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Ask HN: Is there a new habit you cultivated recently that is really paying off?

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Re: Ask HN: Is there a new habit you cultivated recently that is really paying off?

#61

Post by Bakary »

pinkgodzilla wrote: post #47
leonroy wrote: post #33

Stop buying stuff. I was a compulsive spender. Never bought on credit mind but I’d blow my entire paycheque after bills on stuff like cameras, hifi, the latest Apple doodad, etc. I literally stopped buying anything not required for my day to day sustenance. No Netflix, started renting what I wanted to watch which forced me to be more picky with my expenditure and time. No more eating out except for special occasions.…

Would like to add "habit of drinking water" to this list. ANY beverage whether its coffee, soda, tea - is easily 4 to 6 dollars and is an entirely made up requirement.

For those who don't want to relinquish drinks altogether, getting a thermos/French press etc. and buying tea/coffee yourself reduces those expenses almost twenty fold over time.

Soda is best abandoned, however.

Re: Ask HN: Is there a new habit you cultivated recently that is really paying off?

#62

Post by spyckie2 »

themodelplumber wrote: post #38

Switching from measuring productivity to measuring sleep, including nap-taking and night sleeping, has really helped me. I wrote about the sleep part a bit here[0]. I originally started (I think 3 years ago) measuring my satisfaction with how each day went and soon found that "getting all the things done" and all the productivity focus simply wasn't _that_ important to my happiness, contrary to what I had believed in…

I've noticed this too.

The expectation is for sleep to affect productivity, but I don't find that to be the case. Instead, I find that it has a lot of impact on my social and emotional well being rather than my productivity.

Productivity doesn't lead to many positive states - just exhaustion. Being well rested on the other hand has led to lots of positive mental conditions - surplus energy after work, dramatic decrease of negative thoughts, positive attitude towards new things, willingness for social activities, more boldness and confidence, and all these things snowball off of each other.

Re: Ask HN: Is there a new habit you cultivated recently that is really paying off?

#63

Post by majewsky »

MrQuincle wrote: post #24
SamReidHughes wrote: post #10

Working out. Just body weight workouts. No gym. It improved my golf game. Another is: not buying sodas with my meal. Self-explanatory. Another: Spending brief interludes of time where a compile or unit test is happening to write down what I'm going to do next. It keeps me on task. Another: Incrementally cleaning/organizing my condo. Another: Walking around hardware, furniture, craft stores, Walmart, Target, etc, to s…

Working out! With a 7 minute app. I started in Nov. + People notice the difference. + It's a good way to cope with bad times. + You feel accomplished afterwards. + It's a perfect start of the day. + If you're dating and she is watching, it's a turn on. + You can go on for longer. + It's good for your confidence. + Other people who are working on themselves can be interesting people to meet. + It's good for your healt…

I have a question regarding that. I'm not particularly fat (185cm / 6'0'' tall and weighing 85kg / 187lb), but I'm quite unfit (you wouldn't be able to see any muscles on my body).

When I try to do something like a 7-minute or 9-minute workout, I'm usually unable to continue after 3 minutes because of sheer exhaustion, and I'll have aching muscles for the next few days after that. Any recommendations how to overcome these initial problems? Maybe drastically shorten each exercise (from 1 minute to 15 seconds or something like that)?

Re: Ask HN: Is there a new habit you cultivated recently that is really paying off?

#64

Post by koonsolo »

spyckie2 wrote: post #62
themodelplumber wrote: post #38

Switching from measuring productivity to measuring sleep, including nap-taking and night sleeping, has really helped me. I wrote about the sleep part a bit here[0]. I originally started (I think 3 years ago) measuring my satisfaction with how each day went and soon found that "getting all the things done" and all the productivity focus simply wasn't _that_ important to my happiness, contrary to what I had believed in…

I've noticed this too. The expectation is for sleep to affect productivity, but I don't find that to be the case. Instead, I find that it has a lot of impact on my social and emotional well being rather than my productivity. Productivity doesn't lead to many positive states - just exhaustion. Being well rested on the other hand has led to lots of positive mental conditions - surplus energy after work, dramatic decrea…

For me, my productivity depends om my emotional well being. When I have a positive attitude, I'm way more productive.

When I don't get enough sleep (kids... ;)), I'm a bit grumpy/negative during the day and I get nothing done. When I'm well rested, I'm super positive, happy, and can get work done effortlessly.

Re: Ask HN: Is there a new habit you cultivated recently that is really paying off?

#65

Post by amorphous »

bitL wrote: post #50
selestify wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What's a 7 minute app? Only 7 minutes of working out?

Look up 7 minute workout.

"Unless someone comes up with 6 minutes abs, then you are in trouble"

"You are fired!"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JB2di69FmhE

Re: Ask HN: Is there a new habit you cultivated recently that is really paying off?

#66

Post by koonsolo »

majewsky wrote: post #63
MrQuincle wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Working out! With a 7 minute app. I started in Nov. + People notice the difference. + It's a good way to cope with bad times. + You feel accomplished afterwards. + It's a perfect start of the day. + If you're dating and she is watching, it's a turn on. + You can go on for longer. + It's good for your confidence. + Other people who are working on themselves can be interesting people to meet. + It's good for your healt…

I have a question regarding that. I'm not particularly fat (185cm / 6'0'' tall and weighing 85kg / 187lb), but I'm quite unfit (you wouldn't be able to see any muscles on my body). When I try to do something like a 7-minute or 9-minute workout, I'm usually unable to continue after 3 minutes because of sheer exhaustion, and I'll have aching muscles for the next few days after that. Any recommendations how to overcome…

Don't be a pussy and go through the initial stage ;).

No, seriously, try to go through the initial pain stage, it doesn't last that long. Tell yourself that this is an indication that it's working, because it actually is.

Take my advice with a grain of salt, but this is what I would do. Train 3 times a week on strength. This is enough and gives your muscles enough time to recover. At first you will train your muscles again when they are still sore, but it will go away.

I also had to go through this stage when I started working out. I remember when we went karting with all programmer colleagues. Next day everyone was sore in all kinds of places, except for me :).

There is 1 cool thing about being unfit: the gains you are going to make in strength and fitness are really huge. Keep track of your progress, it's a real motivator.

Re: Ask HN: Is there a new habit you cultivated recently that is really paying off?

#67

Post by YouKnowBetter »

Power naps.

The last couple of years I noticed my inner child suffering. I had to force myself to have fun, be witty & enjoy the things I do / see / encounter.

Currently I hold a job that allows me to take power naps: all of a sudden I am back to my normal self again.

Dunno, but proberbly my age (>50).

Re: Ask HN: Is there a new habit you cultivated recently that is really paying off?

#68

Post by matt_the_bass »

biastoact wrote: post #6

I set a goal of using my feet to walk around and engage team members in 5 work conversations (unscheduled) each day. The change in culture and the identification of problems, road blocks, oppertunities has been eye opening. As a natural introvert who’d rather be heads down it has made me much more effective in the team.

How do you prevent disruption on those that you interrupt?

Re: Ask HN: Is there a new habit you cultivated recently that is really paying off?

#69

Post by matt_the_bass »

Spearfish and hunt more often. It gets in into nature, ensures healthy meat and forces you to take things slow. Plus lots of energy. It amazing how many things you otite when you look.

Note, “hunting” could just be for plants/mushrooms if you are vegetarian. No need to kill animals to get these same results.

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