Ask HN: What non-computer activities do you do?
For the past 2 years, I've been working quite a lot and didn't had time or mood for other activities. Even when doing something else, was often thinking about work. I realize that life goes by and more and more often I ask myself what's the purpose, why keep working?
Looking for inspiration: what non-computer activities do you do that captivate and fulfill you? Preferably with other people, as I already work alone. For example, from my experience: * walking in the park while listening to good sci-fi audiobooks * running * wall climbing (I gave up after a month, didn't like it that much) * hiking (harder to find partners, plus I need to solve some emails even during weekend) * tennis * piano lessons
One thing that often turns me off is seeing others which do that activity for quite some time and are already good at it (I'm 35 years old), while I'm just starting and seem incapable in comparison.
Thanks so much.
59 comments
[ 1.6 ms ] story [ 120 ms ] threadGardening is also something I enjoy. Learning about plants and keeping them healthy year round. It is very satisfying to have a harvest of your own plant (I grow a decent sized Tabasco pepper plant.) Though this turns into a more solo task unless you do it in a community garden or something like that.
That way you aren't stuck with specialty tools if you don't like it. Also stay away from nicer glass. Don't get kokomo glass if you don't need/want it. I always just see what's in the scrap bin and then design based from what's in there.
Be the best person you can be and try (it's very hard) to stop comparing yourself. How can you be anything more than your best? Do it because its good for you or you enjoy it, not because you are awesome or not awesome at it.
-> https://www.reddit.com/r/depression/comments/rtaiu/being_for...
But most of the time I'm either at work or at home with my family. If you're looking for something to do I'd encourage you to find some kind of exercise that you truly enjoy no matter what other people think, and try to find some volunteer project you can give yourself to on a regular basis.
And here's my flickr set, which I haven't added to for a while: https://www.flickr.com/photos/misteralpenglow
Also some light woodworking which is always fun. Building a lot of stuff out of re-claimed wood, pallets etc its a lot of fun.
Mostly computers are my job and my hobby. When I'm not working on mar-tech stuff I like to build PCs, electronics, etc. Right now I'm testing all the USB cables in my house to see which ones are crap.
But most of all when I'm not working I like to hang out with my 4 year old son :) I'm teaching him computers, programming, handyman stuff, riding his bike (just took off training wheels).
I swim-bike-run (not often in the same order except in events).
Strava is the athletes Github :)
https://www.strava.com/athletes/828591
Snowboarding, although I've been doing it for so long I'm bored of it.
Backcountry camping and canoeing is fun, whitewater kayaking and fishing.
When you've
1. been doing it that long
2. are bored of it
that screams to me "become an instructor" :P
- Snowboarding (adrenaline rush)
- Racing[1] (again adrenaline rush)
That said, in order perform in both sports, you have to be fit, which means running/gym on a regular basis.
[1] My car is a Lotus S2, 175 bhp. with various additions (exhaust, quickshift, etc.). I wouldn't change that car for anything.
It's a white S2, a real beauty!
* Each week I make one meal from each of the following three categories: soup (or chili), meat oriented (usually chicken, sometimes beef), and pasta (or risotto). I make four servings, so we'll have the same meal for two consecutive nights. Each category has four to six different dishes, so even though we eat the same dish two nights in a row we're not making it too often. The limited number of dishes means I don't have a lot of ingredients in my kitchen that I'm using infrequently. On the seventh night we'll eat out or order in.
* A significant number of recipes come from a few different(don't laugh) Real Simple books that we own. The recipes are typically, well, simple to prepare, relatively healthy, and don't require a lot of time. They call for ingredients I can find without having to go to a specialty grocery store. I also have a few recipes from blogs and NY Times Cooking, which has a back-catalog of thousands of recipes.
* Lunches are usually sandwich based, though sometimes extra leftovers. Sandwiches can get boring quickly, so I find adding a lot of ingredients helps. A typically sandwich may be two slices of low sodium turkey, bacon, cheese, broccoli sprouts, and a slice of tomato. For a side I may add in a piece of fruit or a handful of almonds (sometimes plain, sometimes chocolate covered). Usually twice a week I'll go out for lunch. Makes it a little more special when it doesn't happen every day.
* I live in a smaller apartment with limited kitchen space, so I try to use recipes that don't require specialty equipment.
* I make a list of food I'll need for the week on Sunday mornings and make one trip to the store. No going back until next Sunday.
* I try to find recipes that will last for a few days in the refrigerator. Most Sundays I'll make two recipes, providing us with food for four nights. This means I'm usually cooking only one night during the work week. Start at around 4:30pm on Sunday, done eating and cleaning up by 7pm.
Tonight we're having broccoli soup, one of the more "challenging" dishes on my list:
http://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1017010-seared-broccoli-a...
http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/browse-all-recipes/ch...
Good luck!
Lots of options here too, even healthy ones.
If you're more of a science-y type, once you get familiar with one recipe, you can modify just that recipe. I've modified a banana bread recipe to have less butter and sugar because I make it once or twice a month and play with it every time. You get a feel for what the consistency should be like to make a good finished product, and then bake it.
Sometimes I've done homebrewing. It's something that is reasonable affordable to do at home. There is a strong community aspect to it and at the end you get beer! Plus you can fiddle a lot with different variables.
I cook, I exercise, I play video games (PS4. That's not a computer, right? :P )
I liked Chess and was good compared to my peers when I was younger. When I play it now, the game feels very limited and not that interesting. I wonder if this is because I am no longer any good at it compared to my peers or if I am overstimulated from other games.
most useful: cooking
most relaxing: snorkeling
3 times a week, roughly. I love it because whatever their level is, everybody can have the same fun all together.