Ask HN: How did you get yourself out of a rut?

#1

Post by atleastoptimal » Wed, Mar 20, 2024, 12:35 AM UTC

Depression, unemployment, lack of confidence, fear. I'm certain there are many on here who had high potential and feel they've squandered it.

For those who have been there and managed to get out and are now living a life you're proud of, how did you do it?

Re: Ask HN: How did you get yourself out of a rut?

#2

Post by neom » Wed, Mar 20, 2024, 1:01 AM UTC

Forcing myself out of the house, even if I'm still just scrolling HN and youtube, not doing it at home encouraged me to get back into networking, getting into networking helped me connect with people, connecting with people made me feel more hopeful. As cliche as it is, getting moving really helps, go for a super long walk, really really breath deeply right into your belly and just walk with purpose (the purpose of just walking), I also just do some weird silly dancing around my kitchen to music (I'd kinda forgotten that can be quite fun). However for me, the most helpful by a mile was psilocybin. That whole "this too shall pass" thing is a real thing. Sending you good luck!

Re: Ask HN: How did you get yourself out of a rut?

#3

Post by interbased » Wed, Mar 20, 2024, 1:14 AM UTC

I figured out which industry I wanted to work in (data analytics at first) and just took action. Studied what I needed to for the jobs I wanted, and took classes to advance my skills. The confidence I gained from this was great. I also prioritize outside time and going in long walks when it’s nice out. That’s huge for me.

Re: Ask HN: How did you get yourself out of a rut?

#4

Post by cjbprime » Wed, Mar 20, 2024, 5:16 AM UTC

In-person yoga classes have turned out to be dramatically therapeutic for me, which surprised me because I was already seeing a therapist, and I thought I didn't enjoy exercise at all.

(If ClassPass is in your area, they have a free trial that makes it easy to try out many different studios.)

Re: Ask HN: How did you get yourself out of a rut?

#5

Post by keithwarren » Wed, Mar 20, 2024, 5:22 AM UTC

I have felt a a sort of fog/rut for years now. Figured it was just age. Doc checked my testosterone level and it was super low. About 10% of what you would want.

Started taking T via a gel/lotion and after about two weeks I noticed a significant change in my productivity. The rut/fog was gone, I was working like I did 15 years ago.

Prescription ran out, was out of town, basically missed 10 days. Fog was back, a week on it again and it is gone.

Moral of the story, don't try to "will" your way out - see a doc, make sure everything is working right.

Re: Ask HN: How did you get yourself out of a rut?

#6

Post by pubby » Wed, Mar 20, 2024, 5:35 AM UTC

It's always a eucatastrophe[1] for me. Some random event occurs and it gives me something to focus on. Maybe a person shows up in my life, or an event, or an idea. Contrary to common belief, trying to pull myself out through sheer will and habits never worked.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eucatastrophe

Re: Ask HN: How did you get yourself out of a rut?

#7

Post by cookiengineer » Wed, Mar 20, 2024, 6:46 AM UTC

pubby wrote: post #6

It's always a eucatastrophe[1] for me. Some random event occurs and it gives me something to focus on. Maybe a person shows up in my life, or an event, or an idea. Contrary to common belief, trying to pull myself out through sheer will and habits never worked. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eucatastrophe

I love your website and your games!

So wholesome to see someone still loving to use the 6502 :)

Re: Ask HN: How did you get yourself out of a rut?

#8

Post by cookiengineer » Wed, Mar 20, 2024, 6:51 AM UTC

For me I had a little phase of not understanding the despair and hatred I received for forking Audacity at the time. I didn't understand why people would do that, and neither why they decide to have "fun" being a bully online and lying about things that never happened. When /pol/ and kiwifarms came at me, I wasn't sure how to deal with that, especially because most rumors supposedly happened when I was asleep, not even reacting to what was happening at the time.

So it kind of resulted in a phase that you are describing, where I kind of gave up on open source and gave up on doing the things that I loved to do before.

What I can recommend, heavily: shut off your phone, go outside for a couple weeks, no tech, no internet, nobody nagging or forcing you to do anything. And listen. To nature, to the environment, to what you think. Take with you a notebook and a pen, and write down your thoughts. Persist on not going online, and fight the addiction.

Social detox and meditation is much more efficient than one might think, if you have no predefined goal on what you want to do. If your goals are set by external influences, you won't be happy with it.

Best wishes, I understand how hard it can be sometimes. Don't lose your head in things you don't want to do.

Re: Ask HN: How did you get yourself out of a rut?

#9

Post by pubby » Wed, Mar 20, 2024, 7:27 AM UTC

cookiengineer wrote: post #7

pubby wrote: post #6

It's always a eucatastrophe[1] for me. Some random event occurs and it gives me something to focus on. Maybe a person shows up in my life, or an event, or an idea. Contrary to common belief, trying to pull myself out through sheer will and habits never worked. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eucatastrophe

I love your website and your games! So wholesome to see someone still loving to use the 6502 :)

Thanks! That means a lot.

Re: Ask HN: How did you get yourself out of a rut?

#10

Post by appstorelottery » Wed, Mar 20, 2024, 8:19 AM UTC

pubby wrote: post #9

cookiengineer wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I love your website and your games! So wholesome to see someone still loving to use the 6502 :)

Thanks! That means a lot.

Love your games as well! Have you considered packaging them for Steam and pricing at less than 5 dollars? (i.e. a single pack of all your NES games) - if you promote to a few YouTube retro influencers you might make a few sales. :-)