Like most I'm on a constant journey of Looking After Myself. These days this includes running, strength training, spending time with friends and family, something resembling meditation, fasting, drawing, eating well, and more. I'm wondering what individuals do to care for their physical and mental health without it becoming a full time job. What are your routines, hacks and rituals?
Ask HN: What's your self-care routine?
1–10 of 30 posts
Re: Ask HN: What's your self-care routine?
#2File away for when you get older. :-)
I'm approaching 75 (Hello to all HN'ers who built S-100 home computers.) and my hobbies are mainly piano -- yes, you can improve with age and practice, --- photography --- I live on a ridge with fantastic views, manzanitas all over and rock walls to (almost) climb, --- and hiking (it's a ridge, remember?)
Also chainsawing branches that snapped in the previous winter storms, or which have blocked my hiking paths --- which I created by chainsaw and loppers (great for the biceps).
My "meditation" is chanting and studying the Lotus Sutra (it's emancipating!).
Meals for one are very hard to balance. I try.
Playing piano really is a big mental challenge for me, as I try pieces just short of concert level. I believe that it helps keep me sharp.
It is great that you spend time with friends and family. Distance gets in the way of that, as friends and family are at least 50 miles away.
I have been an amateur photographer for over 50 years, and photography can make you much more observant and tuned in to nature, a great connection to make. Beats hugging trees, which might have poison oak vines circling them. (They often do.) I used a 24-1000 mm (effective) little Coolpix for over 10 years before going mirrorless. It got me up-close and pulled in distant details (and birds). Still does. It's artistic!
I guess that the overall approach is being "in tune".
Hope this helps!
Re: Ask HN: What's your self-care routine?
#3Mostly physical at this point. I am lacking in the reading/meditation/relationships, for sure, need to step up my game.
* Monday: Run 4 miles
* Tuesday: 1 hour strength/weights, 20 min on stationary bike (6.2 miles)
* Wednesday: Run 4 miles
* Thursday: 1 hour strength/weights, 20 min on stationary bike (6.2 miles)
* Friday: Run 4 miles
Re: Ask HN: What's your self-care routine?
#4My routine seems to be "ignore everything until I can't anymore." Most of the time I'm so spent doing what's required of me each day that I just sink into a low-power mode until I'm needed again. Which is pretty often...so I don't have much free time for self care. No amount of sleep I get seems to change how much energy I have, my joints and back are in terrible shape (genetics) so I can't do much exercise, and I often feel guilty whenever I enclose myself into my own little world with music or gaming because my son wants to be a part of my life.
What has been the best for my mental health has been reconnecting with my faith life and converting to Catholicism. Generally I just get the impression no matter where I go I just have to make myself available for whatever God needs me to do. So me making plans tends to not matter in the end lol
Re: Ask HN: What's your self-care routine?
#5Going for a walk ever morning I think helped me the most. Getting sun in my eyes helps with sleep and I wake up less tired.
I also meditate and try and be mindful during the day.
I recently found something to help me be more disciplined. There's evidence it works and I will see if it works for me as I just did the exercise today.
Re: Ask HN: What's your self-care routine?
#6This is how I handle bad days, especially when I'm feeling overwhelmed or just need time to get over something.
- Shut everything down. I'll log out of social media, block doomscrolling with SelfControl, shut down my laptop and put it in a drawer. I'll set a vacation responder and update my contact page to say that I'm on vacation. I'll tell people that I have a lot on my plate and that projects and meetings will have to wait.
- Take yourself on a date. I'll go to my special places, do the things that I like, and eat my favourite foods. Whatever would be considered a great date if someone else set it up.
- Sweat the small stuff. I'll get the fancy ingredients and make something good. I'll light candles and make the good tea. I'll set the lighting just right, put some good music on and run myself a bath. I'll pack a picnic and bike to my favourite spot, and make sure to pack tea and a blanket. The little rituals matter.
- Reset. I'll repack my luggage (on the road), tidy up my flat, or do anything necessary to get a clean slate and a sense of being in control. It's crazy how a shower and a fresh shave can clear your head.
- Nature. There's something about being in the forest that makes me feel happy and at ease. There's no explaining it. Fresh air, sunlight and trees just work.
Re: Ask HN: What's your self-care routine?
#7- Get up and drink 500ml cold water.
- 40 min meditation, energy expanding exercises.
- 500ml more water and some suppliments (zinc, magnesium, 1gr vitamin C...) and go do 40 to 60min cardio in bike or elliptic (often using iPad learning stuff).
- Back to start the productive day coffee , black (no sugar of course), still fasting.
- So intermitent fasting every day of at least 14h. Break fast with protein at lunch, low in carbs.
- Work.
- Train weighlifting, as much to failure as possible ~1:30h + 30min low cardio (this 5 times a week).
- Clean post train.
- Do not break diet at dinner.
If you build it, gains will come.
Re: Ask HN: What's your self-care routine?
#8File away for when you get older. :-) I'm approaching 75 (Hello to all HN'ers who built S-100 home computers.) and my hobbies are mainly piano -- yes, you can improve with age and practice, --- photography --- I live on a ridge with fantastic views, manzanitas all over and rock walls to (almost) climb, --- and hiking (it's a ridge, remember?) Also chainsawing branches that snapped in the previous winter storms, or wh…
> Playing piano really is a big mental challenge for me, as I try pieces just short of concert level. I believe that it helps keep me sharp.
My grandmother lived to be 99, and she was sharp right up til the end. She was a violinist, first chair in a couple orchestras. She practiced every day well into her 90s, and also thought it kept her sharp.
That, and "working her puzzles," which were word puzzles. She was the best I ever saw at cryptograms, and loved crosswords and even simple word searches.
She was born in 1918, and she lived long enough to send me 20 years worth of emails.
See you around, old timer.
Re: Ask HN: What's your self-care routine?
#9File away for when you get older. :-) I'm approaching 75 (Hello to all HN'ers who built S-100 home computers.) and my hobbies are mainly piano -- yes, you can improve with age and practice, --- photography --- I live on a ridge with fantastic views, manzanitas all over and rock walls to (almost) climb, --- and hiking (it's a ridge, remember?) Also chainsawing branches that snapped in the previous winter storms, or wh…
> Playing piano really is a big mental challenge for me, as I try pieces just short of concert level. I believe that it helps keep me sharp. My grandmother lived to be 99, and she was sharp right up til the end. She was a violinist, first chair in a couple orchestras. She practiced every day well into her 90s, and also thought it kept her sharp. That, and "working her puzzles," which were word puzzles. She was the be…
My Mom was born in 1918! Music is wonderful to hear and even better to play. It puts one in exactly the same situation as a great performer or composer.
We are both very fortunate!
Re: Ask HN: What's your self-care routine?
#10Vegan Tai Chi Dance and make stuff.