Ask HN: Tips for more energy during day? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: Tips for more energy during day?

#71

Post by tchock23 » Sun, Nov 07, 2021, 11:05 PM UTC

ecshafer wrote: post #23

Jugurtha wrote: post #11

I used to wake up at 0430, do a workout at home (push-ups, squats, abs, jumping jacks, mountain climbers, etc) for 30 minutes (hundreds of push-ups and squats, etc). Then take a shower. Then breakfast: water, 4 eggs, steak, turkey scallops, half a liter of milk (well, café au lait), fruit). I'd go out and feel I could slay dragons and bite the moon, and feel that way throughout the whole day. My classmates would get…

For most what you eat matters a lot. A high protein / fat diet gives a huge amount of energy. A high carb diet makes you hungry very fast and then a huge drop in energy. If I eat a small light breakfast of a bagle and cream cheese, or a banana I am more hungry, and have less energy than if I ate nothing at all. When I eat bacon, eggs, sausage, cheese for breakfast. I have a ton of energy all day. Lately, with WFH I h…

When is your 4 hour eating window?

Re: Ask HN: Tips for more energy during day?

#72

Post by muzani » Sun, Nov 07, 2021, 11:25 PM UTC

ttul wrote: post #18

See a doctor. Don’t try to science this yourself.

I've seen a few and the general response is the same as the top comments - eat well, exercise, less sugar, sleep. Also the advice is usually less useful than the internet. This is why the alternative health market is booming. There's not a lot of people like Dr Atkins who'd stick their neck out because of a more radical opinion.

Re: Ask HN: Tips for more energy during day?

#73

Post by timbeccue » Sun, Nov 07, 2021, 11:43 PM UTC

joeman1000 wrote: post #69

schwartzworld wrote: post #67

Do you snore? Many people have sleep apnea without knowing. They can sleep the full night, not actually getting rest. I got a sleep study and the answer was clear.

It can be an indicator, but you don’t have to snore to have it. I think if you fit any of these: - male - overweight - tired in the daytime you should go for a sleep study! I got diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea. It almost ruined my life, causing me to drop out of my engineering course. I would fall asleep in lectures and do no work, with no energy to push myself. I was diagnosed a couple of years ago, had sinu…

I’m intrigued by this. Did you have any symptoms that pointed to sleep apnea besides being tired/falling asleep during the day?

I used to fall asleep during class, which led to my (positive) life changing adhd diagnosis. While stimulants have since helped me stay awake, I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s still an underlying sleep problem. May mention this next time I see my doc.

Re: Ask HN: Tips for more energy during day?

#74

Post by joeman1000 » Mon, Nov 08, 2021, 12:16 AM UTC

timbeccue wrote: post #73

joeman1000 wrote: post #69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It can be an indicator, but you don’t have to snore to have it. I think if you fit any of these: - male - overweight - tired in the daytime you should go for a sleep study! I got diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea. It almost ruined my life, causing me to drop out of my engineering course. I would fall asleep in lectures and do no work, with no energy to push myself. I was diagnosed a couple of years ago, had sinu…

I’m intrigued by this. Did you have any symptoms that pointed to sleep apnea besides being tired/falling asleep during the day? I used to fall asleep during class, which led to my (positive) life changing adhd diagnosis. While stimulants have since helped me stay awake, I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s still an underlying sleep problem. May mention this next time I see my doc.

- I would often feel a ‘brain fog’.

- I would wake up with a headache which would continue through the day.

- I would drool a lot at night

- I would wake up several times during each night

- I would not have any dreams

- very low memory capacity (could not remember what I had been doing even a few days before)

- Just low motivation in general.

I don’t know how much it would cost, but if you can afford it I think you should do it. A few hundred dollars in my case was nothing compared to the cost of having my life sapped over the years by this illness. Best of luck to you.

EDIT: I think being a mouth-breather is a factor too.

Re: Ask HN: Tips for more energy during day?

#75

Post by jbjbjbjb » Mon, Nov 08, 2021, 1:13 AM UTC

ttul wrote: post #18

See a doctor. Don’t try to science this yourself.

That’s wise but equally doctors treat disease and don’t tend to deal with optimising health.

Re: Ask HN: Tips for more energy during day?

#76

Post by idontwantthis » Mon, Nov 08, 2021, 2:09 AM UTC

Work less. Seriously just give up when you get tired. Impossible problems become simple after a nap or even a full night's sleep. I know that if I work when I'm tired I'm just stealing time from myself and my employer.

Re: Ask HN: Tips for more energy during day?

#77

Post by rkk3 » Mon, Nov 08, 2021, 4:11 AM UTC

arnejenssen wrote: post #8

can16358p wrote: post #5

Don't eat carbs, don't drink too much coffee, do take cold showers.

Agree. There is no essential carbs. The only reason to eat vegetables is for the vitamins and minerals. But there are essential fats and amino acids.

> There is no essential carbs.

Fiber is an essential Carb

Re: Ask HN: Tips for more energy during day?

#78

Post by can16358p » Mon, Nov 08, 2021, 8:56 AM UTC

paulcole wrote: post #20

can16358p wrote: post #5

Don't eat carbs, don't drink too much coffee, do take cold showers.

This is funny because I do eat lots of carbs, drink quite a bit of coffee, and never take cold showers. Yet somehow I have plenty of energy. What do you think is going on here?

It changes from person to person, I used to be the same too for some time.

What I was saying is not like "you can't have energy if you eat carbs and take hot showers" but more like "if you lack energy, try not eating carbs and start taking cold showers to see if it helps".

Re: Ask HN: Tips for more energy during day?

#79

Post by timdaub » Mon, Nov 08, 2021, 9:55 AM UTC

pddpro wrote: post #7

I think that if maintaining good sleep hygiene and diets have not helped for a long time, then one should probably start consulting a trained medical professional.

Agreed, having iterations with a good doctor on what's potentially wrong in your body can do wonders! But finding a caring and trustworthy doctor is difficult.

Re: Ask HN: Tips for more energy during day?

#80

Post by tzekid » Mon, Nov 08, 2021, 10:11 AM UTC

crakenzak wrote: post #60

delecti wrote: post #43

It's not always possible, but try to take a 20 minute nap in the early afternoon. Doesn't matter if you fall asleep, just lie down and keep your eyes closed for 20 minutes. I have far more productive afternoons on the days when I take a 20 minute nap after lunch. Definitely a boon of working from home.

Is it still considered a nap if you don't fall asleep?

I would tip on "yes". It's a "no or low stimulus" time for your brain.

Personally I had a hard time "doing nothing," and found repeating and focusing on a word or sound in my head helpful - which technically transforms the nap into a lite meditation.