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Ask HN: What was the biggest contributor to your happiness in the past year?

• runawaybottle 6y ago
  Dog.
  • break_the_bank 6y ago
    Getting a pet seems so awesome. I'm worried about the commitment it brings to the dog itself, and the place. I lose the ability to "sell everything and travel".
    • runawaybottle 6y ago
      You’ll be okay. It’s a commitment, but the dog can go with you anywhere. Best decision I ever made in my life.
    • edgyquant 6y ago
      I spent the past two years being a digital nomad (within the US) and I have a pitbull and a cat. Just have to make sure the destinations are a days drive (or take a plane) so the animals aren’t going insane.
      • redisman 6y ago
        My dog does seemingly fine on multi day road trips. He’s pretty much a napper though so doesn’t make much of a difference for his plans
        • edgyquant 6y ago
          Mine does as well normally, but I also have a cat that makes it difficult. Though I will say when I drove from New York to Washington state, a four day trip, the dog looked so wore out I couldn’t bare to take her through that again.
    • redisman 6y ago
      > I lose the ability to "sell everything and travel" You can still pretty much do that with planning but that is kind of the point. It’s a responsibility and a sacrifice of a part of your freedom. Like most good things in life.
• 1123581321 6y ago
  Fixing chronic shoulder pain. My resting heart rate at night dropped by about 15 points in the week after an intense therapy session.
  • Jtsummers 6y ago
    Having long dealt with chronic pain in various areas I can sympathize. PT is fantastic for this and reducing the pain is an incredible QOL improvement.
  • neolog 6y ago
    Wow. Is that a real measured number, or are you guessing?
    • 1123581321 6y ago
      It’s based on wearing an Apple Watch to bed with HeartWatch and AutoSleep running. About a month of night data preceding the therapy and two months since then.
      • neolog 6y ago
        That's amazing.
  • davidsawyer 6y ago
    What are some things that the therapy session included?
    • 1123581321 6y ago
      It was designed by the therapist and me after seeing how progress from more generic PT sessions had plateaued short of our goal. Basically a high quantity of precise pressure and controlled movements that were, in her professional estimation, taken as far as possible without risking a regression due to damage or increased pain. My job was to communicate clearly and make clear that I valued progress over comfort at every choice. Quite intense and lengthy, and the 12 hours after had me unsure if her assessment was correct, but it worked out.
• bpodgursky 6y ago
  Wife gave birth to a healthy child.
  • jhrozek 6y ago
    Congratulations! It’s funny to see your comment downvoted while just above a comment that says “dog” is not and gets a bunch of enthusiastic replies. HN demographics I guess?
    • bpodgursky 6y ago
      It's a weird place.
• fblp 6y ago
  Meditation practice
• l0b0 6y ago
  Cats & walking to work listening to podcasts.
• murrayb 6y ago
  Did a marriage course with my wife. Very helpful wish we had done it a decade earlier!
  • huuman12 6y ago
    What was the course?
    • murrayb 6y ago
      From memory it was called The Marriage Course. It was offered by The Uniting Church. We are not affiliated with the church and did not find the course overly religious. The session on sex was the most moralistic but no surprises there and the content was still useful /helpful.
      • theonething 6y ago
        is it this one? https://themarriagecourse.org/ https://themarriagecourse.org/
        • murrayb 6y ago
          Yep that's the one! Cheers
• bemmu 6y ago
  Moving to a new place with a view of a river instead of a parking lot. Thought it’d quickly just feel like the new normal, but there is something calming about flowing water.
• tazjin 6y ago
  Leaving (~Western) Europe. The last year made it clear that I'm not compatible with its values and priorities, and I'm now going to live in places that aren't living museums. It's freed up a lot of mental space which has been phenomenal.
  • emilsedgh 6y ago
    Can you elaborate a bit further about Western Europe being a living museum?
  • Scoundreller 6y ago
    Where’d you go?
    • tazjin 6y ago
      Currently in Egypt (spending a few months here can alter your perspective), next up ... we'll see! My next permanent base is going to be Russia.
      • arthurcolle 6y ago
        How is the New Administrative Capital looking like?
        • tazjin 6y ago
          I commented about that in the other thread, but fwiw I'm not near Cairo.
      • tim333 6y ago
        Also in Egypt (Dahab). Say hi!
  • wikibob 6y ago
    I’m fascinated by this teaser. Can you elaborate? Was it the food, the politics, the work culture? Other?
• amiga 6y ago
  In IT, changed career goals to a less demanding role, including a new team, manager, etc. Its amazing how refreshing a change like that can be.
• 11thEarlOfMar 6y ago
  SpaceX StarHopper, StarShip, StarLink, 28 Falcon launches (114 total), 26 landings, caught the fairing, ... Could never have imagined such a prolific space endeavor.
  • redisman 6y ago
    I’m just getting hyped all year for James Webb launch in October.
• Aeolun 6y ago
  Taking the train to work (and actually working in the office again). I need my 1 hour trek back and forth to build barriers between home and work.
• sprocket 6y ago
  My son's daycare closed permanently almost a year ago, and my wife and I had to adjust to have a 3 going on 4 year old at home with us 24/7. While it hasn't been easy, it's been a joy watching him grow over this past year, having time to bond with him (generally he favours his mom), and to have greater insight into who he is becoming as a person. It has been a difficult time for everyone, but I honestly believe that this will be formative time not just for him, but for my wife and I, and one that we will look back upon fondly.
  • AnonC 6y ago
    I think this is one of the curses of modern life, more so in the rat race, that one misses on just living with kids (who, most likely, will be living with parents for probably two or three decades of their lives and then move out). The current times generally have more fathers being participative in parenting compared to the past. It seems such a waste of time, if it’s feasible without breaking the bank, to not enjoy more of this phase. This early stage is also the time when the kids are more dependent and more close in some senses. Can’t roll back the clock later. BTW, a grammar nitpick. It should be “but for my wife and me”, not “ but for my wife and I”.
    • searchableguy 6y ago
      > I think this is one of the curses of modern life, more so in the rat race, that one misses on just living with kids Statistically, parents are spending more time with their kids than they did in the past. https://ourworldindata.org/parents-time-with-kids https://ourworldindata.org/parents-time-with-kids
    • psychiatrist24 6y ago
      No, if you spend time with your kids, you are being exploited an oppressed. The government needs to offer childcare for everybody.
• bllguo 6y ago
  building good habits, i started using habitica after seeing it here
• MaysonL 6y ago
  Making vegetable soup, and giving it to friends.
• eyelidlessness 6y ago
  Without a doubt: 1. My puppy. We moved out of a studio apartment with my ex in a town I didn’t know, back to my city and into a house of our own two weeks before everything shut down. In the last year we’ve bonded incredibly, and weathered the worst of the last year together in a way that would have been incredibly difficult without her. We wake up every day to snuggles and a special day’s greeting, and wind down every night squished up on the couch. I carry her to bed most nights, not because she needs carrying but because it feels so sweet to end the night that way. 2. I quit a job that was burning me out and spent 5 months building the start of a living art project which reinvigorated my creative mind and my love of the tech craft. It’s just started but I have a zillion things I plan to do with it, and it’s the first ambitious project I’ve been able to follow through on in years.
• pumpkinhead 6y ago
  The people in a country that has outsized influence in the country I live in came to their senses and voted out their leader. Other than politics my 11-year old son understanding the Roblox API, and 8-year old daughter topping her class in reading and spelling.
  • afc 6y ago
    Congratulations on your kids' accomplishments. That sounds really great!
  • gpanders 6y ago
    > The people in a country that has outsized influence in the country I live in came to their senses and voted out their leader. As one of the people in said country, this was one of the highlights of my year as well.
• alexashka 6y ago
  Computer games :)
• lykr0n 6y ago
  Lexapro & Adderall. Which enabled me to rediscover my desire to innovate and learn.
  • sjg007 6y ago
    How did you end up on that combination?
    • lykr0n 6y ago
      I first tried wellbutrin, which is used for both depression and mild ADD. It was not the right choice (it's hard to describe, but it felt like trying to push through a sheet of latex- I could it helping, but it felt like that. also, I was getting some physical side effects), but gaining that mild stimulant and then losing it caused me to bring it up. Combined with my parents trying ADD meds when I was young caused my doctor give me one of those ADD tests, and I was far enough over the line to try it. And it worked. I'm only on 25mg which is too much some days (but you can adjust the dosage yourself), but my doctor was very open to the conversation (maybe because I paid him directly, no insurance). It's the kind of thing (both Anti-Deps and Stimulants) everyone should explore if they think they might help. Hit me with questions. Mental Health is not something I am ashamed of (nor should anyone else be IMO) EDIT. Lexapro was the 2nd med tried, and it works well enough where I don't feel like rolling the dice again.
• psyc 6y ago
  Living alone.
• brainless 6y ago
  Staying away from the startup hustle and city life. I have been constantly disturbed by the chase in the startup system. Building up something out of own passion is one thing, but trying to act like the investor-led founders has been driving me crazy for years. I live a village life now, do much less software work. Have dialed down my ambitions and I am actually very happy. I do feel that my skills, acquired over 15 years, are less used, but that regret does not last long when I take a trip around the neighboring hills (I live in a Himalayan territory).
  • cko 6y ago
    How do you sustain this dialed down ambition? Community? Physical labor? Every time I read HN or watch youtube my ambition goes up. And I tried to retire last year but my mind is still restless.
    • pjc50 6y ago
      > Every time I read HN or watch youtube my ambition goes up As the old joke goes, don't do that then. You say you tried to retire; you must have had a previous big push to follow your ambitions in your life. Did that work out well or badly?
      • cko 6y ago
        I worked a dead end pharmacy job for 9 years and saved hard. I never actually pursued the ambition, if that makes sense, as they were more fantasies than anything else. So maybe moreso FOMO and jealousy (and also fear of losing everything).
    • johnnujler 6y ago
      I am just guessing here. Have you acted upon your ambitions yet, or do you get overwhelmed and depressed everytime the ambition shoots up (could be due of other startups, HN, friends, YouTube, anything)? My guess is that most people when the latter happens n number of times(n being the threshold), they breakdown. It's very difficult to know if it is a want or a want-to-want, or a have-to-want. But you can be sure that if the latter is happening, it is never a want, it is always either a want-to-want, or a have-to-want. Once you realise that, I think it will be easier to realise what you really want.
• candiddevmike 6y ago
  Remote Jackbox party games were pretty therapeutic during the pandemic. Spending the vacation budget (and quite a bit of savings) on improving the household amenities, entertainment options, and everyone's hobbies. We just got back from our first post COVID vacation and it was truly hellish--I'd gladly take being stuck in a multi bedroom house vs hours in a vehicle. Additionally, all the perks of being on vacation were either still absent because of COVID or paled in comparison to what we had back at home. I think COVID will have a long lasting impact on what I value in this world. I'd rather just spend time with people I care about, doesn't really matter where.
