Ask HN: Anyone Codes as a Relaxation Exercise?

3 points by fimdomeio 3y ago ↗ HN

I noticed this last year. When I'm very stressed or very tired I find myself coding as a way to relax. It's not regular work, just small toy code, exploring ideas or technologies. I never force myself to anything with this projects. I stop whenever I want to stop and if I want to give up I just do it without any guilt.

I've been thinking why I do it? I think it's probably the little worlds of code I create and that I fully control and the pleasure of all the small accomplishements.

Does anyone else out here does this? Would love to hear it.

2 comments

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johncoltrane 3y ago ↗

> I've been thinking why I do it?

Because it gets you "in the zone", where you can temporarily forget the stress. Also, exerting control over something is a great way to deal with one's lack of control over something else.

Leftium 3y ago ↗

I lose track of time when I program; I guess I just get into "the zone"... it makes it even tougher to estimate quotes for freelance contracts!