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Genuine question: what stops you from going out for a walk to have time for yourself? I have been doing it, and I have to say I never thought I would like to ju

Genuine question: what stops you from going out for a walk to have time for yourself? I have been doing it, and I have to say I never thought I would like to just walk around the neighborhood just for the sake of walking.

ghaff 5y ago
I expect a lot of people need the forcing function.
jdavis703 5y ago
It’s just not the same. I’d love an answer too… I used to get a lot of reading done on my commute. For whatever reason sitting down to read at home is difficult. I was recently on a plane, and probably read the most I’ve read in 18 months. But I’m not sure why being on transit vs. elsewhere makes it easier to read. Perhaps the lack of consistently fast internet?
- nerdponx 5y ago
  Yes. I am not "addicted" to my computers in that I feel withdrawal when they're gone, but my ADHD self is constantly tempted to use them. I think the computer screen is somehow a supernormal stimulus [0], especially the super-bright crisp Mac and iPhone "retina" screens that always gave me a slight headache. 0: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supernormal_stimulus https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supernormal_stimulus
- throwaway743 5y ago
  Try reading during a 45 minute one-way subway ride (2x a day) with screeching brakes, people being loud, and the guarantee of at a minimum one "showtime". Headphones barely mask the noise...
  - jdavis703 5y ago
    My original post wasn’t clear, but my usual commute is by subway not by airplane. I was just nothing being in transit (whether train or plane) makes reading easier.
- clairity 5y ago
  it’s not the transit, but the severe restriction of other options which allows your brain to settle down and accept reading as the best option. it’s the converse of the paradox of choice.
PeterisP 5y ago
When the work-from-home started last year suddenly and some people had trouble adjusting, people suggested to continue "going to work" as a ritual - essentially, you have your usual morning stuff/breakfast/whatever, then get dressed, walk around the block and arrive "in office" that just so happens to be very close to your bedroom. While seemingly useless, it helps to establish a boundary and a mental switchover from "home-mode" to "office-mode".
NikolaNovak 5y ago
I have started to understand some of my own answers to that question. Hour spent in city traffic is horrible. Nobody wants that. But before pandemic I started taking a 5hr drive instead of flying (from Toronto to Ottawa FWIW) . It was the most zen experience of my life. And massive part of it was guilt free nature. I'm going to work, I would've been in a Taxi / security line / plane anyway, but I get to enjoy time away from to-do list and housework and project and obligations everything else. Going for a walk, I always have million guilts in my mind - I could be vacuuming or cleaning basement or mowing the lawn or doing taxes or or or... Whereas a pleasant commute is seemingly externally forced, completely guilt-free me time. Again only applies to pleasant commutes, which I feel are a rarity. --- On aside, How you approach commute also makes a difference. When I had downtown commute I was grouchy mcgrouch upon returning home in my manual hard clutch wrx. Then I switched to a cvt gas powered scooter. I still did all the same things - I did not lane split or share, I spent same time in traffic. But world has been opened up since I didn't have the hard clutch and roof and a pillar in my way. I enjoyed the stop and go traffic as it allowed me to soak up the beautiful downtown I never noticed before. --- But most of the time commute sucks and ALL that being said I love my remote work. I am surprised that we are doing marginally better last year in communication and team cohesion and results than we have while in the office.
playpause 5y ago
Not my comment, but I can answer for me. About 8 months into the pandemic I started renting a private office, and leaving my computer there, to avoid WFH. It was the best decision for my mental health I ever made, and I think the commute is an important part of this, because of the transition effect described. So why not just go on a walk every morning, for that same transition effect? Because for me that would require sustained (or even increasing) effort over time to keep up, whereas the commute requires decreasing effort over time. Skipping the commute is a non-starter, because it has immediate consequences that my morning brain wants to avoid (having to email my boss/client to say I won't be working today). So over time it becomes a mindless, autopilot activity. Skipping the walk is too easy - if I'm in a rush or just not in the mood, I'll justify skipping it, just this once... The mental health consequences of skipping the walk are too long-term and nebulous to concern my morning brain. I do also love going for walks by the way. But taking pleasure in an activity isn't a reliable motivator for long term habits, because it's so mood-dependent, and also because things get old when repeated daily.
- jjav 5y ago
  > About 8 months into the pandemic I started renting a private office, and leaving my computer there, to avoid WFH. Second this recommendation. Since the pandemic I rent (sublease) a small office room which is walking distance from home. Best commute ever. It's a quiet space and gives me a separation of work and home.
brtkdotse 5y ago
Laziness, mostly. Laziness, and guilt because I could do something “productive” instead.
- Viliam1234 5y ago
  > guilt because I could do something “productive” instead Taking a break when needed makes you more productive in long term. It prevents burnout. But sadly there are parts of life, such as school or employment, where looking busy is important. There we learn bad habits, which may take a lot of time to unlearn. In short term, could you make yourself feel less guilty about taking a walk by deciding the exact route and exact starting time in advance? Then the walk might feel a bit more like "doing your duty"...

