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Ask HN: How do you keep your energy level up?

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Ask HN: How do you keep your energy level up?

#1

Post by ganashaw »

I recently graduated and started a full time job as a software developer. By and large, I love my job. I usually spend my days solving interesting problems which is what I love doing.

That said, after working 8 hours a day (I usually do 7-4 with a 1 hour lunch break) I find myself exhausted afterwards. I sometimes find myself going to bed not long after dinner. I don't have time for any of the hobbies I had in college like gamedev or video games despite having a similar if not greater workload in college.

It seems like the main difference is that the work was broken up by classes in college which spread the work out more and made it less exhausting.

To be clear, I'm not talking about "burn out", at least not in the sense that it's normally talked about. I still love my job (I just started!) and the work it entails.

I take vitamins, and I get a reasonable amount of sleep each night (7-8 hours). I tried working out but that just seemed to make me more tired.

As I look at my future, I hope to one day have kids and get married, and I'd be a pretty poor parent if I came home with this level of energy every day.

So how do you do it? Do you have any tricks to keeping your energy level up throughout the day?

Re: Ask HN: How do you keep your energy level up?

#3

Post by ganashaw »

remotedreamer wrote: post #2

Modalert, caffeine, workout about 3 days a week, consume a small amount of carbs(smoke sativa weed instead of drinking beer before calling it a night), and a very fast internet connection.

Seeing that your name is green, "Modalert" made me think of some app or something that alerts mods when something needs attention.

Re: Ask HN: How do you keep your energy level up?

#4

Post by knux »

>I don't have time for any of the hobbies I had in college

>but that just seemed to make me more tired.

>I'd be a pretty poor parent if I came home with this level of energy every day.

This isn't energy, it's depression. Even if you are not talking about "burn out", talking about your energy levels is a mood issue, unless you are overweight, have a bad diet, or have irregular sleep (which, as you say, you do not).

I would mention these concerns to your doctor. 10% of US adults (http://www.healthline.com/health/depression/statistics) suffer from depression, and it has nothing to do with whether you enjoy your job. The difference, if treated, is that you will enjoy your job and have energy at the end of the day.

Re: Ask HN: How do you keep your energy level up?

#5

Post by knux »

remotedreamer wrote: post #2

Modalert, caffeine, workout about 3 days a week, consume a small amount of carbs(smoke sativa weed instead of drinking beer before calling it a night), and a very fast internet connection.

Stimulants will make them more active during work hours. They are talking about energy in evening hours. If you are suggesting stimulant use in evening hours, let me shut that down right now, because it will affect their sleep quality.

Exercise is a decent idea. I would suggest an antidepressant instead of a stimulant, though.

Re: Ask HN: How do you keep your energy level up?

#6

Post by remotedreamer »

knux wrote: post #5
remotedreamer wrote: post #2

Modalert, caffeine, workout about 3 days a week, consume a small amount of carbs(smoke sativa weed instead of drinking beer before calling it a night), and a very fast internet connection.

Stimulants will make them more active during work hours. They are talking about energy in evening hours. If you are suggesting stimulant use in evening hours, let me shut that down right now, because it will affect their sleep quality. Exercise is a decent idea. I would suggest an antidepressant instead of a stimulant, though.

Antidepressants cause more problems than solve, at least from my experience. Modafinil(modalert) is a mood enhancer, which I use when I wake up. Weed is too, depending on the individual. Sativa brings you up with energy and focus and then brings you down to help you sleep.

Re: Ask HN: How do you keep your energy level up?

#7

Post by squiggy22 »

knux wrote: post #4

>I don't have time for any of the hobbies I had in college >but that just seemed to make me more tired. >I'd be a pretty poor parent if I came home with this level of energy every day. This isn't energy, it's depression. Even if you are not talking about "burn out", talking about your energy levels is a mood issue, unless you are overweight, have a bad diet, or have irregular sleep (which, as you say, you do not). I…

woah there conclusion jumpin cowboy. tired after work != automatic depression.

Get a full set of bloods taken. could be underactive thyroid or anything.

Re: Ask HN: How do you keep your energy level up?

#8

Post by knux »

remotedreamer wrote: post #6
knux wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Stimulants will make them more active during work hours. They are talking about energy in evening hours. If you are suggesting stimulant use in evening hours, let me shut that down right now, because it will affect their sleep quality. Exercise is a decent idea. I would suggest an antidepressant instead of a stimulant, though.

Antidepressants cause more problems than solve, at least from my experience. Modafinil(modalert) is a mood enhancer, which I use when I wake up. Weed is too, depending on the individual. Sativa brings you up with energy and focus and then brings you down to help you sleep.

>Modafinil(modalert) is a mood enhancer, which I use when I wake up.

Again, OP is not talking about when he wakes up.

>Sativa brings you up with energy

Like a stimulant. This is not useful for OP.

Lumping all antidepressants together and saying they cause more problems than they solve is generalizing too much. Which ones cause problems, and for which people? The most common type is SSRIs, but if OP does not metabolize folic acid properly, it is off the table. I will concede that tricyclic antidepressants have more side effects, but SSRI use is relatively common, at 10% (https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-rise-of-all-p...). That is compared to 7-13% of adults who report cannabis use (http://www.gallup.com/poll/194195/adults-say-smoke-marijuana...).

Speaking from personal experience, antidepressant has made all the difference for me, in terms of energy. Unrelated, I use atomoxetine for focus throughout the day. As it is not a stimulant, there is no crash or feeling tired in the evening hours. Its levels are consistent throughout the day, and I code at all times of day with little fluctuation, in terms of motivation.

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