Switching from Python2 to Python3. I never had a strong preference for either (most of what I write are short, throwaway scripts), so just stuck with Python2 out of habit. After implementing a basic static site generator, seeing it explode when I put "naïve" in the database, and then discovering the awkwardness of using Unicode in Python2, I decided to port it over to Python3. Using Unicode by default was a huge advantage.
Ask HN: What was your “why didn't I start doing this sooner” moment?
121–130 of 785 posts
Re: Ask HN: What was your “why didn't I start doing this sooner” moment?
#122How about stopped doing? There was a weekend where I had spent close to 20 hours playing World of Warcraft to farm materials and reagents for the epic engineering mount. After I had finished it, and spent the requisite time showing it off in-game, I looked around and realized that all of thrill of lifelong learning and making things in the "real" world has been subsumed when all my spare time was consumed in a virtual world making vanity things. And it finally hit me how profoundly stupid that was. So I stopped playing WoW.
Re: Ask HN: What was your “why didn't I start doing this sooner” moment?
#123Exercise, 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…
Removing Windows Administrative Access from everyone's computer's whom I "managed", allowed them to never call me again. Now I just get bugged when they want a new computer! :D Switching everyone to Chromebooks helps too.
Re: Ask HN: What was your “why didn't I start doing this sooner” moment?
#124Every time I start seriously exercising this hits in about week ~4. Sadly, I only generally keep it up for 6 months before falling back to old habits. Professionally: email lists. If you have any reason to have a blog, you should have an email list. It surfaces the identities of the people who are actually interested in what you have to say, and ties people to you much, much tighter than "Oh yeah, that thing you wrot…
I'm currently at that 6 month point in my exercise program for about the 5th time. Anybody have any hints for pushing through it?
Someone else suggested below to get a personal trainer just to get over the hump. Alternately, schedule firm dates to exercise with someone else as a change of pace.
Re: Ask HN: What was your “why didn't I start doing this sooner” moment?
#125Earn my salary in bitcoin.
Re: Ask HN: What was your “why didn't I start doing this sooner” moment?
#1263 things for me:
1) Meditation, I used to think it was something hippies did. I now think its worth 10 IQ points. I honestly can't recommend it enough.
2) Sleep, I'm getting close to 40 and the last 2 times I pulled all nighters I ended up deleting pretty much all the code I wrote from 11pm onward.
3) Occasional Fasts. I normally fast from 6pm until noon the next day but I now do one 3 day fast each month. I think this is going to become more and more common as a way to head off cancer in the body.
I'm not a doctor but my doctor friends believe that eating less is the secret to increasing life span and fasting is the secret to heading off cancer cells before they can really start to grow.
Also after 3 days of fasting I find that the mind becomes sharper.
Your millage may vary....
Re: Ask HN: What was your “why didn't I start doing this sooner” moment?
#127Actually learning how JavaScript works.
Do you have any recommended resources? I "know" javascript, but I feel like there's so much more to learn.
I am reading the second edition of "The Secrets of the JavaScript Ninja" now and I am learning a lot of what goes on
behind the scenes. Highly recommended.
Re: Ask HN: What was your “why didn't I start doing this sooner” moment?
#128Learning to read Ancient Greek. The insights into language and culture just keep coming...
What have you been reading? I loved Anabasis (not too tough for a beginner like me), trying to read Ethics.
Re: Ask HN: What was your “why didn't I start doing this sooner” moment?
#129Earlier quoted context omitted.
So... describe the moment you realized this.
probably May 2014 when I plugged my spending and net worth numbers into https://lab.madfientist.com/ and it came back with: 9 yrs until FI I had always been a guy who spends less than he makes but that kicked my ass into gear.
here's similar calculators without needing a sign-in: http://mustachecalc.com
Re: Ask HN: What was your “why didn't I start doing this sooner” moment?
#130Every time I start seriously exercising this hits in about week ~4. Sadly, I only generally keep it up for 6 months before falling back to old habits. Professionally: email lists. If you have any reason to have a blog, you should have an email list. It surfaces the identities of the people who are actually interested in what you have to say, and ties people to you much, much tighter than "Oh yeah, that thing you wrot…
I'm currently at that 6 month point in my exercise program for about the 5th time. Anybody have any hints for pushing through it?
For me, seeing progress towards my goals is very helpful. This can be snapping a photo once/week in a mirror, recording your lifting progress, etc.
Another big aspect is sustainability (just like with your work life). You can make yourself train really hard for 2 hour workouts, 6 days a week and see massive progress, but once the progress starts to plateau it will be very difficult to stay motivated if your workouts aren't actually enjoyable. A good workout partner will give a lot of encouragement and enjoyment out of workouts.
Another option is to do activities that you find inherently fun - join a rec sports league, take up cycling, play racquetball, etc. Rather than zone out playing video games or watching TV, put on your headphones and go for a hike. Variety is a good thing.