  • rektide 6y ago
    People like Jackbox, and I'm glad they do, but I want to provide some dissent. I really do not like these games, at all. I love playful competition, but this is droll, meaningless, soulless direct competition to me. It doesn't feel fun at all. I don't feel like I'm participating in a game with other people, I feel like I'm being measured. I do not like Jackbox. Again, I'm glad other people have a good experience. But I'd also like to share the perspective that it doesn't work for everyone, that some folks (myself at least) find it really offputting & un-enjoyable.
    • candiddevmike 6y ago
      I've played jackbox with all kinds of people. Certain games definitely work better for different types of groups (close friends, mixed, family, etc). I think there are some that do really well universally: quiplash, fibbage, murder trivia/you don't know jack. Have you tried those? Any of the drawing ones you really have to read the room. They can get really awkward if only part of the group wants to draw inappropriate stuff.
• rubyist5eva 6y ago
  Getting a fully remote job. Gave me the flexibility to leave the city and buy a home near my friends and family more in the "rural" areas of the country. Did not enjoy living in the city with a new baby, not one bit. The more close-knight community life, slower-pace and more flexible work-life balance is much more my style.
• newman8r 6y ago
  kayaking and camping/overlanding. Would love to get some west coast HNers together for an overlanding trip later this year after everyone's had their vaccinations.
  • jcpst 6y ago
    Hadn’t heard the term overlanding before. I enjoyed learning about it.
• riffraff 6y ago
  I had to stop my daily run/walk routine because of some problems with my foot, but I've been able to restart after getting foot support. I couldn't run again, but I still love my morning walk+audiobook.
• whalesalad 6y ago
  I take my German Shepherd on a 3+ mile walk every other day. I’ve been doing this for a few months now and it’s usually the highlight of my day. I love her so much.
• aetherspawn 6y ago
  The church, keeps me connected virtually to hundreds of people despite a year of strict lockdown in Melbourne.
• rococode 6y ago
  Video walks on Youtube. If you haven't heard of them before, they're simple first-person videos where the filmer walks around some area with a stabilized video camera - no talking, just walking. I've really missed traveling and watching video walks while exercising has been a great way to satisfy that travel craving a bit and also trick my brain into experiencing some semblance of normalcy (not sure I could remember what a crowded street feels like otherwise haha). I'm partial to Japan so my favorite channel has been Rambalac [1], and I recently also started watching another channel with the very creative name JAPAN 4K [2]. There are tons of other channels and places too, for example I recently watched a few in Lisbon [3] and Seoul [4] and Copenhagen [5]. They're very relaxing and fun to watch and going from place to place with no cuts captures the usual tourist experience quite well. If you like traveling you can probably find some that are interesting to you! [1] https://www.youtube.com/c/Rambalac/videos https://www.youtube.com/c/Rambalac/videos [2] https://www.youtube.com/user/keikaikeikaikeikai/videos https://www.youtube.com/user/keikaikeikaikeikai/videos [3] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXlFDpaQ1ec https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXlFDpaQ1ec [4] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqj7l0Xk0Ho https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqj7l0Xk0Ho [5] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nl69sN5PtgM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nl69sN5PtgM
  • ismail 6y ago
    Thanks I did not know this existed. I have started a small side project which is somewhat related. I started it because I saw the beneficial aspects of walks and wellness from my own journey over the last few years. It is something I wish existed in the world but does not. The idea seemed so small and inconsequential that i thought it could make a good non-profit that has a significantly positive impact on wellness. There is a model in where it would be self-sustaining. If anyone is keen to chat about the intersection of wellness, physical activity and walking drop me a message!
  • StickyRibbs 6y ago
    Thank you for this.
  • emgo 6y ago
    +1 Also, train ride videos, for example this one in Switzerland: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mw9qiV7XlFs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mw9qiV7XlFs
• Austin_Conlon 6y ago
  Getting back into a routine of regular tennis, and varying my workouts with the Apple Fitness+ service.
• testfoobar 6y ago
  Such a pandemic cliche: making sourdough bread. Takes all day. Took about 3 or 4 tries until I got the hang of it. Now I make two loaves every weekend. Tastier than anything I've bought at a store. Started with Serious Eats: https://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2020/07/how-to-make-sourdough-bread.html https://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2020/07/how-to-make-sour... Settled at Tartine Country Bread: https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1016277-tartines-country-bread https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1016277-tartines-country... Makes me happy every time.
  • nickkell 6y ago
    Same! Received a cast iron pan set that doubles as a Dutch oven as a gift. Since then I've been making the most delicious sourdough pizzas. I'm annoyed with myself that I ate crappy frozen pizzas/takeaway for so long, when I should have been cooking from scratch using a cast iron pan or pizza stone.
    • testfoobar 6y ago
      I have not tried sourdough pizza dough. Nice. Will try later this week. I have two cast iron skillets. I make my bread by covering them with 9inch round cake pans. Comes out all right. Serious Eats is my preferred home made pizza: https://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2013/01/foolproof-pan-pizza-recipe.html https://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2013/01/foolproof-pan-pi...
  • jeffreyrogers 6y ago
    I think this is the same recipe for Tartine Country Bread but not paywalled: https://tartinebakery.com/stories/country-bread https://tartinebakery.com/stories/country-bread
    • testfoobar 6y ago
      Thanks. I aspire to make Tartine morning rolls. But haven't gotten past the croissant dough yet.
  • gdubs 6y ago
• _throwawayaway 6y ago
  Might sound wrong but pandemic. The world had to become more introverted which i like.
  • Jaxtek 6y ago
    Less polluted too
• xyzelement 6y ago
  Having a kid born in the middle of the pandemic and work from home situation is amazing. In no other time would a working western father spend so much time with his young child. Reconnecting more and more with religion (Judaism in my case.) To say it plainly, religion represents millennia of people asking deep questions and struggling through answers, which is more honest than the alternative. Though the above sentences would make zero sense to me a few years ago, so I wouldn't expect them to sway anyone who isn't ready there. I also developmed an even deeper appreciation for society, capitalism, and technology. The fact that we have reliable electricity, water and internet here in NY, can go rent a car, can buy fruit on the street at 3am - all these things are modern miracles.
  • jhrozek 6y ago
    I’ll become a working western father soon and my paternity leave will be ~6 months regardless of pandemic. So I don’t buy the “no other time” argument.
    • xyzelement 6y ago
      I am guessing this comment is a reference to paternity leave lengths in some of the eastern part of the western world? :) Ok fair enough, but not exactly the point I was making. Even once I was back "at the office" the fact that I could walk out between meetings and play with my son for 5 minutes is incredible. And yes some further pedantry is possible: some people have been all remote for years. Nonetheless, for most people this is a very new situation and worth celebrating.
      • jhrozek 6y ago
        Yeah sorry if it sounded too entitled (otoh there is not much “entitlement” I paid for all this with my taxes several times over). I’m happy that you have he the chance to be with your kid more I just read your post as “it’s impossible for fathers who work to enjoy kids prior to the pandemic”.
    • spacechild1 6y ago
• projectileboy 6y ago
  Taking college classes again. I didn’t appreciate the experience in my youth, but now I love it.
• andreskytt 6y ago
  Endurance sports. Low heartrate long run or bike sessions. Some high-intensity stuff to mix it up. You get out of the house and the runner’s high is a thing (but can take a few hours to achieve).
• schoolornot 6y ago
  Working from home. I'm not going back.
  • sawmurai 6y ago
    I can second this. That and building a homegym into our basement. Both result in a total extra 8h of free time per week which is crazy.
    • d3nj4l 6y ago
      I moved in with my parents for WFH, and apart from the time, I've saved so much money. No longer having to pay rent in itself made for a much bigger boost to my savings than any raise could've.
      • arthurcolle 6y ago
        Do you not bring... special friends over?
        • d3nj4l 6y ago
          I'll thank you not to remind me of that Jokes aside, no. I'm closeted anyway.
  • foobar33333 6y ago
    I have started going back on Thursdays and Fridays with no plans to return full time ever. Many of the other developers have returned full time but no one is hassling me to come in to the office since it doesn't affect my work at all so I'll keep working from home for as long as they let me and if they ask me to come in full time I'll get a new job.
• travisgriggs 6y ago
  * Got my private pilot certificate. * Built a homemade paddleboard out of western red cedar.
  • Voltage 6y ago
    Congrats on your PPL! I did 10 hours 15 years ago, but stopped when my first baby came along.
• JacobSuperslav 6y ago
  1. the birth of my kid 2. taking care of her 2.5. moving to Tenerife 3. taking a side project to 30k MRR in less than 6 months. a lot of motivation to stay up in the evenings came from my kid for sure 4. starting a project purely for fun this month - https://cassandraai.reddit.com https://cassandraai.reddit.com 5. Starting a little garden in my backyard
  • ayewo 6y ago
    3. Do tell us more about the side project.
    • JacobSuperslav 6y ago
      I figured out a way how to connect influencers/people who have a large following/websites which could improve their monetization with advertisers and take a cut. Most of the search and outreach is automated. I'm a programmer/marketer specializing in Python and analytics. TL;DR: Your blog is making $2k/month from ads, but you could be making $4k/month. Will you give me $400/month so you can get $1600 more?
  • tasuki 6y ago
    If it weren't for family friends etc, I'd totally move to Tenerife and spend the rest of my life there. So envious! Whereabouts have you settled?
    • JacobSuperslav 6y ago
      The North. whereabouts of Puerto de la Cruz, now looking for a big house since we like it here.
  • 11thEarlOfMar 6y ago
    How do you like Tenerife?
    • JacobSuperslav 6y ago
• Yenrabbit 6y ago
  - Paying close attention to nature. I've seen thousands of cool creatures I would previously have missed, and logged a lot of them on iNaturalist so it is also contributing to citizen science (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=any&user_id=jonathan471&verifiable=any https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=any&user_i...) - My wife and family. Without much opportunity to see anyone outside our bubble these close relationships have become even more important and special. - Dialing back on work. Or, inversely, trying to work too hard was the biggest negative contribution to my happiness, and lowering commitments then eventually quitting entirely for a complete break has been a big help.
  • 7952 6y ago
    I started using INaturalist during our first lockdown. Amazing how it opens your eyes to things that you missed before. Like how some flower heads have tiny little luminous beetles during summer. Or that the random weeds I see on the side of the road are highly toxic or possibly have some obscure property. Just going for a walk is like mindfulness meditation where you learn things.
  • OrbitRock 6y ago
    I once followed that thread of starting to observe nature around me so far that I ended up switching careers and became an ecologist, lol. It’s definitely good for the mind!
• AnonC 6y ago
  For me it was three things: I was already working from home most of the time, but it becoming full time provided more flexibility. Increasingly over time, I reduced my actual working hours (being lucky enough to do so) without a pay cut. I know I’m not getting pay rises anytime soon. So it seemed appropriate that I spend lesser time working. I started exercising regularly, and have included at least one yoga session everyday towards the end of the day. I practice for 30-45 minutes by watching someone’s instructions (either an app or video). I don’t know when I’ll drop the regular practice, hopefully not soon. Next on my list is to make meditation a daily practice. If there’s one piece of advice I could give people about work, it is that there’s always tomorrow and next week and next month and next year to do it. There are many other things that could matter more in life.