ghaff 5y ago

I expect a lot of people need the forcing function.

jdavis703 5y ago

It’s just not the same. I’d love an answer too… I used to get a lot of reading done on my commute. For whatever reason sitting down to read at home is difficult. I was recently on a plane, and probably read the most I’ve read in 18 months. But I’m not sure why being on transit vs. elsewhere makes it easier to read. Perhaps the lack of consistently fast internet?

nerdponx 5y ago
Yes. I am not "addicted" to my computers in that I feel withdrawal when they're gone, but my ADHD self is constantly tempted to use them. I think the computer screen is somehow a supernormal stimulus [0], especially the super-bright crisp Mac and iPhone "retina" screens that always gave me a slight headache. 0: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supernormal_stimulus https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supernormal_stimulus
throwaway743 5y ago
Try reading during a 45 minute one-way subway ride (2x a day) with screeching brakes, people being loud, and the guarantee of at a minimum one "showtime". Headphones barely mask the noise...
- jdavis703 5y ago
  My original post wasn’t clear, but my usual commute is by subway not by airplane. I was just nothing being in transit (whether train or plane) makes reading easier.
clairity 5y ago
it’s not the transit, but the severe restriction of other options which allows your brain to settle down and accept reading as the best option. it’s the converse of the paradox of choice.

PeterisP 5y ago

When the work-from-home started last year suddenly and some people had trouble adjusting, people suggested to continue "going to work" as a ritual - essentially, you have your usual morning stuff/breakfast/whatever, then get dressed, walk around the block and arrive "in office" that just so happens to be very close to your bedroom. While seemingly useless, it helps to establish a boundary and a mental switchover from "home-mode" to "office-mode".

NikolaNovak 5y ago

I have started to understand some of my own answers to that question. Hour spent in city traffic is horrible. Nobody wants that. But before pandemic I started taking a 5hr drive instead of flying (from Toronto to Ottawa FWIW) . It was the most zen experience of my life. And massive part of it was guilt free nature. I'm going to work, I would've been in a Taxi / security line / plane anyway, but I get to enjoy time away from to-do list and housework and project and obligations everything else. Going for a walk, I always have million guilts in my mind - I could be vacuuming or cleaning basement or mowing the lawn or doing taxes or or or... Whereas a pleasant commute is seemingly externally forced, completely guilt-free me time. Again only applies to pleasant commutes, which I feel are a rarity. --- On aside, How you approach commute also makes a difference. When I had downtown commute I was grouchy mcgrouch upon returning home in my manual hard clutch wrx. Then I switched to a cvt gas powered scooter. I still did all the same things - I did not lane split or share, I spent same time in traffic. But world has been opened up since I didn't have the hard clutch and roof and a pillar in my way. I enjoyed the stop and go traffic as it allowed me to soak up the beautiful downtown I never noticed before. --- But most of the time commute sucks and ALL that being said I love my remote work. I am surprised that we are doing marginally better last year in communication and team cohesion and results than we have while in the office.

playpause 5y ago

Not my comment, but I can answer for me. About 8 months into the pandemic I started renting a private office, and leaving my computer there, to avoid WFH. It was the best decision for my mental health I ever made, and I think the commute is an important part of this, because of the transition effect described. So why not just go on a walk every morning, for that same transition effect? Because for me that would require sustained (or even increasing) effort over time to keep up, whereas the commute requires decreasing effort over time. Skipping the commute is a non-starter, because it has immediate consequences that my morning brain wants to avoid (having to email my boss/client to say I won't be working today). So over time it becomes a mindless, autopilot activity. Skipping the walk is too easy - if I'm in a rush or just not in the mood, I'll justify skipping it, just this once... The mental health consequences of skipping the walk are too long-term and nebulous to concern my morning brain. I do also love going for walks by the way. But taking pleasure in an activity isn't a reliable motivator for long term habits, because it's so mood-dependent, and also because things get old when repeated daily.

jjav 5y ago
> About 8 months into the pandemic I started renting a private office, and leaving my computer there, to avoid WFH. Second this recommendation. Since the pandemic I rent (sublease) a small office room which is walking distance from home. Best commute ever. It's a quiet space and gives me a separation of work and home.

brtkdotse 5y ago

Laziness, mostly. Laziness, and guilt because I could do something “productive” instead.

Viliam1234 5y ago
> guilt because I could do something “productive” instead Taking a break when needed makes you more productive in long term. It prevents burnout. But sadly there are parts of life, such as school or employment, where looking busy is important. There we learn bad habits, which may take a lot of time to unlearn. In short term, could you make yourself feel less guilty about taking a walk by deciding the exact route and exact starting time in advance? Then the walk might feel a bit more like "doing your duty"...