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Ask HN: What is your experience with 'doing something' daily challenges?

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Re: Ask HN: What is your experience with 'doing something' daily challenges?

#51

Post by ai_ia »

Broken_Hippo wrote: post #41
ai_ia wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As someone with no artistic talent, I would love to see the improvements. I myself would like to do something similar. Can you upload your before and after arts that you have made?

Somewhat - I don't keep dated picture files. And keep in mind, I started oil painting at 8 years old, taken as much instruction as I could, and sold and stuff, so what you and I would see as improvement might differ quite a bit. Plus as a beginner, you wind up with different sorts of improvement goals. But nevertheless, three links. I've only started with watercolors a few years ago, about the same time I started doi…

These are good. Nice job Man.

Re: Ask HN: What is your experience with 'doing something' daily challenges?

#52

Post by josscrowcroft »

Broken_Hippo wrote: post #50
josscrowcroft wrote: post #28

I've been writing Morning Pages (3 x A4 pages, hand-written) every day for almost three years. Sometimes I do them in the afternoon or evening, or right before bed. Sometimes I'll only do one page, sometimes ten... A month or two ago I spent a month writing about 20 pages a day of "morning pages" after a few intense experiences. After a month or so I didn't need to think about it any more, and now I can't imagine not…

I've a question: Do you limit your topics or simply write whatever you are thinking about? Do you set a timer?

Good question! Neither. I write whatever is on my mind, it changes day-to-day. It's sometimes logical, rational things, plans for the day or week or a project, and sometimes it's dream recall from the night before, or pennies that have dropped, sometimes it's stream-of-consciousness, nonsense, or just fiction. I'll usually shift between these and page 2-3 tend to be more 'out there' and get to the deeper stuff going on in my life. I don't set a timer, but the process generally takes 25-30 minutes on an average day.

The key is to write without editing and as much as possible, without stopping to think or read.

I learnt about the practice in The Artist's Way about 3 years ago. I think this is the most up-to-date website about it: http://juliacameronlive.com/basic-tools/morning-pages/

Re: Ask HN: What is your experience with 'doing something' daily challenges?

#53

Post by Broken_Hippo »

josscrowcroft wrote: post #52
Broken_Hippo wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've a question: Do you limit your topics or simply write whatever you are thinking about? Do you set a timer?

Good question! Neither. I write whatever is on my mind, it changes day-to-day. It's sometimes logical, rational things, plans for the day or week or a project, and sometimes it's dream recall from the night before, or pennies that have dropped, sometimes it's stream-of-consciousness, nonsense, or just fiction. I'll usually shift between these and page 2-3 tend to be more 'out there' and get to the deeper stuff going…

Thanks! I might have to give this a try. I've been considering writing more, and this seems like it would be fitting for me.

Re: Ask HN: What is your experience with 'doing something' daily challenges?

#54

Post by Broken_Hippo »

ai_ia wrote: post #51
Broken_Hippo wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Somewhat - I don't keep dated picture files. And keep in mind, I started oil painting at 8 years old, taken as much instruction as I could, and sold and stuff, so what you and I would see as improvement might differ quite a bit. Plus as a beginner, you wind up with different sorts of improvement goals. But nevertheless, three links. I've only started with watercolors a few years ago, about the same time I started doi…

These are good. Nice job Man.

Thank you.

Re: Ask HN: What is your experience with 'doing something' daily challenges?

#55

Post by arrmn »

I've meditated for the last 3 months. I've realized I'm much calmer around generally and can concentrate better on just one thing. I have a calendar on an A4 paper printed out and cross out each day when I meditate.

Since a new year is starting and I need a new calendar I've made a page that generates a calendar that you can print out. Maybe it's usefull for somebody http://printchaincalendar.com/

Re: Ask HN: What is your experience with 'doing something' daily challenges?

#56

Post by orasis »

0xcde4c3db wrote: post #7
20161112 wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This sounds pretty good. But I do love my grains and legumes.

Some of the restrictions in Whole 30 are silly, but for most programs like this, the main point is that the restrictions force you to change your habits. The details of the allowed and forbidden foods are almost irrelevant as long as the resulting diet is complete and balanced. I bet you could run this program with whole wheat (actually eating the wheat berries, not bread/pasta) and lower-starch legumes (again, eaten…

The point of whole 30 is to eliminate everything and see how you feel. After 30 days you add things back in one by one. Think of it as an experimental control.

Re: Ask HN: What is your experience with 'doing something' daily challenges?

#57

Post by charlieegan3 »

I've been running 4km+ every day in December; planning to get over 1000km this year. Really looking forward to a day off now though.

All the treadmill sessions merge into one, sometimes I've mixed up the morning with the night before.

I thought it'd be easier - finding the time is the hard part.

Re: Ask HN: What is your experience with 'doing something' daily challenges?

#58

Post by mjp94 »

josscrowcroft wrote: post #28

I've been writing Morning Pages (3 x A4 pages, hand-written) every day for almost three years. Sometimes I do them in the afternoon or evening, or right before bed. Sometimes I'll only do one page, sometimes ten... A month or two ago I spent a month writing about 20 pages a day of "morning pages" after a few intense experiences. After a month or so I didn't need to think about it any more, and now I can't imagine not…

Do you think that writing on paper vs on a computer makes a difference?

Re: Ask HN: What is your experience with 'doing something' daily challenges?

#59

Post by lowglow »

sigi45 wrote: post #15
lowglow wrote: post #10

I make it a habit to program everyday. At least one git commit. Jerry Seinfeld was famous for using his Calendaring system of marking an X for everyday he committed to his challenge. "Don't break the chain!"

That's actually not true. You can google it for yourself about it but it is a 'myth'

I actually watched an interview with Jerry where these words came out of his mouth...

Re: Ask HN: What is your experience with 'doing something' daily challenges?

#60

Post by ianamartin »

kjax wrote: post #43
ianamartin wrote: post #34

I get up every day. I go to work every day. I listen to music that I like every day. I make music. I make things every day. I write code every day. I manage people every day. I care about my family every day. The hardest thing for me every day is actually caring about anything. Because I don't really care. I pretend to care. But I don't really. Because I don't want to be here. I'm just stuck.

This really resonated. I wish I knew a term for "everything is just fine (objectively great, even), but I couldn't care less."

Hi kjax,

Listen, if you want to talk, I'm all ears. You can email me or you can even call me. I don't have answers. I really don't. But I'm more than happy to talk about questions. Or anything, really.

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