Running 6 days a week training for marathons. The high from endorphins puts me in the right mood.
3 hour run on a Sunday evening gets you ready for the Monday morning
Ask HN: What do you do to blow off steam?
31–40 of 77 posts
Re: Ask HN: What do you do to blow off steam?
#32masterbate
Re: Ask HN: What do you do to blow off steam?
#33I step away from work and focus on fixing little tiny things around the house I've been putting off for a while.
Switch lightbulbs, clean drains, vacuum the attic, etc. 2 hours of this and I'm happy because:
a) I took my mind off work.
b) I fixed up my house something fierce.
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I would love to buy and ride a bike but I would get run over by a car or stabbed here in Bolivia.
Re: Ask HN: What do you do to blow off steam?
#34I lift weights. Used to listen to Death Metal. But mostly, I've learned that it's not really necessary. Just makes us feel powerful, recently started meditating with teh Headspace app and that works a lot better.
Weightlifting definitely turned my life around.
When I can't go to the gym, pullups are a good substitute and I highly recommend everyone get a pullup bar. I do a set or three every time I go to the bathroom and it helps clear my mind and restore my self-confidence.
Re: Ask HN: What do you do to blow off steam?
#35Masturbate furiously.
Edit: Downvotes? You judge on how you blow off steam too?
Re: Ask HN: What do you do to blow off steam?
#36I step away from work and focus on fixing little tiny things around the house I've been putting off for a while. Switch lightbulbs, clean drains, vacuum the attic, etc. 2 hours of this and I'm happy because: a) I took my mind off work. b) I fixed up my house something fierce. --- I would love to buy and ride a bike but I would get run over by a car or stabbed here in Bolivia.
That's what forests and mountains are for, you don't need to ride on roads. Get a mountain bike!
Re: Ask HN: What do you do to blow off steam?
#37I go fishing.
Re: Ask HN: What do you do to blow off steam?
#38Short term: I go take a walk. 45 minutes to an hour of brisk walking around the city in places where I don't have to stop much for cars.
Longer term: I'll just take a day off, email cow-orkers that I'm out that day, and go motorcycling in the mountains. I started doing this 25 years ago; having a hobby that has nothing to do with computers helps a lot. (I'm not a crazy rider, I wear all the safety gear, have a bike with ABS and so on).
Vacations: I like to go somewhere and read books for a week. I seldom get to have this kind of vacation, but it's my ideal one.
Re: Ask HN: What do you do to blow off steam?
#39Ride road bike for at least 3 - 4 hours at moderate to just below time trial pace. This will exhaust you, normalize your hormones, improve your mood (high from endorphins), reduce your stress, and reduce your aggression levels (adrenalin) etc. Eat to recover and feel great for at least couple of days. This is also better than indoor exercise because of the long sun and fresh air exposure. I have been doing this (cycl…
Coincidentally I just got back from a longish bike ride. Another +1 from me :)
It does require some upfront investment in learning to navigate your city and region on bicycle as opposed to on car, but I think it's well worth it.
Re: Ask HN: What do you do to blow off steam?
#40I lift weights. Used to listen to Death Metal. But mostly, I've learned that it's not really necessary. Just makes us feel powerful, recently started meditating with teh Headspace app and that works a lot better.
I grew up in the 80's and got into Metallica, Slayer, Anthrax, Megadeth etc. I still love that music, and I can basically fall asleep to it. But I find that I'm just not angry enough to get into any new metal.
When I was about 16 my dad walked into my room and said, "No one's going to be listening to this garbage in 20 years. It's just noise." He wasn't upset or anything, he just couldn't hear any music in metal. Sorry dad, pretty sure you were wrong about that!