How to Walk (12 miles a day) • Hacker News Board

Re: How to Walk (12 miles a day)

#61

Post by stevesearer » Tue, May 03, 2022, 6:18 PM UTC

dkersten wrote: post #51

stevesearer wrote: post #8

After walking to and from work for 5 years along the same route, I found that I prefer walking without listening to anything on headphones. Just thinking increases awareness of my surroundings, allows me time to process existing thoughts as opposed to consuming more inputs, and connects me to the people I would inevitably see on a semi-regular basis. Personally, I have found that 1 hour + is a good threshold to aim f…

I agree completely. I used to listen to music and stuff a lot while walking or even commuting but a few years ago I decided to give up on most idle listening, preferring to listen to music or podcasts with intent now: eg to enjoy some music, not just passively. I used to walk a lot (I still walk a good bit but because I work from home I don’t walk to work each day anymore) and I found the quiet time to be the best ti…

When you set out do you have a mental agenda or do you find that your mind gravitates toward worthwhile topics once you're walking?

I'm more a mind wanderer, though for a season I tried to mentally prepare myself for the transition from being at a controlled work environment to walking into a house with two young kids at the end of the day.

Re: How to Walk (12 miles a day)

#62

Post by munificent » Tue, May 03, 2022, 6:19 PM UTC

stevesearer wrote: post #8

After walking to and from work for 5 years along the same route, I found that I prefer walking without listening to anything on headphones. Just thinking increases awareness of my surroundings, allows me time to process existing thoughts as opposed to consuming more inputs, and connects me to the people I would inevitably see on a semi-regular basis. Personally, I have found that 1 hour + is a good threshold to aim f…

> allows me time to process existing thoughts as opposed to consuming more inputs

This can't be stressed enough.

With phones and the Internet today, most of us consume way more information than we have time to really process, organize, and reflect on. It's like we do a shopping spree every single day and never spend any time in our house unpacking any of the grocery bags. Our minds are a chaotic mess of piled up worries, news, unmade decisions, etc.

Walking (without audiobooks or other media) is the single best solution I've found to give my brain the idle time it needs to run a defrag and work through that backlog.

Re: How to Walk (12 miles a day)

#63

Post by _Algernon_ » Tue, May 03, 2022, 6:22 PM UTC

imoverclocked wrote: post #30

swayvil wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Gay dogs, otoh, are generally friendly.

Strike another win for auto-corrupt.

What's corrupt about happy dogs?

Re: How to Walk (12 miles a day)

#64

Post by bmj » Tue, May 03, 2022, 6:23 PM UTC

cheeze wrote: post #46

bmj wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I cannot deal when a backpack when the temperature is above 65 degrees Fahrenheit, for the very reason Arnade gives -- a sweaty back. I've been using a Nittany Mountain Works fanny pack on bike rides recently (the larger model will carry A5 notebooks, which is plenty big for my non-work commuting since I'm remote full time now). I guess I will still deal with a sweaty lower back, but that's better than my entire back…

Getting a good hiking pack designed to sit off of your back a bit was a godsend to me. I'm with you that I won't carry one if it's hot out, but I'll gladly carry a smaller pack all the time otherwise. Fanny packs are sweet, except the part where you're wearing a fanny pack.

Fanny packs are sweet, except the part where you're wearing a fanny pack.

Yes, my teenagers were shocked and appalled when they saw it, and made me promise I would only wear it while on the bike.

Re: How to Walk (12 miles a day)

#65

Post by flybrand » Tue, May 03, 2022, 6:27 PM UTC

munificent wrote: post #62

stevesearer wrote: post #8

After walking to and from work for 5 years along the same route, I found that I prefer walking without listening to anything on headphones. Just thinking increases awareness of my surroundings, allows me time to process existing thoughts as opposed to consuming more inputs, and connects me to the people I would inevitably see on a semi-regular basis. Personally, I have found that 1 hour + is a good threshold to aim f…

> allows me time to process existing thoughts as opposed to consuming more inputs This can't be stressed enough. With phones and the Internet today, most of us consume way more information than we have time to really process, organize, and reflect on. It's like we do a shopping spree every single day and never spend any time in our house unpacking any of the grocery bags. Our minds are a chaotic mess of piled up worr…

I’ve gotten to this same point recently too. Cut down on the bonus time - get more music, more silence.

