What are some healthy, creative ways to spend downtime while waiting for code?

#1

Post by spacio » Thu, Jan 09, 2020, 5:31 AM UTC

As a grad student I’m often running jobs, either on a cluster or locally, to process or generate data for experiments. They can take a few minutes to ~5 hours to run, and I’ve been working on building good habits whenever I press ‘go’.

Thanks!

Re: What are some healthy, creative ways to spend downtime while waiting for code?

#2

Post by eitland » Thu, Jan 09, 2020, 6:13 AM UTC

I can relate.

Some options I'd suggest:

- reading a book / listening to an audiobook

-update documentation

- some kind of meditation like activity for shorter jobs

Also, try to make the system send a a reminder when the job is finished.

Re: What are some healthy, creative ways to spend downtime while waiting for code?

#3

Post by csnewb » Thu, Jan 09, 2020, 6:27 AM UTC

Go to the gym and lift weights or do some cardio.

Re: What are some healthy, creative ways to spend downtime while waiting for code?

#4

Post by keiferski » Thu, Jan 09, 2020, 7:03 AM UTC

Start using Anki / SRS to learn and consolidate your knowledge. It’s easy to do a dozen cards in a few minutes.

Re: What are some healthy, creative ways to spend downtime while waiting for code?

#5

Post by jpl56 » Thu, Jan 09, 2020, 10:42 AM UTC

use this time to automate tasks you have to perform several times a day

Re: What are some healthy, creative ways to spend downtime while waiting for code?

#6

Post by anotheryou » Thu, Jan 09, 2020, 11:28 AM UTC

take the time off: meditate, cook food, read

Re: What are some healthy, creative ways to spend downtime while waiting for code?

#7

Post by muzani » Thu, Jan 09, 2020, 1:17 PM UTC

jpl56 wrote: post #5

use this time to automate tasks you have to perform several times a day

relevant xkcd: https://xkcd.com/1205/

Re: What are some healthy, creative ways to spend downtime while waiting for code?

#8

Post by muzani » Thu, Jan 09, 2020, 1:25 PM UTC

Learn the Major mnemonic method for memorizing numbers: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mnemonic_major_system

It's very useful for lots of things, from memorizing license plates to birthdays. There are some "better" methods, but the major system has lots of resources, and it's a balance between time consuming and powerful.

Learning to encode numbers to images is good training, a step towards converting paragraphs of text or conversations into easily stored images. A side effect is you'll be able to remember speeches and other things better. I am often told that I have a photographic memory when people see my notes, but it's really years of practice.

Re: What are some healthy, creative ways to spend downtime while waiting for code?

#9

Post by kleer001 » Thu, Jan 09, 2020, 5:43 PM UTC

Every other suggestion is great.

All I can think to add is maybe double check your work? Or check it as its working?

Re: What are some healthy, creative ways to spend downtime while waiting for code?

#10

Post by neuroticfish » Thu, Jan 09, 2020, 7:27 PM UTC

muzani wrote: post #8

Learn the Major mnemonic method for memorizing numbers: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mnemonic_major_system It's very useful for lots of things, from memorizing license plates to birthdays. There are some "better" methods, but the major system has lots of resources, and it's a balance between time consuming and powerful. Learning to encode numbers to images is good training, a step towards converting paragraphs of…

> a step towards converting paragraphs of text or conversations into easily stored images

If the Major system is for memorizing numbers, what's the link between numbers and text?