• vfinn 6y ago
  - Understood that understanding is not the result of thought but of observation ("I see it now"). - Understood that ego is the result of thought. - Understood that fear is not the word fear. - Understood that thought is the source of sorrow.
• d3nj4l 6y ago
  Working from home. I realised being in an office - especially an open-plan office - was setting off my social anxiety all the time. Working in a place where I could choose to engage with people instead of having it forced upon me made it so much easier to work. I became a lot more productive and started enjoying what I did, even picking up more side projects and learning actively. It's a shame it's coming to an end, and I can't seem to find many places that are going to remain remote.
  • foobar33333 6y ago
    I felt this so much. When I'm in the office I spend so much time thinking about if my cough was too loud and distracting people, of if my hair is neat enough, or if I should walk to get a cup of water or if I should wait 20 minutes because I just got back to my desk from the toilet. Working from home I don't care about anything and just get things done.
    • Graffur 6y ago
      I hadn't thought of those things but I did the same in the office too. I still look in the mirror or camera to see if there is food in my teeth :) but yeah a lot less stress from silly stuff. I am more conscious of appearing 'away' now though.
  • deleted 6y ago
    [deleted]
  • fukmbas 6y ago
    Are you not in IT? Remote is literally permanent now
    • d3nj4l 6y ago
      Not everywhere. Most companies here in India aren't looking to stay remote long term if they weren't remote friendly before.
      • 6y ago
• hliyan 6y ago
  Starting each day with 20 minutes of the type of meditation espoused here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kaNO09cPS6c https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kaNO09cPS6c In terms the more scientifically-inclined will understand: everything that is outside your current, immediate perception is a simulation in your mind and therefore is both inaccurate and prone to reflect your hopes and fears (especially fears). Simply dialing down those mental simulations of the past, future and distant places can significantly relax you.
  • smitty1e 6y ago
    One's metaphhsical commitments are huge. My community of faith is/has been the bedrock of life for years. Watching the world react in ways that make no sense would be a complete downer if one could not look past human folly and call into the core of existence. Best wishes to all for joy, forgiveness, and healing.
  • mjburgess 6y ago
    "Immediate perception" is a simulation, or more precisely, a reconstruction. The measurement systems which interact with your body (light, sound, etc.) are woefully lacking in information. You use prior learned environmental models to reconstruct the environment, where the sensory stimulation merely resolves between models.
• daniel_reetz 6y ago
  Listening to Sarah Coponat play piano on Twitch. Her live, epic, flowing improvisation is the perfect companion to the workday. https://www.twitch.tv/sarahcoponat https://www.twitch.tv/sarahcoponat
  • daniel_reetz 6y ago
    Here's a recent example of her playing: https://youtu.be/TARBRZPDfWs https://youtu.be/TARBRZPDfWs
    • jesuslop 6y ago
      Gosh, thank you bud and parent-bud. You made my morning. Internet was invented for this. Suggest the rest to look at this.
  • modemuser 6y ago
    Good to see Sarah mentioned here, it's the same for me. Her music is the one constantly good thing that I'm always looking forward to in the last year, highly recommended.
  • the_biot 6y ago
    What an amazing find, thanks very much! Reminds me a little of Tori Amos.
• puranjay 6y ago
  Cooking. Always enjoyed it but over the pandemic, I got serious about it. Watched more YouTube videos than I can count, even took some online live classes. Cooking is great because it not only gives you joy, but it also gives joy to those you feed. Such a pure way to spread happiness.
• vincentmarle 6y ago
  Waking up without an alarm clock. It's the single best productivity boost I got this past year. And yes: when I'm productive, I'm happy. When I'm happy, I'm productive.
• vmurthy 6y ago
  Intermittent Fasting + Meditation. A bit difficult to explain but bear with me. Imagine you wake up one day to a rumbling tummy (happens when you do IF). I noticed that such sensations would lead me to a bad mood. It's a subtle process but one day it clicked that I was "inventing" stories in my head to account for the physiological reactions in my body (due to hunger etc.) . Take it to its logical conclusion and you'll realise that this happens with other sensations, too. Now I am a lot more conscious of sensations (especially the "negative" ones) and it has made me happier and calmer :). The WFH helps maintain IF + meditation schedules, too!
  • adonese 6y ago
    I only used to do fasting (islam), but I tried intermittent fasting this year. I can not stress enough how an empty stomach can contribute to overall mindfulness! It sure sucks at first, but IF just clicked with me and I want to adopt it
• victorthehuman 6y ago
  Got an eMTB 8 month ago, visited places in my local area that didn’t even know existed. No weather is too bad for going outside for a ride anymore. Cops stopped me once asking what I was doing outside on a bike in freezing rain, suspected drug smuggling.
• tluyben2 6y ago
  Working from home, (far) more birds in my garden because less planes and less cars, fiction reading (took a break for 10 years, now back to 2 books/day), reading while walking in the empty forest, walking 10km/day. Guess the biggest is the walking and reading at the same time.
  • jhrozek 6y ago
    I also got back to fiction reading lately and I’m immensely enjoying it. But..do you really read two books A DAY?
    • tluyben2 6y ago
      Yes, average fiction or biographies etc I do. If it is harder (hard literature, much thicker, books that are not in Dutch, English or German ( I try to reread books I read in English in Spanish ) or science books which are theoretical like physics or CS with formulas etc, then it obviously will be (much) slower. I noticed myself watching more and more fiction TV shows and found them too slow while being not dense enough and then I remembered I used to not watch anything and just read books in that time.
      • psychiatrist24 6y ago
        The biggest problem for me would be to find enough good books to read.
        • pierre 6y ago
          For me the real issue to finding good book is that I will not think about reading them due to my current context. To solve that I found 2 way : - I challenge myself to read a book from each country/region on earth, often finding new themes I get passionate about. - I start buying every book from a given editor, also leading to great discovery / extending my horizon. (There should be a startup allowing me to subscribe to an editor :) )
          • 6y ago
• alkonaut 6y ago
  Did some light building/carpentry around the house (An ice hockey rink and a large outdoor table). Picked up mountainbiking. Visited my parents in summer when the pandemic died down and got a chance to appreciate how important that is, instead of just a yearly routine. As a permanent only wfh employee in my org since many years, the transformation that occurred when everyone else was in the same boat really improved my situation.
• dgellow 6y ago
  I would say 3 things: - I got a bike - I left my previous job and started working on my own projects - Adopting a cat
• sneak 6y ago
  Gigabit internet, cheap hard drives, and cheap 36-bay SATA 4U servers. It turns out I like having a private library and playing home librarian. It brings me a lot of joy.
• prawn 6y ago
  Probably two things: Intrastate travel. Main line of work (web) stalled but I picked up a solid amount of drone photography/videography work that allowed me to get paid travelling more than usual around the state. Australia has been in a good position with regard to COVID-19 which obviously helped, but I did get a few travel jobs during only-travel-for-work lockdowns. In the last 12 months, I've visited every sub-region of the state, been paid to go on a 10 night cruise, worked on a TV commercial, made decent money camping with my kids a handful of times, etc. One of the best years of my life and I feel especially fortunate knowing how rough others around the globe have had it in comparison. Perhaps bigger than that though: a solid relationship. It's so valuable that no matter what else is going on (heavy workload, dealing with the kids, etc) that your partner has your back and vice versa. Very reassuring coming home knowing that you are a team against everything you face.
  • OrbitRock 6y ago
    > Main line of work (web) stalled but I picked up a solid amount of drone photography/videography work Do you mind me prying into what field you’re doing drone photo/videography in? I’ve done drone surveys before and always thought that that would be cool too, especially when combined with travel.
    • prawn 6y ago
      Mostly tourism. Examples here: https://serio.com.au/ https://serio.com.au/ (Warning: Heavy page load.) If I don't have a specific commission, I go on holiday somewhere I suspect the tourism authority needs content, shoot it and then edit/sell when I get home. Can't think of when it hasn't worked.
• manuel_w 6y ago
  It's been running as well for me. I'm 35 now and have never been much of a sports person. At the third lockdown, I felt I couldn't endure being in my home 24/7 anymore. (Was working from home then.) So I started to run, just to experience the outside. I saw physical fitness as a side effect. My mood is so much better after running. It really does release endorphines. Also, I go to the office at least for 2 days a week, in spite of a commute time of 1h one-way. Worth it. I need the physical seperation of work place to home.
• dave_sullivan 6y ago
  2.5 day work week. Peak performance on those days at a decent daily rate, then I get to fuck around on whatever for the rest of the week. Wednesdays are my fridays.
  • fratlas 6y ago
    How'd you convince someone to let you?
    • dave_sullivan 6y ago
      As a consultant, you can choose the days that are open for booking, a lot of companies don't need full time help or can't afford it, and I'm highly productive when I don't hate a project. So it works out.
      • M5x7wI3CmbEem10 6y ago
        may I ask what kind of consulting and how you got into it? I’m a final-year in uni trying to ensure I don’t stay locked in golden handcuffs.
        • dave_sullivan 6y ago
          Eh, I started around 2010 with salesforce.com and business intelligence stuff, then python and javascript web applications, then machine learning. Started a couple companies. Worked with a lot of different types of clients, from SMB to F500. Worked too hard in my 20s and now am pretty burnt on "SV culture" and the cult of productivity. So if you want to be like me, work like crazy for 10 years, develop crippling anxiety, and then move to europe I guess :D
  • foobarquxbaz 6y ago
    Oh yea. For a month or two in the summer my hours got reduced to ~15.5 h/week and it was a blast. It's a shame not more people get to have this without having to worry about the roof over their heads and the food on their table.
• ehnto 6y ago
  Walking and mountain biking. Now back to powerlifting since gyms are open.
• BrandoElFollito 6y ago
  Surprisingly - my burnout. It came one day, out of the blue and broke me in two pieces. Thanks to the great human empathy in my company (and their support) I went through it without too much problems. It taught me that I am not invincible and that I should listen to my body more. I am not 20 anymore. I voluntarily scale down my professional scope and my title, to concentrate on the things I have an actual influence on. I am documented all the points that fell in the gray area (= I was "responsible" for, without any possibility to change things) and I will stubbornly go that way. It will ultimately be a win for the company as well, forcing it to sort out loose ends (at least in my area). I live in France so it was made easier by the socialist regulations (socialist as in "enhanced social protections"), as well as the real, human empathy of my management - beyond what is expected from a company.
  • rramadass 6y ago
    Quite interesting. I believe a lot of us in the Software Industry are suffering from this but without acknowledging it and/or forced to ignore it due to circumstances/social factors/rat race. I am quite fascinated by the psychology behind "burnout" (maybe suffering from it myself) because it not natural for us to be in a constant state of stress arising from problem solving as is demanded by the industry. The lack of physical activity exacerbates the problem and you are caught in a vicious cycle leading to mental/physical breakdown. Would you mind sharing some details? What exactly happened to push you over the threshold? How was/is your physical health? How exactly is your mood/emotions affecting behaviour? How do you feel before/after?
