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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?

#341

Post by hsrada »

H1Supreme wrote: post #226

Reading books. I was never a reader as kid. And, for the last 10 years or so of my adult life, the only reading I've done was programming tutorials, documentation, and whatever I ran into on the web. Certainly, there wasn't any reading done for fun. But, last month after picking up lunch one day, I actually walked into the used book store and bought a book. Yesterday, I started reading book #4. Kinda surprised I went…

> Not sure how much it's "paying off"

Read what you love until you love to read. Then you can move onto books that seem that they might have some pay off.

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

#342

Post by turc1656 »

1. Stopped using Facebook (don't have Twitter, Instagram, etc. This includes removing the FB app from my phone (very important for security reasons).

2. No email on my personal phone. Work phone is a must but I use it exceedingly sparingly. I only check it when I am expecting something important during busy weeks (and even then, maybe not).

3a. Stopped commenting on any/all forums, news sites, or any type of social media altogether (YouTube most notably). HN is the one and only exception. Forums and comment sections are black hole vortexes for time. Trolls, arguments, etc. steal your time and attention. You must refuse to play the game. It's just not that important to comment on nearly every site on the internet, especially social media. There is near zero value in it.

3b. Installing Distraction Free YouTube onto Chrome so that I can listen/watch without seeing comments and being tempted to participate. It also hides the related/suggested videos and the front page of YT to prevent falling into in the rabbit hole.

4. Changed my diet to high fat low carb. I'm not insanely strict on the carbs either. It's made a big difference. I wasn't overweight, but now I'm cut/toned without trying because of it (and I'm not huge either). Drinking water helps the transport of nutrients throughout the body.

5. Getting a pair of non-prescription computer glasses. My eyes were severely strained and it was affecting my productivity and ability to think clearly and produced headaches and all sorts of problems. Using them saved my eyes by restricting the blue light that gets to them. I can work 12+ hours straight with no issues if need be now. They also improve sleep quality because blue light late at night triggers the release of cortisol which keeps you up and inhibits sleep.

6. Using Feedly (or any RSS reader). Aggregating content here from the sources you like helps prevent clicking around and roaming websites which leads to lost time. Only click on the stuff that matters to you and ignore the rest. Most can be read in Feedly without going to the site directly as well so you avoid the ads and other distractions.

7. Using Workflowy. I try to implement a modified version of Getting Things Done in there. At minimum, I use it as an ongoing task/to-do list. It's great for just jotting stuff down as it comes to you so you don't forget.

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

#343

Post by camtarn »

OldSchoolJohnny wrote: post #304
camtarn wrote: post #179

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A few examples: Chatting to somebody about the side effects of the antidepressants we're both on, namely decreased 'filter' when talking. Amusingly, said decreased filter might be one of the contributing factors behind this increased openness :) Asking a friend who was obviously going through a hard time - "You don't owe me any answers, of course, but I wondered if you'd mind me asking whether you're okay, and what's…

You sound like you might have recently read Nonviolent Communication by Rosenberg. If you haven't you sound like you're in a place where you might really enjoy it and find it useful.

Hehe... I was given the book a couple of years ago, but it's sat on my desk unread, because I am terrible at sitting down and making time to read.

However, I do have a couple of dedicated NVC practitioners amongst my friends, and a lot of other people who just use variations on those techniques without explicitly buying into NVC.

I've found that the principles behind NVC have helped me massively, even without formally being educated in it. I started using them a lot while I was navigating a very rocky relationship with a lot of arguments, and I guess the habit has just stuck - things like separating wants vs needs, talking about emotional state without using blame language, attempting to understand where the other person's coming from before replying, and so on.

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

#344

Post by ghostbrainalpha »

I start each day with a To Do list. For years I have been overwhelmed by how long it gets. I'm always adding things faster than I can take them off.

I recently started taking at least 4 things from the list and putting them on my calendar each day. Blocking off about half the day for major projects.

I know this is pretty basic, lots of developers have each hour scheduled much more efficiently. But this 1/2 step has been huge for me. I'm getting more done, and giving people much better estimates of when my projects are on track or getting delayed.

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

#345

Post by yeswecatan »

abhiminator wrote: post #270

I started meditating recently after having been carpet-bombed by its potential benefits for years across various media and platforms, and now, after a few weeks of regular practice, I must say this -- I was pleasantly surprised by how much my outlook toward life changed since I started practicing 'mindfulness' -- a type of meditation involving focusing on the present moment with the understanding that buzzing thought…

How have you been practicing? Headspace?

