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Lately I've been using timers daily

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Re: Lately I've been using timers daily

#31

Post by Silverback_VII »

Barrin92 wrote: post #27
alberth wrote: post #19

Stop listening to podcasts. Enjoy the quiet. I use to fill up my day with listening to podcasts during all non-work time (e.g. driving in the car, exercising, even showering). It overloads your brain if it's having to process info during every waking moment. You brain just needs quiet time to think, relax and explore. I'm way more relaxed, creative and find unique solutions to problems now, than before.

I don't know if it's a purely modern thing but quietness is I think straight up perceived as uncomfortable by a lot of people now. Had a conversation recently with someone saying that they can't have a meal without having something on in the background, and in conversations too people are very hung up about avoiding silence. it's really underdiscussed how averse people seem to just contemplation.

>it's really underdiscussed how averse people seem to just contemplation.

Another observation I've made is that the more time people spend consuming information, the more they feel compelled to talk. It's as if humans are programmed to share the information they've gathered. I'm certain that in the past, people eagerly listened if you had new information, but these days, everyone is constantly collecting new information. It seems like everyone wants to share/talk, yet no one wants to listen.

Re: Lately I've been using timers daily

#32

Post by leroy-is-here »

alberth wrote: post #19

Stop listening to podcasts. Enjoy the quiet. I use to fill up my day with listening to podcasts during all non-work time (e.g. driving in the car, exercising, even showering). It overloads your brain if it's having to process info during every waking moment. You brain just needs quiet time to think, relax and explore. I'm way more relaxed, creative and find unique solutions to problems now, than before.

People don’t know what they are like at equilibrium, so when something affects them they do not know the source. By constantly filling your self, you cannot be sure of the source. When filling yourself of podcasts, of food, of low-entropy words, of wine, of cheap books, of easy sights, of leisure, of wine, of coffee, etc. — when filling yourself of all these different things, it’s hard to know your literal self, because it’s being fluctuated nearly every second of the day.

Re: Lately I've been using timers daily

#33

Post by endorphine »

alberth wrote: post #19

Stop listening to podcasts. Enjoy the quiet. I use to fill up my day with listening to podcasts during all non-work time (e.g. driving in the car, exercising, even showering). It overloads your brain if it's having to process info during every waking moment. You brain just needs quiet time to think, relax and explore. I'm way more relaxed, creative and find unique solutions to problems now, than before.

I was in the same boat. I subconsciously reached for ways to distract my mind whenever it didn't have something to occupy itself with.

- When I was doing the dishes, I would immediately put a podcast on

- When I was waiting for my kid's music lesson, I would immediately grab a book to read

- When I was eating, I would always turn the TV on

- When I was sitting on the couch, to supposedly rest, I would put a music record on and I would also reach for my mobile phone to "catch up" or text a friend

- When I lie to bed, I immediately would grab my phone to browse HN

I realized that these were harmful habits that I subconsciously formed as a way to distract my mind from other thoughts that were causing stress and anxiety.

These days I'm more mindful about this and I try to just sit there by myself and just be. Kinda like meditation.

Re: Lately I've been using timers daily

#35

Post by Swizec »

codyb wrote: post #30
alberth wrote: post #19

Stop listening to podcasts. Enjoy the quiet. I use to fill up my day with listening to podcasts during all non-work time (e.g. driving in the car, exercising, even showering). It overloads your brain if it's having to process info during every waking moment. You brain just needs quiet time to think, relax and explore. I'm way more relaxed, creative and find unique solutions to problems now, than before.

I know a few people who seem to always be in negative moods... and when I learn about them, it appears, that basically every waking moment of their lives, there is _some_ form of... signal just being beamed directly into their brain. Whether it's all day long with headphones on playing music, or podcasts, or TV. It's bonkers to me. I resolve so many of my own issues just... staring out the window, or staring at the c…

I need to be very tired to just stare out the window. Get fidgety and somehow anxious.

But a motorcycle ride or a nice drive? Even doing the dishes? Now we’re talking! The mind and body are occupied in a mostly autonomus task so the rest of your brain can process and digest. It’s great.

Dare I say I almost enjoy doing chores now.

Another great option for me is boxing. For those 3 minutes in the ring, you are _not_ thinking about anything else. Whether you like it or not, your mind clears and focuses and only the sparring partner exists. It’s great.

You can get that level of focus on a motorcycle, but that gets a little dangerous for my taste. Maybe I should try going to a track.

Re: Lately I've been using timers daily

#37

Post by dahart »

j_mo wrote: post #4
dj_mc_merlin wrote: post #2

Can anyone identify the font? I tried whatthefont but it's only giving me paid fonts, I'm pretty sure this is a free font but can't seem to find it. edit: thanks for the answers

Typewalk Mono 1915 according to the FontSquirrel font identifier Looks pretty similar to me, and being a monospaced font makes sense as it's being used by a dev.

We’re talking about the black-background images, right?

Re: Lately I've been using timers daily

#38

Post by mjochim »

alberth wrote: post #19

Stop listening to podcasts. Enjoy the quiet. I use to fill up my day with listening to podcasts during all non-work time (e.g. driving in the car, exercising, even showering). It overloads your brain if it's having to process info during every waking moment. You brain just needs quiet time to think, relax and explore. I'm way more relaxed, creative and find unique solutions to problems now, than before.

> Stop listening to podcasts. > > Enjoy the quiet.

For me, this translates directly to “close this very tab.“ “Now.“ And I’ll do that, but I’ll hit reply first ;-).

Re: Lately I've been using timers daily

#39

Post by SamPatt »

alberth wrote: post #19

Stop listening to podcasts. Enjoy the quiet. I use to fill up my day with listening to podcasts during all non-work time (e.g. driving in the car, exercising, even showering). It overloads your brain if it's having to process info during every waking moment. You brain just needs quiet time to think, relax and explore. I'm way more relaxed, creative and find unique solutions to problems now, than before.

Agreed, and if you combine silence with physical movement (aka go for a walk or hike) the benefits of both are amplified.

So many brilliant men in history are known for having walking routines. I'm not going so far as to say walking made them brilliant, but I do think it's likely it contributed to them being able to maintain the physical and mental health needed to be able to think deeply and communicate their thoughts to others.

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