    • hackerfromthefu 6y ago
      Those specific questions may be triggering - better to focus on what helped to improve then resolve your feelings
• T-1000 6y ago
  Having video lunches with friends in other cities. As everybody is working from home, this has been an opportunity to reconnect with some old friends.
• alexander-litty 6y ago
  Acknowledging the damage inflicted by an abusive past partner. I'm able to say "this is something that happened to me" and address it as such -- It isn't a thing I push to the back of my brain to deal with later, or an isolating trauma I'm afraid of losing friends over, or an overshadowing fixation I'm worried has changed me. It's in the front row now, being processed piece by piece. Over the past year I've been initiating more conversations with friends, opening up more, and taking much better care of myself. I feel better; I feel happier, and the trajectory is set for that to continue.
  • bloudermilk 6y ago
    Congratulations on the breakthrough!
  • globular-toast 6y ago
    I'm beginning to acknowledge my abuse too. I lost a lot of friends because the man is always blamed by default in any kind of conflict. Most men think women are not capable of abuse until it happens to them. And if it does happen it can take years to acknowledge what happened and pride kicks in so most men never talk about it which further contributes to the lack of awareness. Add to that the fact nobody truly cares even if you do tell them. So you end up seeking support from other men who do get it in forbidden online communities and called a "misogynist". It's a vicious cycle. But for me this is only about inner peace, not convincing others to feel sorry for me. I've found Stoicism which has greatly improved my life. Even though I have a partner who loves me, I understand that one should never rely on another for happiness. I've begun to do all the things I love doing again. Computers, electronics, programming, cycling. All these things that stopped during my recovery while I hopelessly sought someone to fill a void they couldn't possibly fill.
    • giantg2 6y ago
      It's especially sad that our societal views are so far off the data due to stereotyping. According to some CDC studies, more men are victims of domestic abuse than women are. It's just that men do not report much of it, and there are more cases of severe injuries when it comes to women (40/60 split). I think one of those CDC studies even said that men are more likely to have a deadly weapon used against them in a domestic abuse situation than women are. A little shocking how different this is from the typical narrative.
• foobarquxbaz 6y ago
  In that order: chocolate, farting, the realization that climate change will wipe us all out soon.
• p0d 6y ago
  My wife and kids. I'm 50 and re-evaluating friendships outside the home. I have realised that most of my friendships are not mutual. I stopped contacting most of my friends over 9 months ago and have not heard back from most for 6 months to never. My own family experience wasn't great. I now realise to have a wife who actively cares for you, looks out for you, is probably the most meaningful thing that can happen to you in your life. I am going to invest a bit more effort in my own family and a little less on fringe friendships.
  • randomsearch 6y ago
    I think the pandemic has weakened friendships, because people are eg consumed with looking after their elderly parents, or just coping with day to day childcare. So I would give your friends a free pass until we get back to normality. It may just be a consequence of the situation.
  • paublyrne 6y ago
    > I stopped contacting most of my friends over 9 months ago and have not heard back from most for 6 months to never Isn't it possible some of them are thinking the same in reverse, avoiding contact with you because you haven't contacted them in 9 months? Friendships often come out of being stuck together in some way, either work or school or sport or locality or social routine, and they can be hard to maintain when those things disintegrate. I know that I'm guilty of not working hard enough to maintain some relationships in the last year, and I want to do better.
    • e_proxus 6y ago
      Depends. Sometimes you realize that you’ve always been the one initializing the interactions and when you stop nothing happens anymore. That might be a sign it’s a lopsided relationship.
      • derrida 6y ago
        It is also possible the other party is just down... I can think of 3 or 4 people I feel closest to in the world but I haven't replied to an SMS message from a couple months ago
• ryanmarsh 6y ago
  Doing nothing for weeks at a time.
• unixhero 6y ago
  Buying a BMW X5. I never really owned a car before.
• randomsearch 6y ago
  Maintaining a structure to my week where I work hard until Sat evening and then have an indulgent evening of music, film, beer, and food. The trips to the shop to stock up and the knowledge that I’m only ever 6 days from my Sat evening keeps me going.
• slimbods 6y ago
  Spending more time outside, particularly in rural settings. I to used to be a couch/desk potato. Habitually spending time out in the green either walking, running, cycling or just digging stuff in the garden has made me happier and healthier.
• wojciii 6y ago
  I have two small children. Working from home made it possible to spend more time with them. Some time ago the company that I work for started doing all kinds of socializing - both online and offline (in a month or two). For the first time in my life I wrote my boss and told him that I will not participate in any of this as it is outside of work hours. I don't have the time for some online game at 1900 hours. I have to spend time with my kids. Also I really don't want to socialise outside of work. Talking to me co-workers during a coffee break is more than enough.
• austincheney 6y ago
  My blood pressure dropped 40 points when I left my military job. People talk about serious F U money. After you offload stress like that it come very clear that serious F U money is a much lower amount than you previously considered.
• feiss 6y ago
  Moving from a small flat to a house with garden in the suburbs. Lockdown with children in a flat is not good.
• geraneum 6y ago
  I discovered cycling!
• jimnotgym 6y ago
  1) growing vegetables. I haven't done much for a few years, and I have loved setting up a no dig system at my new allotment. My house is full of seedlings. I think growing from seed, and seeing a plant develop helps you feel that time is moving on. 2) Since I am setting up from scratch, but know something about what I'm doing I am in a pretty privileged position. I started to document my thought process and write a blog at https://watchingplantsgrow.com https://watchingplantsgrow.com. Then I soon remembered that I a) suck at design and b) prefer writing to design. So I just paid someone a small amount of money to design it nicely. I have a few unpublished blogs ready to go up when it is live. I know we like text blogs here, but I think a gardening site needs pictures. One of the struggles with gardening is knowing when to do stuff, so I am starting a newsletter where I can say what I am sowing this week. Maybe some people will find it useful (in the Northern hemisphere!)
• grishka 6y ago
  Happiness? What happiness? :'(
  • zksmk 6y ago
    You'll get there, I'm rooting for you. A bit of time, effort and luck, and you'll get there. Focus on the things you can change and not the things you can't.
  • thraway123412 6y ago
    It does not exist.
  • DyslexicAtheist 6y ago
    "Why be happy when you can be interesting" -- Slavoj Žižek https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U88jj6PSD7w https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U88jj6PSD7w
    • rmvt 6y ago
      interesting. as someone who's been feeling extremely unhappy lately, i often wonder if most of us don't actually revel in our own misery to a certain extent.
      • DyslexicAtheist 6y ago
        > i often wonder if most of us don't actually revel in our own misery to a certain extent. I know I do.
• skbohra123 6y ago
  Living at farm and working remotely. I have found happiness and inner peace from the solitude and the lack of resources which I have been consuming without much thought.
• bionhoward 6y ago
  Walking my dog. It's my most consistent habit, not super intense but involves movement, nature, responsibility, socialization. We do about 90 mins daily, and it's a good chill time to carry pencil and a waterproof notepad and sketch ideas, make lists etc
• delhanty 6y ago
  Selenomethionine [0] > Selenoproteins seem to be of special importance in the development and functioning of GABAergic (GABA, γ-aminobutyric acid) parvalbumin positive interneurons of the cerebral cortex and hippocampus. Dopamine pathway might be also selenium dependent as selenium shows neuroprotection in the nigrostriatal pathway and also exerts toxicity towards dopaminergic neurons under higher concentrations. Recent findings also point to acetylcholine neurotransmission involvement. [0] Importance of selenium and selenoprotein for brain function: From antioxidant protection to neuronal signalling https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26398431/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26398431/
  • mckirk 6y ago
    Interesting, what was the reason you experimented with that? And what are the perceived benefits you got from it?
• akavel 6y ago
  Self-learning wing-foiling (when you're on the lake, being 6 feet from someone means dangerously close to a collision, so "social distancing" is natural...), kinda as an excuse to spend some time outside, move, generate endorphins and not think about other things (winds at my place are usually nothing to write home about, so actual foiling happened just a couple days). Also some trekking and reddit's r/bodyweightfitness "recommended routine" ~once a week. Those things didn't "always work" to lift my mood, to make it clear, but there were notably many times when they did. Esp. wingfoiling in the summer :)
  • moosebear847 6y ago
    This is amazing and i love you for posting this. Goals.
  • jventura 6y ago
    I do SUP and paragliding but didn’t knew about wing foiling. I did a quick google search and know you got me hooked. I think it will be my next sports learning activity.. Thanks man!
• heavenlyblue 6y ago
  I’ve bought rollerblades in May and learnt how to skate having never skated in my life before. Can do 180 now and going down the stairs now. Learning a new trick every few weeks is energising - I almost forgot how easy it is to learn how do do something by just paying enough attention to the lessons.
  • tasuki 6y ago
    I'm a passable ice skater, tried roller blading, but am super scared of falling down and hurting myself. I feel way less stable on roller blades, or perhaps it's the fear? On ice, one just falls on ice... on roller blades, one can fall down the stairs etc, it just seems much scarier.. any advice?
    • heavenlyblue 6y ago
      Wear guards, wrist guards, “Bumsavers” for times when you’re planning to fall on your back. Before going down the stairs make sure you have fallen enough times to understand the physics of falling in such a way that you always end up on the guards. Learn how to never use the wrists for falls. Guards most of the time are just like ice - while they have some cushioning, they are mainly supposed to make any surface slippery so that you could just slide your body energy away.
    • bloodorange 6y ago
      On ice, when you fall, you slide and it's not so bad as a lot of momentum is transferred to the sliding movement. On inline skates, you don't have that benefit. Definitely wear wrist guards, knee guards and a helmet like heavenlyblue has already suggested. Also, if you can find someone who teaches inline skating, take some lessons in stopping. If you are 100% comfortable and confident in being able to come to a halt safely or slowing down safely, you will skate with more confidence. Also, taking lessons might help improve your technique. Some aspects of efficient movement on inline skates (or on ice) are typically not instinctive.
• winkelwagen 6y ago
  Small data movement, recording small things for a short while. Inspired by the book dear data. It allows me to reflect on things, be more present and mindful and it’s fun
• eskimobloood 6y ago
  Buying a pen plotter last summer was one of the best decision for a while. As I start my journey into programming with generative art, using macromedia director and processing, I always wanted to be able to create my on physical prints. So for the last months I got back to have fun writing code in my spare time. Some examples: https://twitter.com/eskimobloood/status/1366300689652187140 https://twitter.com/eskimobloood/status/1366300689652187140 https://twitter.com/eskimobloood/status/1285159611599933441 https://twitter.com/eskimobloood/status/1285159611599933441 https://twitter.com/eskimobloood/status/1373317198119370753 https://twitter.com/eskimobloood/status/1373317198119370753
  • huseyinkeles 6y ago
    They look very interesting. Could you share some resources on how to get into this?
