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Ask HN: Have you experienced decline in problem-solving skills? How to improve?

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Re: Ask HN: Have you experienced decline in problem-solving skills? How to improve?

#131
post #20

> 3. Has anybody found ways to improve their problem-solving skills? Or critical thinking? For me nothing ever beats running and the associated runners's high. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4915811/ Probably you could analyze how so-called β-hydroxybutyrate is synthesized and eat precusors too before going.

I never get a high from running or any other kind of exercise.

For me getting "high" from running is pretty hard. Bicycle rides in the other hand, pretty easy... just need to pick some speed :)

I bet some people get "high" on messing others lives :D you just need to seek yours :)

Re: Ask HN: Have you experienced decline in problem-solving skills? How to improve?

#132
post #26

In my own experience there was a precipitous decline in my job performance related critical thinking around 32-34 ( I'm 36 now ) that I chalk up to a variety of factors: - Stress - Family obligations - Not enjoying the work I do anymore - Solving the same problems over and over because I can't fix the org that produces them. - Solving the above problems in a new technology. - Crappy co-workers that I don't want to in…

> Solving the same problems over and over Years ago I was a manager on a (software) test team, and I can definitely relate to this. We were locked into a cycle of ... "The test pass ran and one of the test cases failed." "Which test case and what does it mean? Who owns it?" "Well, Joe wrote it but he went to Amazon two years ago and it's assigned to Bob." "What does Bob say?" "He doesn't fucking know, there's no meta…

> "But what if it's 'valuable'?"

That hit me hard... yes, that takes energy from a person.

Re: Ask HN: Have you experienced decline in problem-solving skills? How to improve?

#133
post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Wow how do you have time for sleep, exercise, bootstrap start up, learn another language, etc. as a single dad? Any suggestions on life organization? Do you have a team of nannies/house help?

I have lots of help. I write during work hours (so kids are at school). At work I delegate as much as possible to a team of great people; hiring a good team has been critical. I sometimes hire a sitter to support some exercise time, and other times I bring my kids with me to a running track. I hire housecleaners to clean regularly to help me keep my home nice and organized. I don't currently have a personal assistant…

what is your take on caffeine consumption?

Re: Ask HN: Have you experienced decline in problem-solving skills? How to improve?

#134
Felt the same but I think we were both wrong :D

"I used to be pretty school smart in subjects like math and comp sci" probably means that you felt smarter than some/many due to your surroundings (it's always in comparison with others).

That perception gradually is being corrected but it messes with your self image. You weren't that smart, as in, imagine now trying to learn the easy things that learned at that time... you would still be great at it :)

The problems are harder, life is harder, your peers are better and it is all a bit less exciting because you have seen it before.

Thing to do: * Improve your energy/capacity management. If you're tired, relax don't try to brute-force as it's usual when young. I sometimes half listening to a podcast, execute tests and read an article. Other times I low on energy/capacity I need silence, close HN and just focus on code.

* Find other things to excite you at your job... Maybe having junior devs be happy that you're helping them light a spark again.

* Do individual/team sports. Whatever allows you to clean your mind from work/tech and be excited to do it.

> Does anybody have a good way of testing their intellect or problem-solving periodically?

Join a code challenges site. You will find that you're pretty good at the easier levels :D And you can retest it regularly.

I sometimes used to a quick sleep deprivation test just to be sure that I was slow due to lack of sleep. I use to throw a pen in the air and catch it after 3 turns, it was very obvious the days where I needed sleep.

Re: Ask HN: Have you experienced decline in problem-solving skills? How to improve?

#135
post #123

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>I'm pretty sure the FDA has never denied a drug use application because it's not patentable and that's just a conspiracy theory used by people pushing bogus treatments. No, that's not it, that's a very uncharitable interpretation and is unnecessarily dismissive . The real issue is that no one wants to pay for studies to turn off-label uses to on-label uses if there isn't money in it because the process is expensive,…

Apologies for the wrong interpretation, but I'm still skeptical. The generic drug market is huge, this drug in particular is already approved and in wide use for fertility treatment meaning that it's already passed safety trials. Getting approval for a secondary usage would be less costly than starting from scratch and there would likely be a huge market for this. There is absolutely money to be made from anyone who…

Unfortunately I’ve been unable to dig up the details and citations but there have been companies that have tried. It isn’t as straight forward as it seems. See my other comment in this thread about one that tried. I even owned their stock for a while hoping it’ll work out but in the end the FDA didn’t want to encourage safer TRT’s. I was floored when I read their justification and my stock went to zero, and it looks like the company is dead now. I wish I could dig it up, the FDA memo on their decision changed my view of medicine forever.

Re: Ask HN: Have you experienced decline in problem-solving skills? How to improve?

#138

I am in my mid 40's and recently really noticed this. It felt like some of the teeth in the gears of my mind were worn down and things were slipping. After complaining about it to some peers I was informed this could be due to low testosterone so I went and had that tested. Apparently my testosterone level was that of a 70 year old man so I started testosterone replacement therapy. I can say that it is a complete gam…

Uh, did the doc mention why the testosterone levels could be low to begin with? Diet / "life style choices" / stress / lack of exercise? At mid 40s simply 'age' isn't all that convincing.

What about side / ill effects?

Re: Ask HN: Have you experienced decline in problem-solving skills? How to improve?

#139
I am 50+ and no not at all. Quite the opposite. Having 25+ years of experience in very different software development contexts makes most things super easy to figure out. I have either done something similar before, or I have proven general solutions that can be easily applied to specific cases. Having said that, I also very carefully manage my diet and exercise. Learning as much as I can about keeping my body and mind healthy. That might be a reason as well?
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