Ask HN: Techies, how do you keep yourself physically engaged?
As we approach the end of the year and contemplate resolutions for a healthier and more balanced lifestyle, I'm curious about how my fellow tech enthusiasts tackle one of our common challenges: staying physically active amidst a predominantly sedentary tech lifestyle. How do you get motivated, and what routines or activities have you found effective in maintaining your physical and mental wellbeing?
This past year, I took a somewhat unconventional path for someone in our field—I started learning ballet. As a software developer and writer, I never imagined donning ballet shoes, but it's turned into an incredible journey. Ballet offers a unique and powerful blend of discipline, mental focus, and physical intensity that's not only improved my health but also brought a new dimension of creativity and performance into my work and personal life.
I've shared my experiences and the surprising benefits I've discovered in a Medium post titled "Why I Started and Keep Learning Ballet at 40+." As New Year's Eve prompts us to reflect and set goals, I hope my story of embracing ballet might inspire you to consider new, perhaps unexpected, ways to stay active and engaged.
Here's my story: https://medium.com/geeky-regimen/why-i-started-and-keep-learning-ballet-at-40-14ee0663b25e
On the eve of a new year, I'd love to hear your strategies and stories. How do you balance the demands of our tech careers with the need for physical activity? What unexpected hobbies or passions have you pursued to stay active and how have they impacted your life?
32 comments
[ 2.9 ms ] story [ 95.6 ms ] threadClasses provide structure and a community. Maybe not too different from ballet.
Good performances of of martial arts and ballet both value high in aesthetics. In east Asia it is common to perform choreographed martial arts in parties or galas, this is not too different from dancing! Quite a few contemporary young actors in China are former full-time ballet dancers, because they can execute the fighting sequences in films or TV plays beautifully.
I also tap dance. It's a very technical and movement-dense dance where different combinations of steps are put together and can be in different styles by varying the rhythm and body movements.
Sailing is my new passion. Dinghy mainly and also some yachting. Dinghy racing combines adventure, a thrilling workout (pulling the trailer and the core workout of hiking) and STEM split-second decisions in a race like computing a self-driving car. Also great for mental health and like a support group as through yachting I've met career changers who are running away from depression.
The possibility for doing sailing and yachting for you is really fantastic! I grew up in a harbour city, I love almost any activities in water, and was a very decent swimmer as a child. But where I live now is far from sea. Learning sailing is still possible in a local lake, but it's cold here in winter, normally the sailing courses are only offered in summer. Yachting is so fancy I'd like to try it out when there is a chance.
Happy exercising and practicing whatever you like in the new year and beyond!
I’ve done it for the past 5y. The first 2 were the hardest. This year I run over 500mi (and in Mar & Apr I practically didn’t run). This is just to say that the key is consistency, if you can make it a habit then it’ll stay a habit.
Run works for me, but bike or push ups might be an alternative if you hate running.
If you start from 0, account for your growth. For example if you can’t run 1mi now, don’t set your target to 1mi/day. Set it to 2mi/week or so. To give you a sense, when I run I typically do 5mi, so I only have to run twice a week to stick with my goal, and I can catch up if I fall behind.
This year I’m prob trying 10 pull ups/day, just for a change. (I’ll keep running oc)
Wish you success with your pull ups this year!
Tip: you don't need gear or even shoes to run, just run to the office or chase the kids.
I have to walk when I'm traveling for business or shop groceries during the weekend too. Usually there is some weight on my back in such contexts, I'm too lazy to bear the weight so I often ride scooters nowadays. But I do enjoy hiking. Last year did four 16-km day-hiking with minimum weight on my back in a hiking group. Loved it and this year I'll hike again.
The key thing is finding people to be competitive and supportive with. My partner has been an excellent source of motivation as we are both very competitive in outdoing each other in time and power.
10 miles in an hour, do it a few times per week, you'll be on top of your self.
Yes, an encouraging and supportive social environment is really important. After I started building my exercise habit, my husband bought a walking band and started walking at home too. We agreed to hike together in the new year and I really look forward to it!
Some of it's fun, but a lot of it really is just unpleasant exercise. I hate it, but I stick to it for the positive side effects. In my mind, the only way to it is to do it.
And you think climbing is easy? Maybe for beginners. But you will definitely need some other trainings to enable advanced climbing. This activity alone will keep you busy for very long.
I also tend to walk everywhere.
As soon as I finish working it is training time. When I'm busy or out for a few days I take the push up bars with me. Sometimes I also do some push ups while working.
After work I usually practicing my music instrument for a while until dinner. Our dinner is usually simple so it doesn't take too much time to prepare.
I'm not able to do a single push up yet, but I'm doing planking deligently. Hopefully one day I can also do push ups like you!
The book atomic habits by James clear is helpful for making exercises a part of our lives too. I highly recommend this book.