    • dmje 6y ago
      Yeh, +1 to that - have been experimenting with generative art as the basis to my printmaking, and would love to see some more on this..
    • eskimobloood 6y ago
      Sure. The plotter I've bought is the AxiDraw SE/A3[1]. There is an Inkscape plugin so you can easily plot SVG graphics. I generate the SVG graphics using small JavaScript programs. Thats already it. Here[2] is a more detailed resource list to dig into the topic [1]https://shop.evilmadscientist.com/productsmenu/908 https://shop.evilmadscientist.com/productsmenu/908 [2]https://project-awesome.org/beardicus/awesome-plotters https://project-awesome.org/beardicus/awesome-plotters
      • huseyinkeles 6y ago
        Thanks! I already have a 3D printer and I’ve seen some projects that made it possible to use the 3D printer as a plotter. So probably I’d try that route first. I was actually more interested in the software aspect to generate those arts.
• ssss11 6y ago
  Heaps more time with the kids :) Also started doing some woodwork and more of the cooking!
• beaker52 6y ago
  Working with my colleagues face-to-face for the first time in a long time. During the pandemic, I started a new job at a company that refurbishes and sells second hand cars online. I spent the first 4 months doing the new normal, working from home. I thought everything was ticking along fine, but I accepted an opportunity to go to one of our refurbishment sites to see things actually happening and do a bit of strategic thinking with two colleagues in the 3rd-dimension. It became the highlight of my year to date. I had more impact, influence, experienced clarity and had useful collaboration on that day than I have done in a long while. It was like night and day. I never thought I'd say it, but I can't wait to get back to working face-to-face.
• deleted 6y ago
  [deleted]
• technothrasher 6y ago
  Tinkering with machines always keeps me happy, and has kept me sane over the past year. Specifically antique clocks and watches, and older sports cars, but any old machine will keep me busy. Neighbor gave me a broken snow blower and I spent a fun weekend ripping it apart and getting it running again, just in time for a big snow storm to play in. And I've got an old typewriter that I've been saving for a rainy day too.
• adev_ 6y ago
  My new born son. Remote working allowed me to spend time with him in his early month. And this is priceless.
• perfecto_maduro 6y ago
  going out for a walk daily. usually between 4000 and 12000 steps. Even when it was cold. I know it’s not great health advice, but smoking a cigar during my walk motivated me to do it. was more enjoyable/interesting given the repetitive walk destinations around. plus it has a bit of a calming or meditative aspect to it for me. The senses, flavours, ritual etc.
• elgfare 6y ago
  Hands down, seeing people face to face. I have really discovered how much it means to me. I have been ambivalent about it because of social anxiety and low self esteem, but I have realized that in reality nothing else comes close in terms of raising my mood and giving me good feelings.
  • ycombinete 6y ago
    I've worked from home for nearly 6 years now, and since coming to the same realisation as you, my general happiness has grown substantially. It's as Marcus Aurelius says often, we are fundamentally social animals. "If any action of yours, then, does not have direct or indirect relation to the social end, it pulls your life apart and destroys its unity."
• mandown2308 6y ago
  Tao Te Ching and Alan Watts
  • mandown2308 6y ago
    and Naval too. I love his teachings.
• deleted 6y ago
  [deleted]
• tomcam 6y ago
  Bought an incredibly beautiful farm. I literally get happy just setting foot on it.
• alangibson 6y ago
  Leaving my job in tech to start a small business making a physical product. I realized that the abstractions of remote work and software itself were wearing in me. It's nice to be back in the material world.
  • r4tn4l 6y ago
    Nice! What is it?
    • alangibson 6y ago
      A type of drum smoker. Check it out: https://airtite.uk https://airtite.uk
  • martimoose 6y ago
    What is the product that you make?
    • alangibson 6y ago
      I went back to my roots and created a barbecue smoker. https://airtite.uk https://airtite.uk
• donatj 6y ago
  Getting a dog. I used to swear I never wanted a dog, I was a cat person. My wife wore me down, talked me into getting a sweet little Shiba Inu pup. She’s been my little ray of sunshine in an otherwise bleak world. Yubaba is now second only to my wife as my favorite thing in the world. Honestly, getting up to let her out in the morning put me on a far more regular schedule. Taking her on walks gets me out of my office during the day and has done more than anything else to bust me out of the funk I was in.
• asiachick 6y ago
  Off the top of my head, online co-op gaming with friends a few hours a week. Conversely, many of the things I see people list haven't worked for me. Working out has never made me feel good. I hate it always and it's a chore/slog to get through and I often want to quit in the middle. I feel a tiny sense of accomplishment for having worked out but I don't feel noticeably better or different than when I didn't workout. And yes, I'm working out every day. Sweat like crazy. etc... Someone mentioned going for walks which I do, 1-3 miles a day. There are parks near where I live. I think going out is better than being stuck inside but before the pandemic I walked most places and took public transport so my total walking is probably below what it was before the pandemic. Further, walking just to go outside does not feel as good as walking to some destination. It feels more like a chore/maintenance. I do it because it's supposed to be good for me. Where as before I did it because it got me to a lunch, a dinner, a meetup, work, a store, etc. A friend of mine says she gets high from running. She said literally "high" not just spiritually high. I ask her how long before running stopped hurting (it hurts when I run). She said 2 years! I don't think I can take it on faith that if I put up with the pain for 2 years it might stop. I fully miss working at the office with my co-workers, having lunch with them, talking to them during work hours, getting dinner after work sometimes. Will be sad and likely suicidal if after the pandemic everything is WFH.
  • drchickensalad 6y ago
    I feel you, friend. I've had every single experience you have. Although, I've burned out a bit on online gaming. I really just need to see my friends again to refuel my energy...
• vowelless 6y ago
  Being in a relationship. I can't imagine spending the last year without being with my partner. My social circle changed radically too. People I used to meet in person are not the same set of people I would be in zoom calls with regularly.
• vanillebourbon 6y ago
  Friends. The initial ~2 months of fear and complete isolation, (seeing only my partner in person) showed me how much I needed other relationships. When I started participating in small gatherings or visiting the office it was absolutely liberating. And because of the pandemic it was quality over quantity, so I became closer to the people I already knew. I used to be an introvert for most of my life and in the last few years I've been taking it back, learning to manage this part of life. It's common that people have less friends as they get older. At 28 I already feel it and I don't want to let it happen, ready to put in the effort. It's all so much more interesting when you're surrounded by [the right] people.
• brailsafe 6y ago
  Living in a neighborhood I like, within viewing distance of the mountains, walking distance to my favourite cafes, deli, gym, and hiking in those mountains with my gf and other friends. Nearing another whole year with zero work, and it's only financially shitty.
  • jasondigitized 6y ago
    Where do you live?
    • brailsafe 6y ago
      Vancouver canada, adjacent to the city center.
• bacbilla 6y ago
  Getting COVID. I've just turned 30 and I used to do a lot of cardio exercise. Over the past few years as other things have taken priority, I cut back. I'd try to do something every day but would often miss days and the workouts would be short and poor quality. After getting (fortunately mild) COVID I was worried about cardiac issues when I resumed exercise. I decided to buy an Apple Watch to monitor my heart rate and use the ECG functionality. A few months later, and the big thing I have learned about myself is how well I respond to "gamification" of habits. I now HAVE to close my exercise rings every day, and it's immensely gratifying to track my overall health improving - I did not realise how out of shape I really was. I'm sleeping better, a lot more productive, my mood has increased significantly, and overall I feel much better in myself. It's also lead to me using other "habit forming" apps (I use "Streaks" - https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/streaks/id963034692 https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/streaks/id963034692) to change things I don't like about myself and generally become a better person. Overall, I've learned a lot about myself and how I'm motivated.
  • baron816 6y ago
    Sounds more like buying the Apple Watch was the contributor to you happiness. Had someone gifted it to you, might you have had the same outcome?
    • heyoni 6y ago
      I’ve had my watch for over 2 years now and I’m in the same boat as OP. Gamified cardio with Streaks and 2 miles a day goal and have been going for 75 days. I’ve been insanely productive the last few weeks and there’s no other way for me the explain it other than the fact that running makes me feel good.
• polytely 6y ago
  I honestly can't think of anything and that kinda worries me.
• globular-toast 6y ago
  Moving to a nicer location. About two and a half years ago I moved to Cambridge (UK) for work. Despite my salary on paper being significantly higher, I could only sensibly afford a flat on the edge of the city due to ridiculously high living costs. I still ended up with less money after all bills and essentials were paid for. The flat was also the worst in the area. It was infested with cockroaches (little European ones, but still awful to live with). Previously I lived in a flat I could comfortably afford right on the edge of a city which is nicer than Cambridge. Despite this, I couldn't bring myself to move out of the city. I was accustomed to the city life: the convenience of having everything right there on my doorstep. The first step was realising I did not have the city life any more. Living on the edge of Cambridge is as good as being outside it, but at twice the cost and the pleasure of living right next to a major motorway. But the other difficulty was commuting. If I moved I would essentially be saving money but paying it right back through hours stuck in traffic every morning and evening. COVID was a blessing. Now it's possible to work from home I can have the best of both world. I can live further away from work knowing that I won't have to commute every day and I'm no longer pissing money down the drain on a shit flat in a shit location.
• jcpst 6y ago
  WFH. I take my dog on a walk during standup. I hang out with my kids when I can step out of the office. I recently started exercising over lunch (this habit was never easy for me- it took getting Ring Fit Adventure on Nintendo Switch to start that). I saved 15000 miles on my car’s odometer. —— Reconnecting with old friends from HS/college. We normally do a march camping trip every year. Not in 2020. Instead, We set up a discord server, and a Friday night video call on most nights for almost a year. —— Teenage Engineering’s Pocket Operators. So much fun.
  • DyslexicAtheist 6y ago
    I have dogs. I do stand-ups. I never thought of combining these. It makes so much sense because I can think better when walking. This is so simple yet brilliant!! Thanks for this.
    • jcpst 6y ago
      Sure thing. I also like walking during meetings where I don’t need to reference information on a computer. 1-on-1s, certain design discussions, etc.
    • gabrielsroka 6y ago
      > I have dogs I thought you were an atheist.
  • reducesuffering 6y ago
    How do you do a standup while walking? I can understand audio through earphones, but don't you need to see like a JIRA board and are you able to do that on your phone?
    • jcpst 6y ago
      The board gets screen shared. So I could do look on my phone if I wanted. But I don’t find it necessary. I have the inverse question. How would you not be able to do standup while walking (given that you’re able-bodied)? Are you not prepared to say what you did yesterday and what you plan to do today? Or do you do a bunch of other tasks in your standup? Does the whole meeting take more than 10-15 minutes? I take a look at the board in the morning and make sure it’s up to date, so I can speak to where all my items are at. Since I’m the dev lead on the team, I’m also aware of who’s working on which projects, so I can provide feedback/answer questions on their stuff, if it makes sense in the context of the meeting.
