Live data from Hacker News

Ask HN: What things do you wish you discovered earlier?

news.ycombinator.com

11–20 of 253 posts

Re: Ask HN: What things do you wish you discovered earlier?

#11

How to effectively learn and balance my use of mental energy. My diagnosis of depression and ADD inattentive-type (my parents were great, but denied that mental health was a factor until I decided to at age 22). I don't fault them, but I know for a fact my years in highschool and college struggling to learn / focus but knowing I had cognitive ability will irk me until the day that I die.

So what did you do about it

Re: Ask HN: What things do you wish you discovered earlier?

#12

How to effectively learn and balance my use of mental energy. My diagnosis of depression and ADD inattentive-type (my parents were great, but denied that mental health was a factor until I decided to at age 22). I don't fault them, but I know for a fact my years in highschool and college struggling to learn / focus but knowing I had cognitive ability will irk me until the day that I die.

How do you now balance the use of your mental energy?

Re: Ask HN: What things do you wish you discovered earlier?

#13
post #2

That cheap mice and keyboards will ruin ones hands beyond repair after years of heavy use. Don't be that person. Learn to type and invest in your hardware early on.

Do you have specific suggestions re: peripherals. I've been using the Logitech MX Vertical Wireless lately and it's been a huge improvement from my previous bulky Logitech G600. I'm wondering if there are keyboard set-ups people really like? I'm enjoying my Gigabyte mechanical keyboard, but would be willing to give it up for something that'll let me get more mileage out of my hands/arms.

I've used split keyboards since the original Microsoft Natural keyboard. Split keyboards are a must for me, to reduce strain on my wrists. I'm now using a Kinesis Gaming keyboard, which is the only split keyboard I found with Cherry MX switches (I'm using browns).

Re: Ask HN: What things do you wish you discovered earlier?

#14
Thinking strategically from a career and life perspective.

Managing your investments

Eating right and exercise

Risk Taking - take big risks early in your life, ones which have the biggest upside. The terror of the unknown and leaping into it and coming out at the other end multiple times makes you fearless. The journey is all that matters, the destination is not in your hand. But the journey teaches a lot.

Some of the above, I was fortunate to learn early on from good mentors, and I've reaped big rewards, the rest I only wish someone had told me earlier.

Re: Ask HN: What things do you wish you discovered earlier?

#15
post #5

Learning How To Learn ( https://www.coursera.org/learn/learning-how-to-learn ) and Barbara Oakley's book A Mind For Numbers . Completely changed my approach to studying and learning, and my academic efforts after taking it were tremendously better than before. Also related: highly recommend Anki. It feels like magic when the spaced repetition works!

Exactly, This is the skillset that you will need for life.

Re: Ask HN: What things do you wish you discovered earlier?

#16
post #2

That cheap mice and keyboards will ruin ones hands beyond repair after years of heavy use. Don't be that person. Learn to type and invest in your hardware early on.

Do you have specific suggestions re: peripherals. I've been using the Logitech MX Vertical Wireless lately and it's been a huge improvement from my previous bulky Logitech G600. I'm wondering if there are keyboard set-ups people really like? I'm enjoying my Gigabyte mechanical keyboard, but would be willing to give it up for something that'll let me get more mileage out of my hands/arms.

Mechanical keyboards are nice and all, but by default they still don't solve for that awkward hand position. Take a good look at your hands while you type. Your wrist is bent sideways, your fingers are higher than the base of your wrist since the later is standing on your desk, but the keys are much higher than the desk. Also, since your hands are quite close to one another, you tend to hunch. Now your back will have some problems. Your strongest fingers both reach just one key, the spacebar, meaning all the other important keys and modifiers are to be reached with some good gymnastics from your part. Those are some unnatural positions you might find your hands in. I'm actually pressing both Ctrl keys with my palms, that being very handy in Emacs, but that brings again problems for the wrists.

So, for all these, I think the natural solution is to use a split mechanical keyboard with extra/configurable keys. The position of the hands seems to be more natural with these,

https://ergodox-ez.com/

https://ultimatehackingkeyboard.com/

https://www.dygma.com/product/dygma-raise/

http://www.mistelkeyboard.com/barocco-series/

I haven't tried any of those since I can't seem to decide on one of them yet, but the hand pain is real after years of heavy use, so better try and become familiar with other layouts and find out what works best for your hands. The sad part is that you might not know that something doesn't work until it's too late.

As for the mouse, switching hands helps. So try learning how to use the mouse with the other hand.

Post reply on HN