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Ask HN: What was your “why didn't I start doing this sooner” moment?

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Re: Ask HN: What was your “why didn't I start doing this sooner” moment?

#751

Post by jon-wood »

baccredited wrote: post #97

Saving for FI (Financial Independence) If I save at my current rate I will achieve FI in 2022. If I had started saving aggressively sooner I would already be FI (I'm in my mid forties). I hate answering to other people and would rather work on my own stuff. FI will get me there. Read the book The Simple Path to Wealth to understand the process. Or this blog post is a good start: http://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2013/02…

I find it really reassuring to see you saying that while in you mid-40s. Due to a series of stupid financial decisions in my late twenties I'd kind of given up on the thought of doing anything much more than getting by, guess I should do some reading and get that sorted.

Re: Ask HN: What was your “why didn't I start doing this sooner” moment?

#752

Post by mod »

sputknick wrote: post #186
adam12 wrote: post #166

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm trying to get myself to enjoy gaming again. I can't seem to just relax and play a game without thinking I'm wasting my time. It's also hard to get the same high in a game that I do when I solve a bug or add a feature to whatever project I'm working on.

I'm going through the same thing. Just bought my son his first console. I tried getting back in to it. No interest. The whole time I just wanted to put down the controller and go "actually" do something.

Try a competitive game. Something like hearthstone.

If you don't want to keep getting things done, that is.

I have no interest in a game unless I can demonstrably become very good at it compared to others. So, games like Skyrim (which used to be my favorite genre) are no longer very fun for me. Typically I don't finish them.

Re: Ask HN: What was your “why didn't I start doing this sooner” moment?

#753

Post by mod »

lucb1e wrote: post #477
carlesfe wrote: post #44

Exercise, though others have said that. Personally, I'd say that the thing that changed my life for the best has been Not Giving Tech Support. When I was a teenager I was kinda miserable because some people abused me for tech support. You know, it's nice to give favors, but at some point you're fed up of reinstalling every computer in your block every 6 months. People stop you on the streets and the first thing they…

> we're kinda old I'm curious, what do you think the average age on HN is? Not that I have the facts, but I don't think HN is such an old audience.

I think ~38.

Re: Ask HN: What was your “why didn't I start doing this sooner” moment?

#754

Post by mod »

bhandziuk wrote: post #497
jc4p wrote: post #486

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Uh I went from 305lb to 205lb in a year and at my lowest was around 17% body fat at 205lb 6'1" -- I really think you're overthinking this, it's very possible to look what he looks like in that last photo by just being consistent and caring about what you do.

Nature's on his side too. I do believe if you are prone to gaining a lot of fat you can turn that tendency into muscle instead.

That simply means he ate a lot of food.

Nobody is prone to it.

Re: Ask HN: What was your “why didn't I start doing this sooner” moment?

#755

Post by mod »

paxcoder wrote: post #593
rdegges wrote: post #411

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You should just get started! It honestly isn't that hard. If you can write software, you can get into amazing shape =)

You are not a role model (anymore, at least). Don't set up people for failure, or alternatively, an unhealthy lifestyle like yours. Whatever phisique requires steroids to achieve is literally too big and anyone who is not into bodybuilding will think that.

You come off as incredibly insecure.

Re: Ask HN: What was your “why didn't I start doing this sooner” moment?

#756

Post by mod »

antisthenes wrote: post #106
baccredited wrote: post #97

Saving for FI (Financial Independence) If I save at my current rate I will achieve FI in 2022. If I had started saving aggressively sooner I would already be FI (I'm in my mid forties). I hate answering to other people and would rather work on my own stuff. FI will get me there. Read the book The Simple Path to Wealth to understand the process. Or this blog post is a good start: http://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2013/02…

Step 1: Have a job that allows this to be feasible.

Since most everyone can live on less than they have, this is already the case for almost everyone.

Deciding to live permanently at your current level is actually step 1. If you can't do that, then you'll have to increase salary, yep.

Re: Ask HN: What was your “why didn't I start doing this sooner” moment?

#757

Post by tudorw »

icebraining wrote: post #704
tudorw wrote: post #702

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do they, care to cite some research on sleep or meditation?

Sure, I'll spare you the five minutes of web searches: http://cordis.europa.eu/project/rcn/192255_en.html http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2866254/ http://sleep.stanford.edu/research/recent_publications.html http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/about/org/ncsdr/research/ http://www.pennstatehershey.org/web/psychiatry/research/over... https://www.unisa.edu.au/Education-Arts-and-Social-Sciences/... http://onlinelibrary.w…

thanks, useful list, still, if we added up what was spent in the same period on exploitable research are you arguing that it's a non-issue ? I think your list serves as more evidence for my case, these areas are very under researched especially in the light of the good outcomes that the research that has been done offers, no ?

Re: Ask HN: What was your “why didn't I start doing this sooner” moment?

#758

Post by pbnjay »

eldavido wrote: post #149
pbnjay wrote: post #14

Freelancing. Had I started just 2 years earlier (when I started grad school) I would have been able to knock out my debt much faster by the time I graduated.

Where do you live? In SF, it seems most freelancers are in it for the lifestyle benefits, rather than the pay. When you factor in the lack of vacation time, no benefits, often worse career development and networking vs. working at a proper tech company (one that hires good people, pays well, encourages learning/skill development) it seems a losing proposition. But then, this assumes you have the right kind of compani…

I've lived a few places on the east coast basically, all lower cost of living. But I've been freelancing with folks in SF and Chicago, so the differential is in my favor.

I started freelancing in grad school, so I've pretty much always been moonlighting and choosing my own hours (in addition to the "day job" of grad school).

Re: Ask HN: What was your “why didn't I start doing this sooner” moment?

#759

Post by prawn »

louprado wrote: post #69

Reducing my carbohydrate intake, limiting workouts to 20 high intensity minutes, practicing better sleep hygiene, asking more questions and arguing less, taking vitamin D supplements, setting limits on gifts and travel, avoiding alcohol and limiting to 3 drinks maximum on any given night, cutting my own hair, buying rental property, realizing that absent mindedness is a symptom of poor planning, focusing on problems…

Don't disagree with a gift limit, but the travel note probably deserves clarification. If we're not living to experience things (including the world around us), what are we living for?

Re: Ask HN: What was your “why didn't I start doing this sooner” moment?

#760

Post by dang »

mod wrote: post #755
paxcoder wrote: post #593

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You are not a role model (anymore, at least). Don't set up people for failure, or alternatively, an unhealthy lifestyle like yours. Whatever phisique requires steroids to achieve is literally too big and anyone who is not into bodybuilding will think that.

You come off as incredibly insecure.

No personal attacks, please.

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