41–50 of 90 posts
1. Mindful meditation [free] John Kabat-Zinn [0] masters the link between science and meditation and has published very valuable books (including guided/audio meditation exercises) [1]. There are a couple of scientific studies which prove effectiveness [2] [3]. 2. LSD [$5-10/dose + $25/multi-use test kit] Benefits (mid- and long-term) are similar to those of meditation. In addition, you may be able to access your spi…
A few things: I started eating 2 hard boiled eggs (aka arse fruit) each morning. I now don't have a hunger craving at 10am like I used to have and can easily work through to lunch time and have a moderate lunch. I joined a choir and it helps take my mind off the 9 hours of coding I do every day. It also gives me an outlet for my limited artistic side. You say besides exercise, but I have to add that I started boxing.…
> I started boxing The hits you receive cause brain cells to die. Your brain being your most valuable asset, generally speaking, but even more so for intellectual work such as programming, you may want to switch to a no-contact martial art (such as kung-fu).
If you don't want to get better at fighting, might as well learn ballet, or go running.
Your point about head concussion from extensive boxing practice is a good one.
Exercise some and that makes me feel better as well.
This past year I have taken to napping 3 of 5 days at work 5 to 20 minutes. I have my own office and I nap during lunch break. Most naps are about 11 minutes long. I always time them. Napping helps my productivity immensely in the afternoon. I can be coding, architecting etc. within 10 minutes after the nap. Oh, I usually drink one coffee or white tea before I nap.
1. Mindful meditation [free] John Kabat-Zinn [0] masters the link between science and meditation and has published very valuable books (including guided/audio meditation exercises) [1]. There are a couple of scientific studies which prove effectiveness [2] [3]. 2. LSD [$5-10/dose + $25/multi-use test kit] Benefits (mid- and long-term) are similar to those of meditation. In addition, you may be able to access your spi…
Spiritual dimension is just vague new age rhetoric. I don't want to be fear mongering but you may end up with a psychosis as well. Recommending random strangers to use recreational psychedelic drugs under the guise of getting "similar mid- and long-term effects to those of meditation" is flat out irresponsible.
For those who are interested in using psychedelic drugs. First of all, never use a full dose the first time you use it. Second, get a sitter aka babysitter. That means someone who does not use any drugs (that means nothing in the sense that the sitter(s) need to stay awake during your drugs usage, and worst case the sitter(s) should still be able to drive you to the hospital if its needed). Consider to inform your doctor and discuss with them the alternatives.
Instead of LSD and other psychedelic drugs I want to offer an alternative. If you want something akin to mindful meditation: do it more, or follow a 10 day Vipassana course.
> Certain "edge cases"/people should not try it.
This disclaimer is too vague. Some people don't know they are, or are young and will do it anyway because young people's brains (age If you're into mindful meditation and want to take it much further, follow a 10 day Vipassana course instead. You will get guidance from the people there, and if you really get over the edge during your 10 day course (you're likely to experience difficult times regardless), you'll at least not be under the influence of drugs and will be surrounded by specialists who are sober. Also, a mindfulness instructor (such a course might be worth paying for) has followed a 10 day Vipassana course as its part of the requirement to become one.
Finally, I can highly recommend yoga together with meditation. (Without any spiritual BS, as that is unnecessary/distracting and excludes those with different religions including atheism. A good yoga or mindfulness instructor will include everyone, and avoid using such rhetoric.)
TL;DR do mindfulness, yoga, Vipassana don't do psychedelic drugs.
I noticed that everything digital is starting to distract me if I'm not careful. Even if I just go to my mac go check OmniFocus, my brain automatically wanted me to do other things on my Mac at the same time, while I'm already using it. Same for my phone.
I discovered the BulletJournal as a fantastic planning tool. Instead of having note apps, calendar apps, todo list apps and so on, I just have my nice Leuchtturm1917 notebook and a pen with me. It's destressing me, allowing me to be more analog and man, I completely forgot how nice good paper can feel.
It also helps me a lot fighting perfection and OCD. Every pen stroke is permanent which makes me appreciate mistakes more. Instead of an error, every wrong line gives the notebook more personality.
Lastly I was so surprised what a engineer brain can do with simple dotted paper. It's so easy to create new modules and layouts to expand the system further to solve another specific problem. It made me became creative with inventing new spreads for planning my months, tracking my daily habits or just scribbling down all movies I still want to watch.
It's a perfect non-digital companion for a digital guy like me and I love it. Just sitting in a cafe without my Mac or phone and reviewing my paper based system started to become a regular ritual that works like therapy. I'm very excited to start 2017 with this little guy in my bag :)
No real habits to report, but for anyone interested in sit to stand desks, I found a site that sells them for relatively cheap. I can't personally vouch for the quality of these desks, but as far as I can tell, they are the same sort of thing that office furniture companies sell, only 300-400 bucks instead of 1000-1500. Not necessarily high quality, but functional enough. You do have to assemble it yourself, but anyo…
Earlier quoted context omitted.
> I started boxing The hits you receive cause brain cells to die. Your brain being your most valuable asset, generally speaking, but even more so for intellectual work such as programming, you may want to switch to a no-contact martial art (such as kung-fu).
"no-contact martial art" is a bit of an oxymoron. If you plan to use your martial art to improve at fighting (vs general fitness) there is no way around free sparring. Every school of Kung Fu that teaches fighting includes sparring. If you don't want to get better at fighting, might as well learn ballet, or go running. Your point about head concussion from extensive boxing practice is a good one.
I have made a consistent effort to be honest. Being honest about my feelings, thoughts and situations to everyone in my life; friends, family, and complete strangers. It's been incredibly benificial to my relationships and emotional well being, and I've been shocked at the level of compassion, motivation and honesty I've recieved in return, including deepening of relationships and emotional connection with friends/fa…
This is something people nowadays should do more, including me. I am going to make this my goal for the new year. I always fear how people will react/think about me when I tell them my feelings/thoughts. This has caused my to lie about a lot of things(mostly small ones), which becomes a habit in time. It mostly comes from insecurity about yourself and low selfworth and not being able to stand up for yourself. As such, I think these traits will greatly improve if you are honest.
1. Mindful meditation [free] John Kabat-Zinn [0] masters the link between science and meditation and has published very valuable books (including guided/audio meditation exercises) [1]. There are a couple of scientific studies which prove effectiveness [2] [3]. 2. LSD [$5-10/dose + $25/multi-use test kit] Benefits (mid- and long-term) are similar to those of meditation. In addition, you may be able to access your spi…
> In addition, you may be able to access your spiritual dimension Spiritual dimension is just vague new age rhetoric. I don't want to be fear mongering but you may end up with a psychosis as well. Recommending random strangers to use recreational psychedelic drugs under the guise of getting "similar mid- and long-term effects to those of meditation" is flat out irresponsible. For those who are interested in using psy…
It however requires one to literally read/understand/know everything about the substance before applying it
If you follow this, you will know if you belong to the category of people who should not use the substance to discover more of what we perceive as reality. It seems obvious to me that a comment on HN will never be able to fully cover the subject.
I agree however 100% with your suggestion to add yoga.