Energy, and How to Get It • Hacker News Board

Re: Energy, and How to Get It

#61

Post by bluejellybean » Thu, Nov 04, 2021, 3:12 PM UTC

rralian wrote: post #47

I had an epiphany about personal energy a while ago that came from self-reflection, reading philosophy (stoicism in particular), and exploring mindfulness. And it's formed a big part of my personal philosophy. I will share in hopes it is useful to others. I realized that I was waiting to have energy before doing something. Blaming my lack of action on a lack of energy. But energy -- of the vim and vigor variety -- is…

>But energy -- of the vim and vigor variety -- is not a tank that you must fill before you can use it. It's a choice. It is in fact _created by action_. It's getting up and making things happen even when your tank is empty.

So very true in my experience with any creative pursuit I've attempted. As others have mentioned, there is a real local maxima that must be overcome, but once you climb the hill and enter the mindset of "getting the thing done", the burst of energy can be so unrelenting until the task is complete. Forcing yourself to this mindset seems like a great approach to me. I still personally need little tricks and triggers to remind myself that 'this', whatever 'this' is, is what I've chosen to do though.

>You are not your situation, your possessions, your achievements, or your past. You are your choices and your actions in the present. Think about the kind of person you admire -- their qualities and their actions. Then _be that person_. Choose to make that a core part of your identity. Not your past choices or your past actions, but who you are _right now_.

I've come to a somewhat similar conclusion. To channel my inner Horowitz, I offer an excerpt from Death Grips' - "Lord of The game".

"Fuck where you're from Fuck where you're goin' It's all about where you're at"

The present moment is all we really have, and attempts to perfect it are very high yield in my opinion.

Re: Energy, and How to Get It

#62

Post by DharmaPolice » Thu, Nov 04, 2021, 3:25 PM UTC

rralian wrote: post #47

I had an epiphany about personal energy a while ago that came from self-reflection, reading philosophy (stoicism in particular), and exploring mindfulness. And it's formed a big part of my personal philosophy. I will share in hopes it is useful to others. I realized that I was waiting to have energy before doing something. Blaming my lack of action on a lack of energy. But energy -- of the vim and vigor variety -- is…

It is a choice but it's also a series of choices. The analogy with physical exercise is appropriate - after a long period of sloth trying to be more active can feel incredibly difficult. Subsequent attempts (usually) are gradually less hard.

This is the whole "excellence isn't an act but a habit" thing, usually attributed to Aristotle.

Re: Energy, and How to Get It

#63

Post by underbluewaters » Thu, Nov 04, 2021, 4:02 PM UTC

rralian wrote: post #47

I had an epiphany about personal energy a while ago that came from self-reflection, reading philosophy (stoicism in particular), and exploring mindfulness. And it's formed a big part of my personal philosophy. I will share in hopes it is useful to others. I realized that I was waiting to have energy before doing something. Blaming my lack of action on a lack of energy. But energy -- of the vim and vigor variety -- is…

I'm coming around to this way of thinking. My personal anecdote: I had my first child in June premature and it has been... difficult. There's no amount of energy that can get you through caring for a newborn. During the most difficult phase I read that exercise can counteract the effects of sleep deprivation. So I started running, then I went back to the gym, and now I go nearly every day. I don't think the exercise itself has given me that much more energy. Rather, it's a change in mindset.

I found it easier to get up early and go to the gym when I realized I'm going to feel like shit in the morning no matter what, so I might as well just get up and go. When I was childless and care-free I would skip if I had one too many beers the night before, a tiring weekend, or just didn't feel "100%". This change in lifestyle made me realize there never was a "100%". Now maybe the exercise gives me a small boost in energy, but most importantly I'm conditioning myself to push myself towards my goals regardless of how much energy I think I have.

