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I always laugh when these articles show up and every other tip is about finding a way to pack a little exercise or a little recreation into a jam-packed schedul

I always laugh when these articles show up and every other tip is about finding a way to pack a little exercise or a little recreation into a jam-packed schedule. You too can do some pushups in between checking 200 emails at your standing desk and running to your 17th appointment of the day! (Maybe you would be happier if you had a more relaxed schedule?) The flip side of that coin is that there is no such thing as a magic amount of free time where you will suddenly be able to exercise, meditate, cook your own meals, or whatever you want to do. It can either always be fit in or never be fit in in my experience.

enraged_camel 13y ago
>>The flip side of that coin is that there is no such thing as a magic amount of free time where you will suddenly be able to exercise, meditate, cook your own meals, or whatever you want to do. It can either always be fit in or never be fit in in my experience. What do you mean?
- npsimons 13y ago
  I think I know; this always comes up in discussions of time management, self-improvement, etc. One argument says "if it's valuable to you, you'll make time for it." Which is true as it stands, and can be inspirational - it can be extended to "make time for what truly matters to you." The reality is that it's harder to break bad habits and develop good ones than most people think. I like to say "people can change, but most won't". Some of PG's essays follow along these lines, especially when he uses analogies of running (I think "Hardest Lessons for Startups to Learn" was one prime example).
  - turtle4 13y ago
    I think the common phrasing is, "If it's important to you, you'll find time. If it's not, you'll find an excuse."
ngoel36 13y ago
It absolutely can. I used to be pretty overweight. And I, too, had 17 appointments and 200 emails a day. So naturally, my excuse for not hitting the gym every day was, "I don't have time". I've heard that same excuse a thousand times from a thousand people. I went on a run every couple of weeks to make myself feel like I had done my fitness duty, but that was the most I ever did. And then one day I took the plunge, I accidentally woke up early and decided to go to the gym (my family had a membership). I didn't even know what to do, really. I jogged on a treadmill for a bit, jostled around on a few weight machines, did a few dumbbell curls. I felt like a dumbass who didn't belong there. And I was sleepy. It sucked. But then I woke up an hour and a half early the next morning and I did it again. And again. Every fucking day. It eventually started sucking less and less. Two weeks later I had streamlined my gym visit (waking up -> changing -> pre-workout drink -> drive to gym -> workout -> home -> shower -> protein -> work) to 65 minutes and change. And I felt (and actually looked) better than I had in years. Three years later, and my workout is now an immutable part of my day. It's on my calendar, whether I'm working or on vacation. In town or overseas. And nobody fucks with those 65 minutes that I never had time for back in the day.

enraged_camel 13y ago

>>The flip side of that coin is that there is no such thing as a magic amount of free time where you will suddenly be able to exercise, meditate, cook your own meals, or whatever you want to do. It can either always be fit in or never be fit in in my experience. What do you mean?

npsimons 13y ago
I think I know; this always comes up in discussions of time management, self-improvement, etc. One argument says "if it's valuable to you, you'll make time for it." Which is true as it stands, and can be inspirational - it can be extended to "make time for what truly matters to you." The reality is that it's harder to break bad habits and develop good ones than most people think. I like to say "people can change, but most won't". Some of PG's essays follow along these lines, especially when he uses analogies of running (I think "Hardest Lessons for Startups to Learn" was one prime example).
- turtle4 13y ago
  I think the common phrasing is, "If it's important to you, you'll find time. If it's not, you'll find an excuse."

ngoel36 13y ago

It absolutely can. I used to be pretty overweight. And I, too, had 17 appointments and 200 emails a day. So naturally, my excuse for not hitting the gym every day was, "I don't have time". I've heard that same excuse a thousand times from a thousand people. I went on a run every couple of weeks to make myself feel like I had done my fitness duty, but that was the most I ever did. And then one day I took the plunge, I accidentally woke up early and decided to go to the gym (my family had a membership). I didn't even know what to do, really. I jogged on a treadmill for a bit, jostled around on a few weight machines, did a few dumbbell curls. I felt like a dumbass who didn't belong there. And I was sleepy. It sucked. But then I woke up an hour and a half early the next morning and I did it again. And again. Every fucking day. It eventually started sucking less and less. Two weeks later I had streamlined my gym visit (waking up -> changing -> pre-workout drink -> drive to gym -> workout -> home -> shower -> protein -> work) to 65 minutes and change. And I felt (and actually looked) better than I had in years. Three years later, and my workout is now an immutable part of my day. It's on my calendar, whether I'm working or on vacation. In town or overseas. And nobody fucks with those 65 minutes that I never had time for back in the day.