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Hacker Lifestyle Tips: How to Feel Satisfied with Every Day

24 points by Mizza 14y ago

tibbon 14y ago
On the working out, does anyone have any suggestions for not feeling the next day like they got their asses kicked? While not "working out", I motorcycled for around 6 hours yesterday in 90F+ weather, with a good bit of manual labor before that for two hours. Today, I feel like utter shit and have gotten little done. My arms, back and hands are killing me and I feel very unproductive. This is the main thing that keeps me away from more constant working out. I don't want to always feel tired or worn out.
- anateus 14y ago
  I find that there's an intensity sweet spot. Usually when you're just starting to work out "for real" you just can't help being worn out the first several times. But soon after the work out actually makes you more energized. If being worn out persists I would reduce intensity and perhaps tweak the weights/aerobic balance. Maybe you need more running and the like, or perhaps more weight type exercise. A lot of "natural" physical activities (i.e. manual labor) tend to be repetitive in ways that don't exercise your body evenly enough, which can cause greater fatigue.
- Mizza 14y ago
  The more you do it, the less this happens. You feel it a lot when you first start exercising, but not so much after that. You don't want to over-do it - it seems a lot better to do a little bit of exercise on a regular basis than lots rarely.
  - tibbon 14y ago
    Gotcha. While I know that motorcycling isn't traditional exercise, it beats the hell out of me. I've got a comfortable bike that fits me well, but still any trip over 3-4 hours still starts pushing me. When I did Ohio to Boston in April, it physically decimated me with the wind, distance, cold and rain.
    - Mizza 14y ago
      I've never been on a motorcycle (I like my skin where it is) - what kind of exercise it? There is a substantial difference between resistance and aerobic exercise - I find it's good to have both, and that they both compliment each other. Stronger leg muscles mean higher jumps and a faster stride, and aerobic training means better use of oxygen, so more reps, etc etc etc.
      - tibbon 14y ago
        I'd most compare it to yoga I suppose. You're in a weird position, its really hard on your wrists as you're putting a good bit of weight and pressure on them. Lots of precise muscle control, as small movements of your head even can direct your motion. You're being hit constantly with wind, and your muscles tense up a lot. Also, its very hot (or sometimes very cold) frequently. Not 'exercise' as much as abuse and strain.
    - kaybe 14y ago
      Are you doing this regularly?
      - tibbon 14y ago
        Once a month or two, depending on season.
  - alexshye 14y ago
    Yup, this only happens at the beginning. Once you get into shape, you don't get sore unless you really keep pushing it.
- dgant 14y ago
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delayed_onset_muscle_soreness#Repeated-bout_effect http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delayed_onset_muscle_soreness#R... The degree of soreness you'll feel after your first few workouts is a degree of soreness you'll never feel again (until you stop working out and get out of shape).
- brianlovin 14y ago
  Just repetition. Most people quit working out at the gym after the first 1-2 times because of the intense soreness the following day(s). The trick is to keep at it for 1-2 weeks. After your body has adjusted, the post-workout soreness will be minimal but you'll feel refreshed and revived for 24 hours (in my experience)
- SkyMarshal 14y ago
  Yeah, shorter but burstier workouts. Eg, no more than 30 minutes in the gym, but don't rest between sets or exercises. Just push it as hard as you can without risking injury for 20-30m, then quit. Do that with high scheduling variance (one week do it 4 times, the next week 1 time, etc. Variance, not routine, is key). Combine with long walks (to work if you're not too far away), bike riding, anything to reduce your sedentaryness. This isn't a body-building or triathlete program, it's just a healthy one. Don't think of working out in terms of deterministic, 1:1, input=output. Rather think of it terms of signaling your body in ways that trigger certain gene expression that leads to a healthier metabolism. Read this book more details: http://www.amazon.com/The-New-Evolution-Diet-Paleolithic/dp/1605291838 http://www.amazon.com/The-New-Evolution-Diet-Paleolithic/dp/... Reviews: http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2011/01/04/new-evolution-diet-insulin-and-obesity-how-to-eat-like-a-caveman.html http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2011/01/04/new-evoluti... http://www.marksdailyapple.com/the-new-evolution-diet/#axzz1wJER8Wku http://www.marksdailyapple.com/the-new-evolution-diet/#axzz1... Author's site: http://www.arthurdevany.com/ http://www.arthurdevany.com/
GuiA 14y ago
Every day, 1 hour working out, 6 hours getting paid, 3 hours doing something cool. Leaves plenty of time for going out/family/leisure time and a healthy dose of sleep :)
alexshye 14y ago
Ideally, someone could overlap #1 and #3: make money out of something cool you want to see in the world.
- Mizza 14y ago
  Doing this is, of course, awesome, but perhaps not always optimal. Art which is not financially motivated can take more risks, you know what I mean? Although getting paid to do something you love is always a good feeling.
espinchi 14y ago
Simple but pretty powerful, thanks! Definitely not that easy for people with full-time jobs, when you factor in the commute, the lunch break, etc, plus a bit of time for socializing and such. For those working for themselves, this is a great To Do list. Just 3 items per day :)
j45 14y ago
I love how painfully simple it is. I love how this makes the minds of any doubters or complicaters squirm and saying it's not that easy. But it really is. Being productive in more than one area of your life makes you feel much more satisfied overall, instead of just satisfaction in one area. Otherwise one ends up like the dude with one really strong arm.
freshnote 14y ago
Simple, unless you get full-blown OCD like I do over certain ideas. Then everything: exercising, sleep, eating healthy, etc all goes out the window until the obsession reaches its ultimate conclusion. So no, it's not so simple for some people.
- Mizza 14y ago
  Everything in moderation, even moderation. Sometimes it's good to go balls-deep in to a manic obsession over a problem/task.