Re: How to Walk (12 miles a day)

#66

Post by aaaaaaaaaaab » Tue, May 03, 2022, 6:29 PM UTC

astrobe_ wrote: post #18

As for safety, always look left and right when you cross, just like how your were probably taught as a child, really . Because of today's rise of mostly silent electric vehicles, and because of drivers distracted by phones sometimes, you should not cross "by hear", if it ever was a good idea (I used to do that), even if you have the green light . Be extra cautious if a large truck or bus blocks your view. Remove your…

>As for safety, always look left and right when you cross

* or right and left, if you're in the UK

Re: How to Walk (12 miles a day)

#67

Post by chasd00 » Tue, May 03, 2022, 6:29 PM UTC

i walk a lot, not 12 miles a day, but an above average amount. Good shoes and good socks go a long way in keeping your feet happy. Also, i have pretty bad posture so i have to make it a point to not slouch while walking or else my back or shoulders eventually start to ache so be mindful of your posture when walking more than 2 or so hrs at a time.

Re: How to Walk (12 miles a day)

#68

Post by chasd00 » Tue, May 03, 2022, 6:33 PM UTC

astrobe_ wrote: post #18

As for safety, always look left and right when you cross, just like how your were probably taught as a child, really . Because of today's rise of mostly silent electric vehicles, and because of drivers distracted by phones sometimes, you should not cross "by hear", if it ever was a good idea (I used to do that), even if you have the green light . Be extra cautious if a large truck or bus blocks your view. Remove your…

watch the freaking turning lane like a hawk too. I got hit by a police car, of all things, once because he was turning and just didn't see me. I had to do the whole ninja roll across the hood and off the other side. I wasn't injured too bad, just a sprung wrist.

Re: How to Walk (12 miles a day)

#69

Post by serial_dev » Tue, May 03, 2022, 6:37 PM UTC

munificent wrote: post #62

stevesearer wrote: post #8

After walking to and from work for 5 years along the same route, I found that I prefer walking without listening to anything on headphones. Just thinking increases awareness of my surroundings, allows me time to process existing thoughts as opposed to consuming more inputs, and connects me to the people I would inevitably see on a semi-regular basis. Personally, I have found that 1 hour + is a good threshold to aim f…

> allows me time to process existing thoughts as opposed to consuming more inputs This can't be stressed enough. With phones and the Internet today, most of us consume way more information than we have time to really process, organize, and reflect on. It's like we do a shopping spree every single day and never spend any time in our house unpacking any of the grocery bags. Our minds are a chaotic mess of piled up worr…

What I like to do sometimes is spend the first 10-ish minutes listening to a book or podcast to plant some ideas, then let these ideas percolate, let my mind wander, and if I get to somewhere interesting and actionable, I take a note.

Re: How to Walk (12 miles a day)

#70

Post by rootusrootus » Tue, May 03, 2022, 6:37 PM UTC

subroutine wrote: post #44

rootusrootus wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I recommend trying a decently long slow walk first. The mechanics of walking slowly are not the same as walking at a normal pace. Some people get sore, some do not, better to find out before spending real money on the walking desk. Or be like me, know already from experience walking with slow people that I can't walk that slow and not hurt, buy the treadmill desk anyway, sell it six months later after giving up.

To counter, try standing for a few hours vs. walking slowly and you will be surprised that walking is actually easier. Humans anatomy seems to prefer walking over standing. It's particularly obvious after those long moments where you are deep into woking through some code, where you totally forget to move for about 20 min. The treadmill takes care of that. So if you already bought that standing desk... https://www.li…

I don't disagree at all. I can walk many miles at 3mph. At 1.5mph I'll be in pain pretty quickly. But if I really want to suffer, I'll stand for a couple hours.

So I don't have a standing desk, either. I primarily sit when working at the computer. But every 30-45 minutes I get up and go for a stroll, even if just around the yard.