A major part of my work is out giving presentations. I'm currently having breakfast in a hotel in London, and later I'll be talking to 300 people in a theatre.
Poll: Where do you work (physically)?
91–100 of 126 posts
Re: Poll: Where do you work (physically)?
#92Earlier quoted context omitted.
When I was working on my thesis I did much of the same thing -- the majority of my "thinking" time was spent walking in a loop around the college gardens, and I would only go inside to type out a few paragraphs once I had composed them mentally. I got quite annoyed when the college closed the gardens between midnight and 4 AM...
Maybe a CS student walking alone outside at 2am is not the best of ideas.
When a student I would regularly be out and about between midnight and dawn - it's when I did my best work. I never had any concerns. Still don't. It's a pity that you live somewhere that makes it an issue.
I wasn't a CS student, though.
Re: Poll: Where do you work (physically)?
#93Believe it or not I do much of my work walking along the street. When I'm doing office hours at YC (and the weather's good and we don't need to look at screens) I usually suggest going for a walk.
When I was working on my thesis I did much of the same thing -- the majority of my "thinking" time was spent walking in a loop around the college gardens, and I would only go inside to type out a few paragraphs once I had composed them mentally. I got quite annoyed when the college closed the gardens between midnight and 4 AM...
Interesting - what college?
Re: Poll: Where do you work (physically)?
#94Believe it or not I do much of my work walking along the street. When I'm doing office hours at YC (and the weather's good and we don't need to look at screens) I usually suggest going for a walk.
Very smart strategy, considering this: Just today I've heard a theory, that when you walk around brain is more able to try new ways of thinking and solving problems, because the 'motion center' in the brain is doing what it's supposed to do: handling one's movements. On the contrary when we are not moving, this center can often overwhelm the thought process with already established habits, which makes trying new thin…
That's funny: usually when I'm about to make a phone call I almost automatically get out of my chair/sofa and start walking around. For some reason having a phone conversation works better for me when walking around. Perhaps it's due to the same theory.
Re: Poll: Where do you work (physically)?
#95For people who work in a coffee shop: a) Does the noise bother you? b) Do you ever get sick of being in the same place everyday? c) Does the owner ever get sick of you being there everyday?
a) Not particularly. I notice this affects people differently, however. I love working next to live music and if I don't' I can ignore it with headphones. My father, on the other hand, can't handle the distraction and is driven nuts by that sort of shit.
b) I try to change it up. It's easy to do in the localities I frequent. I'm sure it's harder for other people. I feel like I could do it anywhere I could get a 3g connection.
c) I like to frequent places that are very student and musician friendly, and am lucky to live in places with local businesses which embrace that sort of thing. In general these people are pretty tolerant of heavy laptop/internet usage.
Living in a big student town can cause problems for seating in coffee shops. Finals week or mid-quarter midterm dates are times when it's particularly impossible to find a place to get some work done. This has led to some contention with patrons who want space to just read the paper or talk with a friend. One coffee shop I attend has chosen to designate special space for the more casual patron to ensure they have a spot (see: http://daviswiki.org/Mishkas_Cafe).
Re: Poll: Where do you work (physically)?
#96I'd like to see a poll on which country people work in.
Re: Poll: Where do you work (physically)?
#97Believe it or not I do much of my work walking along the street. When I'm doing office hours at YC (and the weather's good and we don't need to look at screens) I usually suggest going for a walk.
When I was working on my thesis I did much of the same thing -- the majority of my "thinking" time was spent walking in a loop around the college gardens, and I would only go inside to type out a few paragraphs once I had composed them mentally. I got quite annoyed when the college closed the gardens between midnight and 4 AM...
I did much the same, also, Google says you were at Wadham College, right next door to me!
Re: Poll: Where do you work (physically)?
#98Earlier quoted context omitted.
Very smart strategy, considering this: Just today I've heard a theory, that when you walk around brain is more able to try new ways of thinking and solving problems, because the 'motion center' in the brain is doing what it's supposed to do: handling one's movements. On the contrary when we are not moving, this center can often overwhelm the thought process with already established habits, which makes trying new thin…
Interesting. Sometimes we speak metaphorically of life's inertia. If the part of the brain that controls our actual movement also controls our habits of thought, I guess we are not far off! Nietzsche said that all great thoughts are conceived while walking... perhaps this is why.
re: Nietzsche...
An early Western practitioner of "walking meditation" perhaps?
We yogis from Berkeley prefer lotus posture with gaze turned toward spiritual eye ;)
Good to have you aboard, Nick. Hope you enjoy an addiction to HN as much as I do.
Re: Poll: Where do you work (physically)?
#99Earlier quoted context omitted.
I am a runner. I run 60 minutes to 120 minutes / day. I understand this. But at some point, you do have to click buttons in some divine ordered pattern, right? Or are you saying you don't even do this?
Dictation is a nice alternative.
Yeah, for some people, but that isn't going to work for code :)
Re: Poll: Where do you work (physically)?
#100I'd like to see a poll on which country people work in.
Deal. You make the poll, I tell you where i work.