Do it right though. Sit down in a comfortable chair. Turn off your computer so you're not constantly getting up and checking your email. Maybe turn on some music. Allocate a sufficient block of time, so you can become truly engrossed in your book.
Good fiction has a way of taking your mind elsewhere that no other medium can match. It's the most satisfying and fulfilling way to relax that I know of.
One of the downsides, for me, is that I can end up 'out of it' until I actually finish the story, yet other times, I'll stop reading at a lull in the story, and never pick the book back up again, because I didn't stop at a point that was engrossing enough to pull me back into the storyline (e.g. Diamond Age).
I do like reading (non-narrative nonfiction mostly), but I can never seem to relax while doing so. Sitting up in a chair makes holding the book up difficult, reclining is no better, and lying in bed makes my back uncomfortable. How do people physically read for more than an hour at a time?
I fidget a lot, too. I suppose I've just gotten used to it, though.
I would recommend "bone support." You shouldn't be holding the book up, but resting it somehow. Angle your arm so you don't have to use muscle, or it'll become painful.
I don't know if that's a good term for it, but that's what they called it when we were learning to shoot in the Marine Corps. Same idea. :-)
I may have noticed it early because I'm too tall for the tables in most coffeeshops, but your body is probably not cool with sitting static while you read for hours on end. Any exercise that emphasizes stretching will help. Yoga, aikido, etc.
Undertake a small 'home-improvement' task that takes no more than an hour or two. After spending so much time in computer systems solving problems, fixing a real-life bug or enhancement in my flat is strangely satisfying.
e.g.
- finally get that TV/DVD/Stereo setup the right way;
- replace the dodgy doorbell
- throw out old crap
- repaint a room (if you make a mistake, just paint over it)
I read in my hammock. http://Eaglesnestoutfittersinc.com has the worlds best hammock. Bought one in 2002 and might say it's the best thing I've ever purchased. I can toss it up almost anywhere in a matter of seconds, kick back and read, take a nap, and then get back to work.
If you ever get the chance the lay in one, you'll be hooked. I just have the standard single nest + slap strap pro and it's amazing. The hammock packs down to the size of a softball and you can just clip them onto a backpack or anything, setup takes about a minute, and the material is almost like silk. I'm getting a rain fly and bug net next summer for some hiking trips. Can't wait to try it out in the real wild!
I play backgammon. My father-in-law introduced me to Tavli two years ago and thoroughly beat me. I decided that the next time I saw him I would win (we live on opposite sides of Europe so I don't see him as much as I'd like). I practiced backgammon and learnt how to play properly. It's better than draughts, but easier and more fast paced than chess.
If any HN'ers want to play some time I'm happy to have a game. If there's enough interest I'd be happy to run a backgammon school on a sunday for people to learn the basics and a little strategy.
Mostly agreed... but Dominion seems like it doesn't have much real human interaction. It's more like playing simultaneous games of solitaire with your buddies in a race to the victory conditions. I haven't used all the cards yet so I could be mistaken, but it seems the only real time you can affect other players directly is with the militia, which you can't target and just slows down everyone else. Tthat's not to say there isn't fun to be had, like in chaining together multiple Markets in a round.
You should also check out Bohnanza; similar ideas, fewer rules to parse, plus inter-player trading.
Usually I read a book or play StarCraft II/Civilization V/Halo Reach. Depends on whether I’ve come to hate technology that day or not. Cleaning stuff also helps me relax, but sometimes it just ends up becoming busy work.
I work with my hands. As a computer worker, my brain is tired at the end of the day and my eyes sore while other parts of my body and mind are restless from the day-long sitting station.
So I go on craigslist buy old things which I fix in my garage. Sometimes it's a PC but usually it is something more organic or mechanical like a piece of furniture, or an old mechanical tool. Very restful satisfying and useful. I think working out i still needed though.
I really enjoy reading. I take it as a serious hobby (I spend on average 1 hour a day reading, often times more).