24 points by Mizza 14y ago

On the working out, does anyone have any suggestions for not feeling the next day like they got their asses kicked? While not "working out", I motorcycled for around 6 hours yesterday in 90F+ weather, with a good bit of manual labor before that for two hours. Today, I feel like utter shit and have gotten little done. My arms, back and hands are killing me and I feel very unproductive. This is the main thing that keeps me away from more constant working out. I don't want to always feel tired or worn out.

anateus 14y ago
I find that there's an intensity sweet spot. Usually when you're just starting to work out "for real" you just can't help being worn out the first several times. But soon after the work out actually makes you more energized. If being worn out persists I would reduce intensity and perhaps tweak the weights/aerobic balance. Maybe you need more running and the like, or perhaps more weight type exercise. A lot of "natural" physical activities (i.e. manual labor) tend to be repetitive in ways that don't exercise your body evenly enough, which can cause greater fatigue.
Mizza 14y ago
The more you do it, the less this happens. You feel it a lot when you first start exercising, but not so much after that. You don't want to over-do it - it seems a lot better to do a little bit of exercise on a regular basis than lots rarely.
- tibbon 14y ago
  Gotcha. While I know that motorcycling isn't traditional exercise, it beats the hell out of me. I've got a comfortable bike that fits me well, but still any trip over 3-4 hours still starts pushing me. When I did Ohio to Boston in April, it physically decimated me with the wind, distance, cold and rain.
  - Mizza 14y ago
    I've never been on a motorcycle (I like my skin where it is) - what kind of exercise it? There is a substantial difference between resistance and aerobic exercise - I find it's good to have both, and that they both compliment each other. Stronger leg muscles mean higher jumps and a faster stride, and aerobic training means better use of oxygen, so more reps, etc etc etc.
    - tibbon 14y ago
      I'd most compare it to yoga I suppose. You're in a weird position, its really hard on your wrists as you're putting a good bit of weight and pressure on them. Lots of precise muscle control, as small movements of your head even can direct your motion. You're being hit constantly with wind, and your muscles tense up a lot. Also, its very hot (or sometimes very cold) frequently. Not 'exercise' as much as abuse and strain.
  - kaybe 14y ago
    Are you doing this regularly?
    - tibbon 14y ago
      Once a month or two, depending on season.
- alexshye 14y ago
  Yup, this only happens at the beginning. Once you get into shape, you don't get sore unless you really keep pushing it.
dgant 14y ago
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delayed_onset_muscle_soreness#Repeated-bout_effect http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delayed_onset_muscle_soreness#R... The degree of soreness you'll feel after your first few workouts is a degree of soreness you'll never feel again (until you stop working out and get out of shape).
brianlovin 14y ago
Just repetition. Most people quit working out at the gym after the first 1-2 times because of the intense soreness the following day(s). The trick is to keep at it for 1-2 weeks. After your body has adjusted, the post-workout soreness will be minimal but you'll feel refreshed and revived for 24 hours (in my experience)
SkyMarshal 14y ago
Yeah, shorter but burstier workouts. Eg, no more than 30 minutes in the gym, but don't rest between sets or exercises. Just push it as hard as you can without risking injury for 20-30m, then quit. Do that with high scheduling variance (one week do it 4 times, the next week 1 time, etc. Variance, not routine, is key). Combine with long walks (to work if you're not too far away), bike riding, anything to reduce your sedentaryness. This isn't a body-building or triathlete program, it's just a healthy one. Don't think of working out in terms of deterministic, 1:1, input=output. Rather think of it terms of signaling your body in ways that trigger certain gene expression that leads to a healthier metabolism. Read this book more details: http://www.amazon.com/The-New-Evolution-Diet-Paleolithic/dp/1605291838 http://www.amazon.com/The-New-Evolution-Diet-Paleolithic/dp/... Reviews: http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2011/01/04/new-evolution-diet-insulin-and-obesity-how-to-eat-like-a-caveman.html http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2011/01/04/new-evoluti... http://www.marksdailyapple.com/the-new-evolution-diet/#axzz1wJER8Wku http://www.marksdailyapple.com/the-new-evolution-diet/#axzz1... Author's site: http://www.arthurdevany.com/ http://www.arthurdevany.com/

GuiA 14y ago

Every day, 1 hour working out, 6 hours getting paid, 3 hours doing something cool. Leaves plenty of time for going out/family/leisure time and a healthy dose of sleep :)

alexshye 14y ago

Ideally, someone could overlap #1 and #3: make money out of something cool you want to see in the world.

Mizza 14y ago
Doing this is, of course, awesome, but perhaps not always optimal. Art which is not financially motivated can take more risks, you know what I mean? Although getting paid to do something you love is always a good feeling.

espinchi 14y ago

Simple but pretty powerful, thanks! Definitely not that easy for people with full-time jobs, when you factor in the commute, the lunch break, etc, plus a bit of time for socializing and such. For those working for themselves, this is a great To Do list. Just 3 items per day :)

j45 14y ago

I love how painfully simple it is. I love how this makes the minds of any doubters or complicaters squirm and saying it's not that easy. But it really is. Being productive in more than one area of your life makes you feel much more satisfied overall, instead of just satisfaction in one area. Otherwise one ends up like the dude with one really strong arm.

freshnote 14y ago

Simple, unless you get full-blown OCD like I do over certain ideas. Then everything: exercising, sleep, eating healthy, etc all goes out the window until the obsession reaches its ultimate conclusion. So no, it's not so simple for some people.

Mizza 14y ago
Everything in moderation, even moderation. Sometimes it's good to go balls-deep in to a manic obsession over a problem/task.