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

#346

Post by abhiminator »

yeswecatan wrote: post #345
abhiminator wrote: post #270

I started meditating recently after having been carpet-bombed by its potential benefits for years across various media and platforms, and now, after a few weeks of regular practice, I must say this -- I was pleasantly surprised by how much my outlook toward life changed since I started practicing 'mindfulness' -- a type of meditation involving focusing on the present moment with the understanding that buzzing thought…

How have you been practicing? Headspace?

I initially started off with Headspace, and once I became comfortable enough, I started using a countdown timer on my mobile device for arbitrary number of minutes (swings between 5-15 depending on my capacity for the day) and started doing it by myself.

I look at Headspace like more of a water-wing for beginners than a tool for serious meditation.

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

#347

Post by nickelcitymario »

terryjsmith wrote: post #104

Just show up - I started this last year going to the gym - if I didn't feel like going to work out, I just went to the gym and messed around, did whatever I felt like, even for 15 or 20 minutes and then left. The discipline has translated into other projects - a camper reno, a game engine, etc. Just showing up is more than half the battle, even if you don't accomplish much on one given day.

I started this two months ago, too. My motto is "Showing up is the victory."

Once I'm in there, I give it my best. Some days my best sucks. I don't worry about that. I got my ass into the gym. It's the habit that matters.

It's about consistently showing up.

For context, I'm 34 and clinically considered morbidly obese. My relationship with exercise, like virtually all obese people, is one of yo-yo diets and countless failed attempts at getting fit. I never before lasted more than a few weeks.

A big part of the problem, I came to realize, was being too results-oriented. I'd be highly motivated those first couple weeks when the pounds seem to drop so quickly, then lose all motivation when the weight loss slowed down to a healthier rate. Then I'd get depressed, quit, and binge eat until I reached a new low of physical fitness and self-esteem, and start over.

This time around, I just get my ass to the gym. That's it. I don't care what the scale says. I do try to eat better, but I don't beat myself up about it when I fail -- because beating myself up just causes me to binge some more. I just pick myself back up and hit the gym the next morning.

Here are some results so far:

1) I've discovered I actually LIKE lifting weights. So I do mostly that. I look forward to the feeling of my limbs being like jelly. It feels like accomplishment. To be clear, I've never, ever liked any form of exercise before. By changing my focus to "just show up", I've freed myself to find something I like, rather than trying to keep up with anyone else.

2) I've been tracking my weight, and after an initial loss of 25 pounds I've put back on another 10. But, my waist line has gone down 3 belt notches, so I try not to take the number on the scale too seriously. Sometimes it's up, sometimes it's down.

3) My focus at work is through the roof. I just feel better. Less sluggish. Able to concentrate more, which is mega important as a programmer (preaching to the choir, I'm sure).

4) I sleep better and wake up on time without much of a hitch most of the time. I'm still not super chipper first thing in the morning, but I don't hit snooze either.

5) I have more energy to give to the people I love, i.e. my kids and my partner. I'm still not superman, but I'm not sitting on the couch begging to be left alone either. I play. I do stuff.

6) I just plain like myself more.

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

#348

Post by MrQuincle »

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…

Aching muscles means you do something right. Don't shortcut yourself. I like ATHLEAN-X on YouTube. He has a lot of advice on how to do full reps and how to hold your body for maximum gains.

Note that the 7 minute apps have just 30 seconds per exercise and a few seconds between them to adjust your posture. I like it that most are just using your body. And yes, just push-ups can be challenging. For people, who don't think so, try a close grip or one hand push-ups.

I'm also 186cm. I went down from over 82kg to now a bit over 75kg. I'd like to stay there and just get further lean.

Oh yeah, I do it everyday. Use a streak future so you don't skip a day. Try to get a longer streak than your friend or brother if that motivates you!

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

#349

Post by nrjames »

craftyguy wrote: post #257
jihadjihad wrote: post #89

Replacing alcohol with water, except for occasional social events. Too many times I’d come home dead tired mentally and reach for a cold one, which inevitably led to…another cold one haha. Replace with water (bonus if you add a little apple cider vinegar to it!), you’ll feel better and your body will thank you. No non-social drinking allowed!

+1 to adding a splash of apple cider vinegar! I was wondering if I was the only one the door that since my SO looks at me like I am crazy.

What's up with the vinegar? Just for flavor?

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

#350

Post by songzme »

toxik wrote: post #317
songzme wrote: post #219

I started sshing into my desktop at home to write code. I've never been so liberated. I can literally code from any computer I borrow (friends or library) and pick up exactly where I left off (tmux session) with the same text-editor configuration (vim) instantly. I realized that my previous desire to have the latest macbook so excessive, and now I'm happy with just a light and durable $200 chromebook. I teach a few p…

Until the latency spikes, heh.

it happens, but its rare. I've been doing this for a year and no way I'm going back.
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