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Ask HN: How do you spend your free time in office?

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21–30 of 54 posts

Re: Ask HN: How do you spend your free time in office?

#21
Researching ideas that previously came to my mind minutes before when I was busier. I write down these kinds of ideas to save them for later and them I put them out of my mind as I'm trying to do my work. Or, I just browse HN.

Usually I look at this through my phone as I'm walking somewhere. Taking a 4-5 minute break for a walk is important because sitting all day is not healthy. Sometimes the walk has a purpose such as going to the coffee machine. Sometimes it's just randomly moving around then go back to my seat.

Re: Ask HN: How do you spend your free time in office?

#22
post #15

I work as a freelancer from home, so my answer might be less interesting to people at an office, but I've found that at home I'm mostly just doing the things I wanted to do at the office when I worked in one, but felt uncomfortable doing there. These include: Taking short (15 - 30 mins max) naps if and when I need them, which pretty dramatically helps me creatively problem solve. Going for a long-ish walk outside. Th…

Could talking to other developers about personal side projects constitute your company claiming ownership of the intellectual property?

Re: Ask HN: How do you spend your free time in office?

#23
post #15

I work as a freelancer from home, so my answer might be less interesting to people at an office, but I've found that at home I'm mostly just doing the things I wanted to do at the office when I worked in one, but felt uncomfortable doing there. These include: Taking short (15 - 30 mins max) naps if and when I need them, which pretty dramatically helps me creatively problem solve. Going for a long-ish walk outside. Th…

Could talking to other developers about personal side projects constitute your company claiming ownership of the intellectual property?

No, as I mentioned, I'm a freelancer. Intellectual property for any project is strictly defined in the contract for that project. I'm also operating on my own equipment, as a separate entity, on my own property. Not to mention that clients are actually not allowed to get to specific with when or how I do my work exactly, without breaking some Canadian (and I suspect American), rules related to distinguishing contractors from employees.

Re: Ask HN: How do you spend your free time in office?

#27
Productivity doesn't happen to me at office, so i have conversations with people on various topics of common interest - which further opens up avenues for exploration.

I sometimes prefer asking the hard questions, which we usually take for granted and try to get another perspective. Its fun and intellectually engaging when you actually sit down with a person and have a conversation rather than text!

Re: Ask HN: How do you spend your free time in office?

#29
post #19
post #15

I work as a freelancer from home, so my answer might be less interesting to people at an office, but I've found that at home I'm mostly just doing the things I wanted to do at the office when I worked in one, but felt uncomfortable doing there. These include: Taking short (15 - 30 mins max) naps if and when I need them, which pretty dramatically helps me creatively problem solve. Going for a long-ish walk outside. Th…

> Going for a long-ish walk outside. Do you have a real objective on those walks (ie getting groceries, lunch) ? I like walking with non-gym clothes but only when I'm actually doing something in the way...

No, usually that lessens my enjoyment actually. The point for me is to get outside and just enjoy being there, and being a little bit active, not to pack another objective onto my to do list. I'll often make a small coffee and sip that while I listen to a podcast, which could be a business or programming podcast, something like freakonomics, or just entertainment like 'How did this get made?'. On the way back I might stop and pick up a few groceries or something though.

I can see how my way do the opposite for some people though, where the mental pressure valve for them is released by getting something else on their to do list done.

Re: Ask HN: How do you spend your free time in office?

#30
post #19
post #15

I work as a freelancer from home, so my answer might be less interesting to people at an office, but I've found that at home I'm mostly just doing the things I wanted to do at the office when I worked in one, but felt uncomfortable doing there. These include: Taking short (15 - 30 mins max) naps if and when I need them, which pretty dramatically helps me creatively problem solve. Going for a long-ish walk outside. Th…

> Going for a long-ish walk outside. Do you have a real objective on those walks (ie getting groceries, lunch) ? I like walking with non-gym clothes but only when I'm actually doing something in the way...

I just walk around the office park I'm in at least once a day. No objective except to listen to music and stretch my legs.

Noticed a lot of my pants were getting tighter 6 months ago and after several months of daily walks things are back to normal.

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