Re: Energy, and How to Get It

#64

Post by Zababa » Thu, Nov 04, 2021, 4:18 PM UTC

adamgordonbell wrote: post #39

mateo- wrote: post #5

> A lean Montrealer, with a gentle yet poised intensity that one might classify as medium-energy, Picard came at the question of vim and vigor from a near-cosmic vantage. His office, high above the Heights, had a commanding view down the Hudson, a receding sun-blanched shorescape of skyscrapers and tidal swirl that lent his pronouncements an oracular air. Did this assignment have a minimum word count? I know it's the…

I get frustrated with the reaction to New Yorker pieces on here. Yes, a New Yorker piece is going to be long and have backstory. Their feature pieces are like novellas of non-fiction. Many get republished into books, that receive acclaim like the amazing Coming into the Country[1]. It doesn't skim as well as some business insider article that is just a list of bullet points, but it was never meant to. https://www.ama…

While I agree with you, not every writer is as good as John McPhee.

Re: Energy, and How to Get It

#65

Post by exolymph » Thu, Nov 04, 2021, 8:20 PM UTC

adamgordonbell wrote: post #39

mateo- wrote: post #5

> A lean Montrealer, with a gentle yet poised intensity that one might classify as medium-energy, Picard came at the question of vim and vigor from a near-cosmic vantage. His office, high above the Heights, had a commanding view down the Hudson, a receding sun-blanched shorescape of skyscrapers and tidal swirl that lent his pronouncements an oracular air. Did this assignment have a minimum word count? I know it's the…

I get frustrated with the reaction to New Yorker pieces on here. Yes, a New Yorker piece is going to be long and have backstory. Their feature pieces are like novellas of non-fiction. Many get republished into books, that receive acclaim like the amazing Coming into the Country[1]. It doesn't skim as well as some business insider article that is just a list of bullet points, but it was never meant to. https://www.ama…

Most of the pieces don't earn the frippery they're draped in.

Re: Energy, and How to Get It

#66

Post by graeme » Fri, Nov 05, 2021, 1:02 AM UTC

andreyk wrote: post #49

rralian wrote: post #47

I had an epiphany about personal energy a while ago that came from self-reflection, reading philosophy (stoicism in particular), and exploring mindfulness. And it's formed a big part of my personal philosophy. I will share in hopes it is useful to others. I realized that I was waiting to have energy before doing something. Blaming my lack of action on a lack of energy. But energy -- of the vim and vigor variety -- is…

This is of course partially true, but the notion that you can just decide to be the best version of yourself is a bit weird, as many factors outside your control limit your range of actions. As you mention, physical health is pivotal, and having poor physical health is going to limit you significantly. You can work on your physical health, but as with many low income people you may have to work hard for money and hav…

> but as with many low income people you may have to work hard for money and have no physical energy left over for such feats

People love to bring up edge cases but most people on that situation aren’t on Hacker News.

Vast majority of audience here is in a position to improve their energy.

And I’ve had health and digestive issues that impair me more than average. Guess what? By controlling my environment and inputs I can have a massive difference in my own average energy levels

> it's simply not possible to choose to be positive, for instance

I fundamentally disagree with this statement. There’s always a choice. Do you speak from experience or are you assuming what others with worse physical challenges than you must logically feel?

(I draw a distinction here between acute and chronic issues. If your spouse has just died or you just broke your leg and are in excruciating pain, positivity has little role. I’m talking about longer run)

Re: Energy, and How to Get It

#67

Post by redisman » Sat, Nov 06, 2021, 6:36 PM UTC

circlefavshape wrote: post #36

redisman wrote: post #4

The guidelines are easy on paper. Eat healthy, sleep a lot, work out multiple times a week and you’ll magically have a lot of energy.

I have done this for most of my life. I play in a band with a bunch of guys who drink shitloads of alcohol and sleep FAR less than I do. When it gets to eleven PM in the bar we play in who's the one yawning? It's me. I never really feel like I have plenty of energy, because whatever I have I just use to do more stuff :/

Maybe they stay up late every night? It’s easy to go until 3am if that’s you’re usual bedtime