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Reversing the effects of long programming sessions

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Re: Reversing the effects of long programming sessions

#91

Post by ehnto »

bytematic wrote: post #57
burke wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> blue light that damages your vision Can anyone explain to me how looking at a computer screen is not several times less harmful than spending time outside from a lifetime-blue-light-exposure perspective? The sky is blue and natural light has a blue component in probably about the same proportion as white light from a screen. Maybe I'm wrong — and I'd like to find out if I am — but this whole blue light scare really…

Regardless, blinking less often and focusing purely on a 2d image will degrade your vision

I found my vision vastly improved when I started riding and hiking a lot more. It also drastically degrades when I am tired, to the point where if I am well rested and have been active that week I don't need glasses. I tend not to use them at all anymore. Interestingly I never experienced the same benefits from driving, even though there is some eye movement and shifting focus there.

Re: Reversing the effects of long programming sessions

#92

Post by glangdale »

[ a pedantic corner of my mind insisted that the title should imply "deleting the code" as well ]

I found that doing Brazilian Jujitsu really helps with this; two or three minutes into a session and all other concerns are gone and the relaxation afterwards is great - the world takes a while to come flooding back.

I think TV and video games are a dodgy recommendation in that it's just more time in front of screens - itself not great. Unless you have a pretty wacky working environment you're sitting down or at best at a standing desk. So adding more sedentary activities as a way from unwinding from other sedentary activities is pretty questionable. Not everyone is going to love something as full-on as BJJ but surely 'go for a walk' should be way ahead of 'more screen stuff'.

Re: Reversing the effects of long programming sessions

#93

Post by war1025 »

beat wrote: post #11

Forcing yourself to do Pomodoro sessions can help. It allows you to go deep without going too deep - having to take that five minute break so you can walk around, check email, or whatever can keep your brain from "going native" in the computer. Also, for anyone interested in intensive work sessions in general, I highly recommend reading Deep Work , by Cal Newport. He talks a lot about how to do really intensive work…

An easy way to force periodic breaks is to just drink a lot of water throughout the day. Then you have to get up for refills and bathroom breaks. Plus water is just good for a person in general.

Re: Reversing the effects of long programming sessions

#94

Post by war1025 »

wainstead wrote: post #8
mariopt wrote: post #4

We need to restrict the amount of hours we spend in front of computers per day and take weekends completely off. There are so many downsides: blue light that damages your vision, lack of exercise, depression and other disorders, missing out on social life, etc. There is a direct relation between productivity and having a life put together. Not taking care of ourselves (programmers) could have lead to disaster: mental…

All true, but neither should we deny ourselves a long session of "flow" if it makes us happy.

"Flow" definitely can be enjoyable and productive. Unfortunately, I've found that as often as not people use it as an excuse to not have to interact with anyone, or as a badge of "look how hard I'm working" without necessarily getting much done.

(Which I guess is nothing against what you said, just a pet-peeve of mine)

Re: Reversing the effects of long programming sessions

#95

Post by TACIXAT »

hyperpallium wrote: post #90
TACIXAT wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think you're right. There was just an article about blue light speeding blindness, but the flux author chimed in and said screens are less than 5% of the hazard weighted irradiance of the sky. [1] I'm not totally sure what that means honestly, but I think we're OK. 1. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=17726716

Though you don't stare at the sky for hours.

I did on shrooms once. It had some nice patterns because my pupils were so dilated. Thankfully not blind.

Re: Reversing the effects of long programming sessions

#96

Post by keithnz »

glangdale wrote: post #92

[ a pedantic corner of my mind insisted that the title should imply "deleting the code" as well ] I found that doing Brazilian Jujitsu really helps with this; two or three minutes into a session and all other concerns are gone and the relaxation afterwards is great - the world takes a while to come flooding back. I think TV and video games are a dodgy recommendation in that it's just more time in front of screens - i…

recovering from programming -> BJJ flushes away the real world / programming world -> Recover from BJJ depending on the day it's (I suck so much) || (Real progress was made today)

Re: Reversing the effects of long programming sessions

#97

Post by glangdale »

keithnz wrote: post #96
glangdale wrote: post #92

[ a pedantic corner of my mind insisted that the title should imply "deleting the code" as well ] I found that doing Brazilian Jujitsu really helps with this; two or three minutes into a session and all other concerns are gone and the relaxation afterwards is great - the world takes a while to come flooding back. I think TV and video games are a dodgy recommendation in that it's just more time in front of screens - i…

recovering from programming -> BJJ flushes away the real world / programming world -> Recover from BJJ depending on the day it's (I suck so much) || (Real progress was made today)

I think that coming off the mat fuming about how badly one sucks is something that reduces over time, or at least it has for me. And not because I suck all that much less. Training frequency seems to help ("oh well, there will be another roll tomorrow").

Re: Reversing the effects of long programming sessions

#98

Post by Diederich »

warent wrote: post #86
Diederich wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Right; I'm unable to even listen to music while in deep flow, because I have a composition/conducting background, and ANY kind of music triggers analysis that is a distraction. I just listen to white noise.

You listen to white noise? I'm not even able to handle the sound of the oxygen in the atmosphere. I just listen to the ambient energy of a perfect vacuum.

> the ambient energy of a perfect vacuum.

I'm not sure what that sounds like.

Re: Reversing the effects of long programming sessions

#99

Post by smolder »

TACIXAT wrote: post #95
hyperpallium wrote: post #90

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Though you don't stare at the sky for hours.

I did on shrooms once. It had some nice patterns because my pupils were so dilated. Thankfully not blind.

I don't think the patterns are from your eyes behavior mainly but rather misfiring nerves directly thanks to the toxin. Noise transformed by visual circuitry into patterns, as patterns are what it deals in on the perceiving end.

Re: Reversing the effects of long programming sessions

#100

Post by arminiusreturns »

glangdale wrote: post #92

[ a pedantic corner of my mind insisted that the title should imply "deleting the code" as well ] I found that doing Brazilian Jujitsu really helps with this; two or three minutes into a session and all other concerns are gone and the relaxation afterwards is great - the world takes a while to come flooding back. I think TV and video games are a dodgy recommendation in that it's just more time in front of screens - i…

Gaming doesn't have to be sedentary! I just recently restarted a gaming-exercise routine I used to do in the military, and I'm loving it. In between deaths, etc pick an exercise and do it. Multiply that by an hour or two gaming and you've got a good albeit barebones workout, the same with stretching. So just for example, I'm using a large heavy duty weighted exercise ball, and in between insurgency rounds (best linux fps IMHO) etc, I'll do situps and crunches, or toss it aside and do squats, stretch hamstrings, grab the kettleball for shoulder presses or grab the sledgehammer for airpunches, etc.

Combined with watching my portions and not drinking so much, it looks like I'll have my old 8 pack back before the year is over.

I also like to listen to lectures and talks while I game, and tend to only turn music on when I'm doing the exercises, but it makes me feel like I'm still being productive intellectually also.

My hope is that wireless room aware VR will enable a new generation of non-sedentary gaming.

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