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

Ask HN: What do you do when you are lethargic?

news.ycombinator.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

41–50 of 60 posts

Re: Ask HN: What do you do when you are lethargic?

#41

Post by evook »

hellofunk wrote: post #37
evook wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You've clearly never lifted weights seriously. From a medicinal point of view different types of heart activities don't even exist.

Different types of cardio workouts definitely exist, and most trainers will tell you that a well-rounded health regimen requires a mix of many different types, including weight lifting juxtaposed with more cardio-centric exercises. But this thread is not about how to give your body the best workout.

Cardiology tells you it doesn't.

Do you really want to go down that road? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKorP55Aqvg

Re: Ask HN: What do you do when you are lethargic?

#42

Post by shreyas056 »

I suggest you get tested for psychiatric diseases like Bipolar or depression. I used to have similar mood swings and a year ago I went into major depression. I consulted a psychiatrist and got diagnosed with Bipolar disorder and depression. The mood swings were due to Bipolar. Now after one year of treatment and still going, I am having less mood swings. Depression has pretty much gone away too. But general lack of motivation still persists.

Re: Ask HN: What do you do when you are lethargic?

#43

Post by ogreveins »

You may want to try sunshine or bright lights. http://lesswrong.com/user/chaosmage/overview/

Other than that I can only think that you're not properly motivated. I don't know much about clinical depression so this may be obtuse but let's assume you were being tortured; burned, whipped, fingernail removal, whatever. Would you do everything in your power to get out of that situation? Well right now you're comfortable. There are no pressing matters and you have pretty much whatever you need from day to day. That emotional inertia that was there when you began working on your startup isn't there. There are also no new stimuli to spur you back into motion. So the only thing you can do is rest until your comfort level with your progress drops enough for you to get back into gear. I don't know, there's a very good chance I'm projecting from my own past experiences.

The only solution I've found which works for me every day is to get angry. Angry about what other people have done that I haven't done. Angry about what other people have that I don't have. Angry about not using my talents to the fullest - not seeing what I'm capable of doing. Angry about being told no, I can't. My progress is fueled by rage and my heart will probably pop by age 50 but I will get my work done. I will never allow myself to be comfortable.

Good luck, whatever you do.

Re: Ask HN: What do you do when you are lethargic?

#44

Post by Thriptic »

merpnderp wrote: post #24
hellofunk wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Weight lifting is rarely a sustained form of heightened heart activity in the way the other examples are. Yes it works your heart, but there are usually many relatively motionless pauses between short sets, as opposed to the constant push on your heart that accompanies more traditional forms of cardio work. Not a knock against weight lifting, just emphasizing a different type of heart activity.

Aren't those pauses usually people standing around trying to catch their breath, with their pulses coming down from the 180 they hit while doing a set? Isn't weight lifting more like doing a 40m sprint, then slowly walking back to do it again?

It really depends on the lifting. Heavy squats, deadlifts etc? Sure. The pseudo-bodybuilding a lot of people do when they hit the gym? Not really.

Re: Ask HN: What do you do when you are lethargic?

#45

Post by ylg »

1. Food, as already said, but so very important it bears repeating. I've found there's nothing like a lack of available chemical energy (or water to facilitate the reactions) to drag down my kinetic expenditure. Just being aware of this is helpful, e.g., "I don't feel like doing anything… Wait, I haven't eaten right today… OK, time to fight through that now that I know the cause isn't some cosmic force outside my control!"

2. I've found I've a strong connection to musical context, i.e., when my ass is dragging, playing tunes I have listened to while doing things I find fun (in my case, careening down mountains on bikes with earbuds in) can give me a good jolt out of a lethargic moment.

3. Redirect the slack. Few time-wasters out there compare with surfing the web. So, if I'm falling down that rabbit-hole, I surf to find things I find motivating and energizing, e.g., reading about the training regimes of athletes I admire, or find youtube clips of them demonstrating significant badassery, or finding training clips I can follow (I've been enjoying Ryan Leech's 30 Day Wheelie Challenge lately.)

4. Take a nap. In the sun if possible.

5. Listen to Car Talk (while eating some proper food, but be careful with liquids that can come back through the nose.)

6. Smile. If you can't do #5, just plaster a big, fake grin on your face. I find it rare my brain doesn't say "hey, we're smiling here, crap we must be happy and energized and I just missed the memo, time to get on that!"

Re: Ask HN: What do you do when you are lethargic?

#47

Post by Thriptic »

hellofunk wrote: post #2

I think sustained cardiovascular activity is the best thing. Not weight lifting, but running, swimming, or fast walking, biking, any of those things. Seriously, it works. Also, getting the blood moving in that way tends to inspire many great ideas; many influential people throughout history associated active body movement with good ideas.

> Cardiovascular is the best thing. Not weight lifting, but running, swimming, or fast walking, biking, any of those things.

What makes you say this? I always feel fantastic and motivated after a hard session in the gym. I agree that long runs or walks yield more creative thoughts than time in the gym, but few things are as energizing and motivating as successfully grinding out heavy sets of squats or deadlifts.

Re: Ask HN: What do you do when you are lethargic?

#48

Post by zamalek »

scrollaway wrote: post #17

It's ok to be lethargic sometimes. If it's very regular it could be a symptom of something else (maybe psychological; depression, general lack of motivation), so maybe you can talk to a therapist about it. Go for a run? If you don't have the energy to run, go for a walk. If you're not going to do anything during the day, might as well enjoy the sun and visit new places.

Another option is to sit down and have a think. If your subconscious is trying to deprive you of all activities, other than thinking, there might be a reason for it.

Re: Ask HN: What do you do when you are lethargic?

#49

Post by hellofunk »

Thriptic wrote: post #47
hellofunk wrote: post #2

I think sustained cardiovascular activity is the best thing. Not weight lifting, but running, swimming, or fast walking, biking, any of those things. Seriously, it works. Also, getting the blood moving in that way tends to inspire many great ideas; many influential people throughout history associated active body movement with good ideas.

> Cardiovascular is the best thing. Not weight lifting, but running, swimming, or fast walking, biking, any of those things. What makes you say this? I always feel fantastic and motivated after a hard session in the gym. I agree that long runs or walks yield more creative thoughts than time in the gym, but few things are as energizing and motivating as successfully grinding out heavy sets of squats or deadlifts.

Hm, the OP asked what would I do to overcome lethargy. I personally would not lift weights, preferring instead the other forms of cardio activity I mentioned... so that is why I answered the OP's question as I did.
Post reply on HN