• deleted 6y ago
  [deleted]
• lentil_soup 6y ago
  What does HM stand for?
  • thraway123412 6y ago
    Half marathon (~21km or ~13 miles).
• phoinix 6y ago
  Endorphins are released for the body to be able to sleep. Exercise helps release, dopamine, endocannabinoids and more, which prop up the mood of the person. Endomorphins or endorphins are released for exact the same reason, doctors used always morphine, to numb down the pain of damage to the body from the excersise, or a surgical operation, or a bullet, and the patient is able to sleep. For me happiness for this year is learning Rust.
• ariekachler 6y ago
  My dog. He kept me company and we were always happy to be with each other.
• pilom 6y ago
  I "retired" at 33 after working in tech for 12 years and saving a ton of money. With my free time I run a fun hobby business teaching kayaking which is way more fun and brings me way more happiness than anything I did in 2019 or before.
  • yurishimo 6y ago
    I just wanted to say you’re awesome and I’m so happy you’re doing something you enjoy. I’m also glad you’re still hanging out around HN too. :)
  • sethammons 6y ago
    What do you do for health insurance?
    • loloquwowndueo 6y ago
      Go read https://www.mrmoneymustache.com/blog/ https://www.mrmoneymustache.com/blog/ if you filter out the snarky “I’m so badass” posts there’s actually good advice in a ton of topics such as health insurance / coverage, investments, and how not to be a wasteful person mostly :)
      • gpanders 6y ago
        Seconded MMM, that blog changed my life.
    • loeg 6y ago
      Buy it on the ACA exchanges? Depending on your income, you may qualify for significant subsidies. Taxable retirement income for a given lifestyle is lower than most people seem to think -- dividends and LTCG have a lower tax rate than income; you don't pay taxes on the cost basis; you don't pay taxes on withdrawals from Roth accounts at all; and you don't need surplus income to save for retirement. If you live in a paid-off house, that can cut Cost of Living (CoL) needs substantially (e.g., the mortgage is something like 75% of my pre-retirement spending in a High CoL city).
    • 6y ago
• PeterStuer 6y ago
  It's a small thing actually. Despite the theory, here in Belgium we have had only one real lock down, and that was two weeks in April 2020. The relentless car traffic was gone and there were no planes. As a consequence, the sky turned a shade of blue I (and others) only remembered from my childhood. Sadly this was short lived as the many further lock downs were mostly just paper pretends, with so many "exceptions" that it was near impossible to distinguish road traffic volume and structural traffic jams from their pre-covid times.
• khalilravanna 6y ago
  Having a Discord server with friends. On weekends there’s almost always someone on playing some game and I can pop in and chat for a bit. As an extrovert it’s been a really meaningful outlet to stay connected during the pandemic. Plus with fast internet speeds you can basically emulate a local LAN by streaming each other’s games and watching a bit while you play your own.
• meken 6y ago
  Getting a nice car. I’m prone to depression if I stay in the house too long. Having a nice car means when I roll out of bed in the morning, I’m able to head straight to a nice, comfortable, private, warm space and start listening to meaningful podcasts, audiobooks, get breakfast, head to the gym, and get a consistent good start on the day. I’m not sure if I can go back to city living at this point if it means giving up a car.
  • Nbox9 6y ago
    In contrast I hate driving cars. I feel like it’s my least favorite tool. I have a nice car, I’ve driven even nicer cars in different styles and hated them all. Driving requires so much of my attention I feel like it’s invasive. In addition I feel like I have to sit relatively still and use my muscles in very particular way. It’s a trap for my mind in body, and an experience I don’t find pleasant. I am an American and will go out of my way to use any other mode of transportation, even at the expense of time or money. Sometime’s it’s just unavoidable.
    • meken 6y ago
      Interesting. Yup, if that was my experience, I would hate driving cars as well. I’m able to drive pretty much on autopilot. Plus, I don’t feel I’m wasting time listening to podcasts/audiobooks because I’m “doing something/headed somewhere”. I’ve driven almost 20k miles in the past 3.5 months.
      • OrbitRock 6y ago
        I’m about to do something similar, but it’s getting a car that I’m going to put a bed in the back of and drive cross country to a new job, which will also involve driving around and camping as part of it. I’m all excited over the stuff I want to get. A little solar panel with a battery, good camping stove and coffee percolator, and lots of good audiobooks and podcasts :) That things gonna be my ticket to anywhere, lol.
      • buzzerbetrayed 6y ago
        > I’ve driven almost 20k miles in the past 3.5 months. Wow. I drive everyday, but this is a lot of driving. You're looking at nearly 70,000 miles/year at that rate. Out of curiosity, what requires you to drive this much? And is it worth the tens of thousands of dollars you need to spend per year on fuel and car maintenance to do that (on top of the time commitment it is to drive that much)?
• rcarmo 6y ago
  Music. Just playing around to practice does wonders. Might be harmful to your bank account if you start amassing gear, though.
  • hackerfromthefu 6y ago
    Sigh 6 guitars :D
• coolvision 6y ago
  My son, born few weeks ago Family, overall Therapy
• Robotbeat 6y ago
  Spending time with my children. Work from home enabled that (as did liberal leave policies from work because of the pandemic). However, WFH also made my work much less effective and took away a lot of the joy from my job. I normally do about half desk work and half lab work plus lots of interacting with colleagues which has become less effective with WFH. And I have no dedicated office space at home, so WFH office work was also a challenge compared to my dedicated office at work (and my commute was only like 15 minutes and doesn’t have traffic to speak of, so it isn’t stressful). But I will cherish spending more time with my children. It was a special time and a special age for them, too, where being stuck at home was less of a problem than it would’ve been if they were older.
  • foobarian 6y ago
    This pretty much mirrors my experience word for word. It will be nice to get coworker interaction back when this is over, but I will miss the family time. Another bonus: we have not gotten sick since the lockdown started. Previous years we'd average a cold every 2 months. (Whole family of course).
• Apreche 6y ago
  The web site 18xx.games
• Havoc 6y ago
  Building a homeserver. Happened to grab a Zen 2 based minipc just before lockdown & chip shortage hit. Also reading more
• nathias 6y ago
  I bought some plants.
• Giorgi 6y ago
  Where do you guys get monies for all that?
• latte 6y ago
  The birth of our child was the greatest contributor to both happiness and stress for my wife and myself. Everything else that happened last year is inconsequential in comparison to that.
• shireboy 6y ago
  Garden. I planted a ton of veggies in 3 raised beds and really enjoyed caring for the garden and picking fresh food. I wouldn’t say it was cheaper than the grocery, but probably cheaper than therapy. I code from a home office, so the green time was great for headspace and breaks.
• lazyweb 6y ago
  Starting a strict workout routine. I could see/feel effects after a few weeks. Can't do this kind of workout anymore since the lockdown in my country, but really looking forward to getting back at it once it's allowed again.
• DyslexicAtheist 6y ago
  realizing I do not need a romantic relationship in order to be a "complete person". took me many decades to get here and learning was painful. glad I am here though
• playcache 6y ago
  started hiking to eventually hiking the appalachian trail and falling in love with the endless possibilities of exploration. Made me fall in love the country I now call home (albeit the parts with less humans).
• twic 6y ago
  Buying a dishwasher. 1. Less drudgery means more time to relax 2. Less pressure to minimise kitchenware use means more ambitious and enjoyable cooking 3. I just get a little jolt of happiness when I walk into the kitchen and see my large cuboidal son sitting there
  • hasbot 6y ago
    Interestingly, I found the dishwasher produced more stress than handwashing. Living alone, it takes days to fill up the dishwasher to a level where running it isn't wasteful. Every day, I'd eye how full it was and judge whether it was "worth it" to run it that day. Meanwhile, any time I cooked invariably the pot or pan I needed was sitting dirty in the dishwasher. With hand washing, I just spend 15 minutes usually every other day and During the summer I live off-grid in a small travel trailer. Every night I fired up the water heater, did that day's dishes, and took a shower outdoors. A bit of drudgery, but actually relaxing and not at all stressful.
    • kirubakaran 6y ago
      An average faucet flows at 2 gallons per minute. An average dishwasher uses 4 gallons of water. Unless you can do your dishes in 2 minutes, dishwasher uses less water. Ref https://www.cnet.com/how-to/how-much-water-do-dishwashers-use/ https://www.cnet.com/how-to/how-much-water-do-dishwashers-us...
      • hasbot 6y ago
        You leave your water running while you wash your dishes?! Having lived off-grid without running water, I know very precisely that I use slightly more than a gallon of water to hand wash my dishes. No way a dishwasher beats that. It's a moot point anyway. I don't have a dishwasher and I'm certainly not going to remodel my kitchen to make room for one.
    • loeg 6y ago
      > it takes days to fill up the dishwasher to a level where running it isn't wasteful Dishwashers are much more efficient than you think -- more than handwashing. Just run it every day or two.
• csixty4 6y ago
  Transitioning my gender. Living my truth. Coming out to everyone in my life and being forced to confront the shame that held me back for decades. It took a lot of reflection and was cause for a lot of growth. But now I'm not only mentally happier, I'm taking better care of my body because it finally feels like it's my own.
  • sweetheart 6y ago
    Congrats! That’s amazing. I’m so happy for you.
  • regularperson25 6y ago
    Congrats stranger!!
  • lykr0n 6y ago
    My co-worker/friend did the exact same thing. I had to double check you were not her. It feels like the Pandemic has left a lot of people worse off, but there are also a lot who are a lot better off now. Kinda weird?
    • kilroy123 6y ago
      I definitely agree that this has left a lot of people worse off. I fear it will take a long time for many to recover from. :-/
  • azeirah 6y ago
    Same same same same same! A lot of positive things have happened in the last year, met my first serious girlfriend (and living together now!), got two cats, moved to a larger apartment. Transitioning has enabled all that. I wouldn't have gotten cats alone, I didn't experience romantic feelings prior to taking hormones. Am so so much happier now
    • csixty4 6y ago
      That's so awesome to hear!
• tomerbd 6y ago
  working from home.
• anoncow 6y ago
  Audio books. Because of WFH, found a lot of additional time. Used that for listening to around 10 audio books in the past year. Most of the books I read were from a project management and entrepreneurship perspective. I used/discussed concepts learnt for work and felt slightly better off because of that. An example was using 5-whys for process improvement from The Lean Startup.
• briefcomment 6y ago
  Learning about bitcoin
• lsdddddd 6y ago
  LSD without a doubt. It has lifted me from a depression, improved my relationships, a pure sense of joy in ans out. Feeling again connected with this world. I'm alive because of it.
  • tryptophan 6y ago
    Yeah LSD is wild. I feel like it changed me for the better too. I can't decide if it was the drug though, or if it was just me all along being afraid to make changes and introspect myself. Everything during the trip feels so profound, like all of your existence is at that moment. I think that element is key - realizing your past is just that - a past; but you exist NOW.
