

Post reply on HN