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Exercise More to Hack Better

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Re: Exercise More to Hack Better

#2

Post by jfb »

I think this is largely true. I've lost a lot of weight in the last eighteen months, and started exercising, and I find that my concentration and ability to handle abstraction are significantly better when I'm working out than not. Healthy body, healthy mind and all that.

Re: Exercise More to Hack Better

#3

Post by kevinherron »

It's even worse than lowered productivity for me. I just start getting straight-up depressed; just absolutely terrible feeling. No energy, no drive, no light. And then I realize that somewhere in the last two weeks I stopped my regular exercise regiment for some reason or another and pick it back up - cured instantly.

It's easy to fool yourself into thinking that the funk caused the stop in exercise but that's nearly never the case.

EVERYBODY, hacker or not, should be getting regular exercise. Please. You won't regret it.

Re: Exercise More to Hack Better

#4

Post by swah »

kevinherron wrote: post #3

It's even worse than lowered productivity for me. I just start getting straight-up depressed; just absolutely terrible feeling. No energy, no drive, no light. And then I realize that somewhere in the last two weeks I stopped my regular exercise regiment for some reason or another and pick it back up - cured instantly. It's easy to fool yourself into thinking that the funk caused the stop in exercise but that's nearly…

Same thing here. Stopped running, restarted 3 days ago, feeling better already.

Although I do think that doing something like painting a house or doing gardening for a couple hours would also do the trick.

Re: Exercise More to Hack Better

#5

Post by momotomo »

I can't back this up with statistics but I'd hazard a guess that a portion of antidepressant subscriptions are entirely related to a sedentary lifestyle.

My world goes completely to shit if I'm not exercising on a regular basis, it changes everything.

Re: Exercise More to Hack Better

#6

Post by hwolf »

I notice ideas come to me more readily when exercising, especially on the beach. Sometimes I get such a flood of ideas I run faster to get home to write them down. If you can't get outside, juggling is a great indoor exercise, and it also helps with focus.

Re: Exercise More to Hack Better

#7

Post by chipsy »

My "exercise hack" (if one might call it that) is to do some isometric holds in my closet doorframe, and around a few of the sturdier metal bars in my vicinity when I go on walks. The holds aim for around five seconds length at maximum intensity(but without overly spiking blood pressure, something which is learned with practice).

It takes 5-10 minutes per day and has a dramatic soothing effect almost immediately.

Re: Exercise More to Hack Better

#8

Post by burnedouthacker »

swah wrote: post #4
kevinherron wrote: post #3

It's even worse than lowered productivity for me. I just start getting straight-up depressed; just absolutely terrible feeling. No energy, no drive, no light. And then I realize that somewhere in the last two weeks I stopped my regular exercise regiment for some reason or another and pick it back up - cured instantly. It's easy to fool yourself into thinking that the funk caused the stop in exercise but that's nearly…

Same thing here. Stopped running, restarted 3 days ago, feeling better already. Although I do think that doing something like painting a house or doing gardening for a couple hours would also do the trick.

From experience, I would say activities like painting a house, or gardening aren't a substitute to running in every aspect; sure, they can clear up your mind, but you won't experience an improved cardiovascular and respiratory health, or even a "high".

Re: Exercise More to Hack Better

#9

Post by rjurney »

momotomo wrote: post #5

I can't back this up with statistics but I'd hazard a guess that a portion of antidepressant subscriptions are entirely related to a sedentary lifestyle. My world goes completely to shit if I'm not exercising on a regular basis, it changes everything.

Agree 100%. Also caffeine. Not doing anything, and getting pep from caffeine is like a recipe for a Paxil prescription.
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