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My low-paying, early-morning, exertion-requiring job

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Re: My low-paying, early-morning, exertion-requiring job

#141

Post by snogglethorpe »

stygiansonic wrote: post #124

An interesting way to get some morning exercise to start your day. I believe each person has to find what works for them in terms of getting a healthy amount of exercise. For some that involves a gym membership, fitness classes or team sports. Myself, I mostly run and enjoy training for a marathon once or twice a year. I am thankful that I usually do not have to start work before 9 AM, which usually allows me to get…

> You're much less likely to stick with an exercise routine if it feels like yet another chore in life's long list of chores

I totally agree with you, it's absolutely a great thing if you can find an exercise method that you enjoy for more than its benefits. [I personally think bicycling is tons of fun, and wish I could bicycle-commute to work, but it depends a lot on the specific context of your job as to whether that's practical...]

However I do find that I've had pretty good success with simply being pig-headed: I just force myself to go to the gym, no matter how tired I am after a day's work, no matter how much I just want to grab a bite and veg out, no matter how nasty the weather.

It really helps that I know from long experience that I'll feel absolutely great after I'm done with a session, no matter how tired I was to begin with. It's like the "chore" aspect, while very palpable at the start, is merely an illusion that I have to will myself past...

[Or maybe I'm just nuts. :]

Re: My low-paying, early-morning, exertion-requiring job

#143

Post by Oculus »

gk1 wrote: post #46

A few summers ago I lived in Seattle but worked in Bremerton, which is over an hour away by ferry. To reach on time I had to take the earliest ferry possible; at 6-something AM. If I missed that ferry, the next one wasn't until 1.5 hours later, which would make me very late. Almost every day--like clockwork--I got up slightly late, threw on some clothes, and went out with my bike. Half-asleep, cold, and worried about…

Wouldn't you end up being all sweaty by time you got to the ferry?

Re: My low-paying, early-morning, exertion-requiring job

#144

Post by dllthomas »

oznathan wrote: post #116
oh_sigh wrote: post #110

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm 100% sure you don't know what you're talking about. Please provide sources for your statement and prove me wrong.

If you asked nicer I would have googled it for you, but you can do that yourself.

Googling for cycling short muscles turned up nothing relevant on the first page, for me.

Re: My low-paying, early-morning, exertion-requiring job

#145

Post by bluthru »

scotch_drinker wrote: post #100
jshakes wrote: post #77

I'm glad you appreciate the value of a healthy, balanced lifestyle. But reading this, it's easy to see why people post "Die Techie Scum" stickers around SF. You've taken a job that someone else could actually use to help pay rent and have turned it into a hobby. If I did this job for a living I would be furious at the arrogance of someone treating as an exercise in "Feeling Good". Get some perspective.

Except that in his real job, he creates jobs. So if by taking a low paying, high exertion job, his burnout rate is lowered or his stress level is lower which allows him to expand his company and hire more people, the world is largely a better place. This isn't a zero sum game. Yes, if he didn't take this job, someone else probably would but there is other context and other considerations to keep in mind.

He could always wake up and bike while leaving this position open for someone else.

Re: My low-paying, early-morning, exertion-requiring job

#146

Post by ForHackernews »

karlmdavis wrote: post #123
jshakes wrote: post #77

I'm glad you appreciate the value of a healthy, balanced lifestyle. But reading this, it's easy to see why people post "Die Techie Scum" stickers around SF. You've taken a job that someone else could actually use to help pay rent and have turned it into a hobby. If I did this job for a living I would be furious at the arrogance of someone treating as an exercise in "Feeling Good". Get some perspective.

Wait... you're saying he's arrogant because he's taken a job that he enjoys primarily because of the humbling perspective it offers?

You don't see how that's kind of insulting?

"Doing this lowly job [that you've done for years] has really given me a greater understanding for all the little people [like you]"

Re: My low-paying, early-morning, exertion-requiring job

#147

Post by Gracana »

GrinningFool wrote: post #99

I used to landscape professionally. Which - in my case - is a fancy way of saying I cut grass, dug ditches, raked leaves and spread mulch. I picked up some useful knowledge along the way. Thing is, no matter how much satisfaction I get from a problem solved, elegant or just effective code written, etc - it isn't quite the same thing as when I could look back at a yard/park/complex etc at the end of the day and say "Y…

Another landscaper here. It's something I really enjoy but wouldn't want to do full-time again. Working hard in the dirt keeps you grounded, and it's nice to socialize with your co-workers while pulling weeds. Hmm, maybe I should join a gardening co-op.

Re: My low-paying, early-morning, exertion-requiring job

#148

Post by Twirrim »

GrinningFool wrote: post #99

I used to landscape professionally. Which - in my case - is a fancy way of saying I cut grass, dug ditches, raked leaves and spread mulch. I picked up some useful knowledge along the way. Thing is, no matter how much satisfaction I get from a problem solved, elegant or just effective code written, etc - it isn't quite the same thing as when I could look back at a yard/park/complex etc at the end of the day and say "Y…

I find that I miss data centre work I used to do for a mid-sized hosting company for precisely this reason. I miss doing stuff with my hands. Racking and unracking servers, network equipment and similar is cathartic in a way that is hard to express.

Re: My low-paying, early-morning, exertion-requiring job

#149

Post by gk1 »

nsted wrote: post #71

This story hilariously epitomizes the gulf that lies between the tech scene and the rest of the population. For you a low paying job is a hobby to keep you in check, I'm sure only so long that it doesn't impede your "real job". For most, these jobs are an important source of income. Doesn't it strike you as slightly obnoxious to take such a job away from someone who needs it? I can see this story ending up in Mike Ju…

There is no winning against this flawed argument.

* If OP doesn't do this, then he's a spoiled and far-removed brat who has no idea what it's like to be a real person working a normal job.

* If OP takes on a small and humbling side job, then he's obnoxious and selfish for taking away this job from someone who needs it.

* If OP volunteers for this job, then he's self-righteous and still selfish for taking away someone's job just so he can feel good and wake up early. Doesn't he know some people have no choice but to wake up at 5am and work all day to feed their family?!

* ...

Re: My low-paying, early-morning, exertion-requiring job

#150

Post by CodeWriter23 »

mikegillman wrote: post #91
herm wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I felt the same way until I was diagnosed with sleep apnea, even though I don't have any of the usual symptoms such as snoring, obesity, etc.

I was diagnosed with sleep apnea during college, while I was my fittest. Running every day, lifting weights, etc. I felt great, besides the fact that I couldn't get myself out of bed. I still haven't started using a CPAP machine, as I have developed other coping methods (sleeping on one side helps dramatically). I have considered doing another sleep study though, to get some more information and start with a CPAP mac…

I suggest you might want to study up the long term detrimental effects of sleep apnea. I had no idea.
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