  • deleted 6y ago
    [deleted]
• pdimitar 6y ago
  Not working for several months. Nothing else ever worked so much wonders for my mental health as this.
• RHSman2 6y ago
  Being a better dad, husband and friend.
• motohagiography 6y ago
  Organizing a weekly drop-in zoom call for guys who are mostly over 65 and into their 80's, taking on a second side gig helping an interesting startup work on the problem of how to scale direct anonymous attestation, discovered analog synthesizers. I chose to actively manage my happiness years ago, so these are just the new things from this year. What I have found is that personal freedom and satisfaction with work expands with the number of different clients you have.
• oleander73 6y ago
  I retired (after getting diagnosed with incurable cancer). I was a workaholic and never thought I could quit so easily, but after quiting I don't miss work and I'm a lot happier (despite the cancer thing). If you are obsessed with work and in a position to take a few months off, please consider doing this. It may change your perspective.
  • giantg2 6y ago
    Sorry to hear about your prognosis. I hope you get to enjoy the time you have.
  • dennis_jeeves 6y ago
    What cancer do you have? (Also have you been looking outside mainstream cancer treatments?)
    • oleander73 6y ago
      Prostate cancer. No, I have limited faith in medical science and none whatsoever in alternatives. Like I said, I'm quite happy and don't cling to life. I'll enjoy whatever time I have left to the max, but there's no need for me to maximize my time on earth (i.e. quality over quantity).
      • dennis_jeeves 6y ago
        >Prostate cancer. Generally benign in my opinion. (also here is an interesting read by the developer of the PCR test: https://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/10/opinion/10Ablin.html https://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/10/opinion/10Ablin.html ) >No, I have limited faith in medical science and none whatsoever in alternatives. You are inadvertently doing the right thing. ( yep , there is a lot of nonsense in both mainstream and alternative). Long (quality) life to you...
      • randomopining 6y ago
        Hell yeah. Agree a lot, and when the fear of losing life is reduced or gone you can go out and do what you want and what needs to be done with your remaining time. Enjoy your time, relationships, and the beauty of the planet!
• irchans 6y ago
  We all thought that my dad was going to die from covid19. The doctors were very pessimistic. He lived. He recovered very slowly over the last 4 months. During the first month, he could not speak English (he was born in Norway), he needed 3 liters per minute of oxygen, and he could not stand up. Now, he has no trouble speaking, does not need oxygen, and he can walk 300 yards if he has a walker. Every month he has improved.
• comprev 6y ago
  Moving from Amsterdam to the rural Irish countryside where I can escape to the hills on the mountain bike or road bike each day. It's done wonders for my mental health.
  • Graffur 6y ago
    Where in Ireland did you move to? What about work?
    • comprev 6y ago
      Killarney, County Kerry. I have worked remotely on & off for years, and decided to be 100% post Covid.
      • Graffur 6y ago
        You picked a great spot!
• psim1 6y ago
  Lots of bicycling. Also, newborn baby last month!
• forinti 6y ago
  Studying Russian. What a beautiful language and culture. I just love to listen about Russian culture and history. Their museums have wonderful social media channels.
  • gpanders 6y ago
    Any resources you’d recommend for someone interested in doing this?
    • forinti 6y ago
      There are some really cool teachers on Youtube. Russian with Max, Russian with Dasha, О русском по-русски (this one has the best lessons).
    • OrbitRock 6y ago
      My top language learning advice: Get on an app to talk with natives. Plenty such apps exist, HelloTalk and iTalki being the main ones. In the spirit of this post, this has probably radically increased my own happiness, because I’ve 1) met friends from all over the world, 2) went on really great travels that came out of that, and 3) ended up with a romantic partner in my target language. Now I feel really enriched (cliche but true) for the ability to access the cultures of the languages I’ve learned, it’s a great experience.
• nikisweeting 6y ago
  Definitely motorbiking / offroading for me. It’s a great escape into nature, physically exhausting in a good way, and mentally challenging in the same way climbing is.
• btzo 6y ago
  Accept that I didn't need a regular job like everyone else. I abandoned my fear of being an entrepreneur and embraced the idea. I lowered my cost of living, valued my skills, and started freelancing to pay the bills while I try to build something. My best decision so far. Ironically today I work a lot more, but the realization of doing something with my time aligned with my dreams makes all the difference.
  • atom-morgan 6y ago
    How was the transition for you? Did you already have clients from past work or did you start cold?
    • btzo 6y ago
      Start cold. I had money saved up for a few months. I sent some cold emails to some companies that I knew might be interested in my profile and contacted people looking for freelancers, monthly ask HN seeking freelancers was a good place to start. Also, I contacted some friends in the market offering my services. Note to anyone considering doing something similar: Networking is an important business, don't neglect it.
• pothrow 6y ago
  Quitting porn. At age 45, having been addicted since first finding I could download over 1200 baud dialup on my parents phone line and watching Cinemax late night through the static, it has just been a thing in my life almost daily and honestly I'd given up on caring whether it was a bad thing or not. I'd felt guilty about it sometimes, and sure, tried to quit on a number of occasions, but always ended up back within a week or two. Finally one day early last year I just decided to quit, and for whatever reason, that time it worked. And even though day to day I don't think it's made any objective change in my life, every time I think about it, I'm so happy to be done with it.
  • weregiraffe 6y ago
    What became different after you quit?
  • mft_ 6y ago
    What downside(s) did you experience, that led you to want to give it up? From an outsider’s perspective, I’m wondering why spending time watching porn is ultimately much different from time spent with any other sedentary pastime?
    • Viker 6y ago
      Because you end up feeding a primate/reproductive prime control system, using unlimited and synthetic input. The system was never designed for the this kind of "bandwidth". Since we are biological machines, other parts of the organism need to compensate... This compensation is very dangerous in the long run both from a personal and a social side. You could argue the same about entertainment. But seeking it is not a prime directive on an organic level opposed to reproduction.
      • fossuser 6y ago
        And yet it’s still possible to eat ice cream even though such a thing would not be found on the savanna. Some people can’t control this and become wildly obese, but others eat ice cream, understand what it is, and get on with their life.
• truro 6y ago
  Re-reading Gibbon's Decline and Fall, Tacitus, Suetonius, Cassius Dio, Adam Smith, Marx, and others. Home repair projects long-neglected.
• ojbyrne 6y ago
  Surviving cancer.
  • wreath 6y ago
    Congrats!
• truro 6y ago
  Re-reading Gibbon's Decline and Fall, Tacitus, Cassius Dio, Suetonius, Adam Smith, Marx, and others. Home repair projects long-neglected.
• sydd 6y ago
  My wife and building a 3D printer for fun.
• danielovichdk 6y ago
  Listen my good man. Life is short. Realize that first. It will make some choices much easier. I tend to use a life barometer, where I set my expectation for how long i hope to live. From there on i try to make some choices. Not right of the bat. I use some time to stabilize the thoughts to pinpoint the near exact feeling i wish to obtain. I have during the last 10 years found out by doing this that my ultimate feeling for being happy is freedom as a state of mind. I use 20-30% of time sailing my sailboat and riding my bike. I sleep at least 7 hours every day and work 5-6 hours a day. I run a small consultancy company and hope i can do so until i am at least 70. I like to work, not hard, but towards goals which are not bound on pitential financial gains. Live your life and take it in.
• don-code 6y ago
  Buying a home. But not for any of the typical reasons. If you told me back in February that I'd buy a home in 2020, I'd have told you to get lost. I lived alone in a small apartment, with a "necessities" mentality, and homeownership was on my radar for 5-10 years out. Why invest in exercise equipment when I go to a gym, a decent WFH setup when I work in an office, or kitchenware when most of my meals are eaten at work or meetups? Why buy a home, if I seem to just use home for a place to sleep? The pandemic rapidly changed that mentality. "Necessities" was now synonymous with "going without". The straw that broke the camel's back was the big trees out back being chainsawed down all day over three days (they needed to; they were hanging out by a transmission line). That changed the view from my porch from something resembling nature (and for much of the pandemic, that was my "nature"), to industrial buildings puking out vapor. So I didn't buy a home for a partner, pets, kids, or otherwise - I still have none of those. But my overall health has increased considerably by having a backyard that won't change unless I want it to, a small home gym to prevent dropping even more muscle, a dedicated office space to delineate when WFH starts and ends, and an open-plan kitchen. And with the interest rates the way they are, I figure I've just saved future-me a ton of money anyway.
  • M5x7wI3CmbEem10 6y ago
    isn't it harder to socialize when you're not surrounded by people in gyms, an office, and so on? I personally would put that above home ownership, especially while I don't have a family.
    • lallysingh 6y ago
      I don't think that stuff is available in a city during Covid lockdown.
      • M5x7wI3CmbEem10 6y ago
        why are you assuming that lockdown is going to last forever?
    • kjakm 6y ago
• luxuryballs 6y ago
  Having another baby, they are just so dang cute and lovable.
• ismail 6y ago
  Prayer, physical activity (hiking, gym, cycling etc.), meditation, time with my family, friends and colleagues, doing something creative (work&hobbies)
• oliwarner 6y ago
  A new house with half an acre, and a ride-on. This has had to compete against a newborn, homeschooling and actually getting moderate symptoms of covid (I still get breathless, 1y on)... But yeah, zooming around on a miniature tractor is just the best. I feel real guilt when I consider people are trapped in cities in a pandemic.
• rmoriz 6y ago
  started casual biking again after 20+ years. Then started creating videos (slow TV, no commentary, just POV) https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCkTuqgUxzTaLZ6lGidtd5iw/videos https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCkTuqgUxzTaLZ6lGidtd5iw/video...
• 6gvONxR4sf7o 6y ago
  Getting better at talking about relationship problems with my partner. Whenever we talk about an issue, the issue is smaller afterwards. Even the things I convinced myself I should just live with. It’s still a work in progress, but what progress I’ve made has been massively worthwhile.
• zenpaul 6y ago
  Family game night on Jitsi video conference. Went from seeing my parents and siblings in person once a year to seeing them virtually every week. I'm much more involved in their joys and struggles. It's a healthy dose of laughter and silliness every week.
• allenu 6y ago
  I'm not sure if it's the absolute biggest contributor, but learning to unicycle during this period has helped me a ton. I love learning new physical skills like dancing or figure skating, so picking up the unicycle has been great in many ways. It forces me outside, it gives me something to keep working on and improving, and it even has some social aspects since being outside and unicycling means people will often comment on it (from a distance, of course).
• brundolf 6y ago
  Taking short windows of time to breathe and not think about anything at all. Unrelenting sources of daily stress - even small ones in the back of your head - prevent you from ever releasing the big stuff and throw a shade over everything else in your life. Spending 30 minutes sitting outside, with zero expectations or stressful thoughts allowed, can turn my entire day around. Sometimes multiple days.
• deleted 6y ago
  [deleted]
• protomyth 6y ago
  Sadly, "danger pay" paid for coming into the office to make sure the infrastructure kept going for the telecommuters. I've been able to help the relatives during this craptacular time.
• slmjkdbtl 6y ago
  being together with people i love listened to a lot of good music slowly but keep learning new things that im passionate about
• dagmx 6y ago
  Working from home. Every job I've ever worked, my teams have been split across countries so transitioning to working from home was fairly seamless for me, because I've always operated under the assumption that not everyone is in one spot. But it meant tons of things: * I get to sleep longer which has helped my epilepsy greatly * I am not spending 3-4 hours a day commuting which means I spend more of my time being productive * I can spend some of that time walking my dog and cooking meals for my wife, so I'm healthier now than I was. * Seeing my wife and dog for more of my day is just pleasant. * Being able to listen to music and work on things consistently without being bothered in person, since most of our communication is over slack now. * Since communication has moved to slack for impromptu stuff, it means I can interact with far more people in the company than before. * not commuting to meetings. Whether that's down the hall, in another building or across town. I no longer have to spend my time in between meetings trying to rush to the next one. * Being able to work during meetings. Honestly most meetings don't require a person to be involved for the entire duration. So as long as I pay attention, I can continue doing other low attention things in the background. Like kicking off builds and debugging smaller things. Earlier they'd eat into my non meeting time, but now I can do more things in parallel.
• mttpgn 6y ago
  Bought a new book or toy for my kids once per week. They look forward every Friday to getting something new. I enjoy seeing their anticipation and getting to read something new to them that weekend.
• bitzun 6y ago
  1. Buying a house 2. Deciding not to have kids 3. Deciding not to plan to live past 50-55
  • bitzun 6y ago
    I realize this is incredibly flippant. I can probably make these sound better: 1. At my old apartment my neighbours had become obnoxious. The house is much bigger so I have more room to tinker, and my wife is much happier living here. If she's happier, I'm happier. 2. We've passed the age where having biological children is really feasible, and we really enjoy our lifestyle, so "formally" rejecting the pressure to raise children has reduced my stress. 3. I'm fine with living past 55, but I have historically been incredibly risk averse, especially with my finances. Deciding that I don't care if I'm poor or dead at 55 is a mental trick to compensate for my own neuroses. I can do riskier investments, risk my phobias, say what I think and buy whatever. I'm aware these are pretty idiosyncratic.
• tibbydudeza 6y ago
  It gave my marriage a well needed boost , me and the wife was slowly drifting apart due to travel/work as the kids became adults. We share my office at home now and it has been great.
• bg4 6y ago
  Myself; I realized while watching the decline and death of a close relative that the only person in my life making me unhappy was me.
• shanecleveland 6y ago
  Getting outside. It can be challenging with a family and young kids to get a hike, day at the beach or ski trip started, but I never regret it.
• ragebol 6y ago
  Our first child. Born last June. Working from home with a baby there too for most of the time has been quite OK actually, much better than expected. Since the pandemic hit we have both been working from home (I already was working remote) and I can't imagine coming home from work at eg. 17:30 and then the kiddo going to bed at ~19 so I would only see him for a short while. Without, the pandemic would have been much much harder to bear.
  • guilhas 6y ago
    Same, August. Very challenging and very rewarding. A lot of work and sleepless nights, but all worth it to see that tiny person smiling for just seeing you. Never though a toothless smile could be so cute.
    • ragebol 6y ago
      Haha. The tiny-2-bottom-teeth smile is also very cute, I can assure you. Biting mommy while feeding is less cute though. But overall, it's amazing to see the development and skills improve week by week. I'm working in robotics, my kids manipulation skills already surpassed that of many robots :-)
• ppf 6y ago
  Giving up my smartphone. It's been one of the single best choices I have made for the mental and social health of me and those I interact with, primarily my young family, just so much better.
  • kjakm 6y ago
    What's your alternative? Have you come across any scenarios where not having the smartphone has been particularly problematic?
    • ppf 6y ago
      I am now the proud owner of an older Nokia 105. I'm also not in the US, so this is a much more viable choice from a practical and cultural point of view. It has not yet caused me any problems, but then my lifestyle right now is a lot different than what it should be. I'm looking forward to seeing how this works out.
• simonCGN 6y ago
  Working from home has been such an improvement: Better food at home. Less stress due to the lack of commute. More time for the family. Time for exercise. Time to take my son by bike to the kindergarden. More flexibility in general.
• dimator 6y ago
  Quick yoga in the morning. The first thing I do, 2-4 times a week, is to roll out the mat and do a 10-30 minute yoga session. There are hundreds of free yoga videos on YouTube, with some experienced teachers. You don't even need that many different ones, I re-use the same dozen or so. There's something about the familiarity of re-doing the same movements that really makes you concentrate. Mind and body feel better afterwards.
• cavemancoffee 6y ago
  +1 to running. Anyone know of SWE/hacker focused running groups in the Bay Area?
• 11235813213455 6y ago
  Eating organic fruits (directly from trees, or on the ground). The pleasure is decoupled because you need to search for them, riding kilometers, it's not always easy, and they're so much more nutritive than the ones in supermarkets
• spondyl 6y ago
  I met someone I care about very much :')
• MattyRad 6y ago
  Geocaching! Finding my first geocache was the defining moment of the past year for me. It's the perfect quarantine activity, and what's more is that there are geocaches everywhere. Anytime I go somewhere new (or places I've been but haven't geocached) I check the geocache app. It's the perfect way to rediscover your city/town. Some of the geocaches are incredibly clever too. Just yesterday I found a geocache on a hike. The hike was in the high desert (sagebrush mostly) where there was a lot of debris (ancient rusted cars, shotgun shells, wood pallets, etc). I was having trouble finding the cache which was GPS-ed next to a felled tree, when I noticed two shotgun shells, one yellow, one red, pushed inside each other, on the ground near the log. I thought to myself that's weird, someone was sitting on this tree log futzing with empty shotgun shells, then I continued my search. I would have overlooked it if it weren't for the hint: "blends in". Sure enough, the cache was inside the two shells! I was the 3rd person to ever find it. Very satisfying!
• cafard 6y ago
  Family would be first. I would not have cared for working from home were I alone, but my wife is around. And my son moved back for a bit while changing cities of employment. Neighbors would be second. I got more of a sense of the neighborhood working at my dining room table, from which I could see people going by on the sidewalk, and from lunchtime walks (other years downtown) and weekend runs (usually in a park that I found too crowded.)
• gdubs 6y ago
  I got so much closer to my young kids this year. I didn’t quite realize how many precious moments I’d already lost by having to spend time at an office every day. (I had a somewhat flexible work schedule before this, but being around them all the time was just orders of magnitude different.) We started playing nightly family games during lockdown last March: card games, board games. I watched the entire ‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’ series with them over the winter. It’s been such a silver lining of all of this.
• quickthrower2 6y ago
  Probably less happy due to chronic fatigue and boredom of the IT grind
• in9 6y ago
  Last semester I finished a gradutate course as an external student in the statistics program of the best university in the country. I have a goal of getting into grad school this year, but I'm old-ish (30 yo in april). The fact that i was able to be one of the best grades (if not the best) really made me happy. I struggle with the idea of going to grad school for a while now. My family gives me zero support and during the years where I was younger and could focus solely on getting, my parents had a massive divorce, which didn't help me at all. I don't test very well, and the entrance exams tend to be tough. Even though I switched areas after those years (I wanted to ge into economics and now statistics) I feel a bit more confident in my math skills. With the added maturity of a few years, I think I can manage getting in without my parent's support. I only have to not drop the study habbits. But it is hard with work from home and the depression vibes my country is in (Brazil, btw).
• drited 6y ago
  Spending time with my kids (but that isn't a change from normal times). Since I live in a rainy country which enforced a 5km movement restriction over the winter and have young kids who needed home schooling and minding in the evening, what was a change was exploring different apps in VR after they'd gone to bed with the Oculus Quest 2. There's something about getting out into different places.. Seems like a basic human need. VR helped to scratch those itchy feet! While I was stuck at home I even switched from working out on the cross trainer to working out with The Thrill of the Fight VR. I was amazed to discover that by really going at it I can get the same or better workout heart rate stats in Thrill of the Fight to the fairly intense level I was doing on the cross trainer. So much fun. It really doesn't take much motivation at all to work out that way.
• cwdegidio 6y ago
  As silly as it is at my age, the weekly D&D game I run. After taking a hiatus from gaming for almost a decade, about a year before the pandemic I bought the newest edition books on a whim and got a game together. It's the highlight of my week. I feel pretty good considering all the folks playing in the game have been impacted by COVID in some way (ER Nurses, National Guardsmen) and they have all told me at various times that the game keeps them sane. Going back to school has been great too. Many years ago I was told I would never make it as a programmer and I should never even attempt Computer Science (great academic advisors I tell you). Well, I finally decided I was sick of people telling me what I am capable of and after being a programmer for the last 12 years I decided I wanted that CS degree. Not because I somehow think it will change my work life much, but because I want the personal knowledge and growth. Needless to say I have enjoyed everything I've been learning and the things I was told would hold me back haven't even once been an issue.
• mbrodersen 6y ago
  Working from home. I will no longer work for companies that don’t allow me to work most days from home. Commuting is a pain and a waste of time.
• tonfreed 6y ago
  Sitting on the couch with my wife after a long day of work.
• Red_Tarsius 6y ago
  Living in a safe and homogeneous country. I don't have to worry about being mugged or beaten while talking a walk. I don't have to worry about random episodes of violence. I don't have to worry about protesters burning and looting my home. After 2020 I realized I took this for granted for way too long.
• adamhp 6y ago
  I have not managed to make running enjoyable. What was the turning point for you?
• adamhp 6y ago
  Hiking! Living in D.C. is surprisingly proximal to a lot of nature outings in Virginia, West Virginia, and Maryland. Getting out of my tiny apartment and out into nature absolutely makes me a happier person.
• I-Robot 6y ago
  My wife....
• etattva 6y ago
  1. Able to work in backyard on a beautiful day with kids playing around me in the summer. Loved it. 2. I had home gymn but never used much and now making good use of it. 3. Food automation: This was something big. We used to sepnd a lot of time cooking fresh food. Most of time spent is on the prep. I hate washing many dishes after every meal. Dishwasher helps but pig pots and pans, need to be done by hand. Then I found a solution. We made a sauce/paste from onion,jalepenos, garlic and 7-8 spices.Then anytime we want to cook, use this sauce to beans, chicken, minced meat, rice and under 10 minutes you get nice tasting fresh food. Have made 20 varities of food so far including orange chicken, chicken tikka. Launched this with the help of kids and wife. https://mealgenie.co/ https://mealgenie.co/ Planning for a kick starter campaign now.
• wbhn 6y ago
  Retired after 30+ years in IT when my company hit the COVID wall. Started walking several miles a day with my wife and our dogs, playing tennis three times a week, playing more guitar, singing and reading a lot more. Basically heaven on earth for me.