I read a variety of books: programming (learn something new), business (keep yourself motivated and consider new approaches), lifestyle (what can I do to be a better person?), and fiction (oooh, a good story).
I can't being to explain how much of a profound impact reading has had on my life. I used to read a ton when I was younger, but when I started university I stopped for a while (hanging out with people, lots of social stuff), and didn't get back into the habit until the beginning of last year.
Reading keeps my mind focused, helps me relax, and teaches me new things all the time. When I read programming books, I make a point to write some software using whatever techniques / libraries the book I'm reading is discussing. This helps me get a better understanding of what I'm reading and learning about, and it's a lot of fun.
How often do you read? Do you enjoy what you're reading?
I can't believe people on HackerNews are upvoting that comment. Does it really add that much to the conversation?
In the time I've been here on HN I've come to this position. When I reply or submit, I like to consider a hypothetical someone in a year's time, mining HN comments for insight and information. I'd like to think that what I write has some use to the in context, and at the same time accurately reflects who I am now.
And yes, the reply fits in that mould. In a year's time if someone came across that comment, I'd like them to know that I thought it peurile and unfunny, and I flagged it.
Perhaps the real fear is the community degrading the way of Digg or Reddit? Personally, I chuckled at the comment. However the thought of HN being overrun by hordes of interwebz meme spitting, boob picture posting trolls did cross my mind. One thing that holds true for any community...don't feed the trolls.
I used to think there was a HackerNews community, I used to think that I was a member of it, and I used to be proud to be such.
Seeing this comment get downvoted and its parent upvoted with what I can only view as teenaged boys giggling over some smut, I see that there is no single, coherent community with a shared core of beliefs and standards. And maturity. It's a painful lesson.
Then we disagree about what constitutes a "good reply". I won't convince you, you won't convince me, no point in discussing it further. I just think it's on par with children shouting "Bum!" at the top of their voices and thinking it's funny and clever.
To me it makes it HN feel that little bit less welcoming. I may be being over-sensitive, but it makes me feel like I'm eavesdropping on a conversation I wasn't supposed to be part of.
Although, heck, maybe he talks about masturbating in front of girls the whole time.
These days, I really enjoy removing the skins from chick peas. You soak them overnight, boil them for two hours, and then you can squeeze them out of their skins.
It's very repetitive and boring, and lets my mind drift. Plus you get smoother hummus if you remove the chick pea skins first.
Cooking provides lots of tasks that sound boring (and are easily handled by food processors, etc.), but are still very grounding to do my hand and focus on 100%.
I really enjoy making bread. Kneading dough feels very real after hours of debugging bad Algol code.
A few ideas:
- Meditate
- Exercise (running, weights, etc)
- Yoga
Do something that's totally unproductive that's pure fun. This might sound silly, but finger painting or something similar.
Relaxing is all about feeling like there's nothing you NEED to to be doing right now. You're just in your own space, enjoying your own company.
Maybe there's something you've always wanted to do but haven't for whatever reason. Conquer your fears! Go take that mambo class. Attend that french pastry chef course.
I have started to make acoustic guitars (specifically, Selmer-Maccaferri copies; the type of guitar Django Reinhardt was famous for). I don't get a lot of free time with a relatively young child, but what little time I can squeeze into my workshop is very relaxing. After pushing bits around with your brain all day there is something immensely satisfying about making a real physical object with your hands. Luthery is also an excellent lesson in patience and long-term goals.
Agreed. I don't make guitars, but physical crafts are a huge relief after writing code all day. I sew, knit/crochet, book-bind...any sort of craft that results in a physical object you can hold when you're done is immensely satisfying. And the repetitive motions of some of those crafts is great for getting in the zone with them. I find handsewing and crocheting especially relaxing. Knitting hurts my hands more for some reason.
The most satisfying way I've found to relax and wind down is doing something completely unrelated to work that involves focus, and even better, a practiced skill. Watching a movie or reading a book can mostly take my mind off work, but it feels much better to do something where you can get in the zone. For me this is skateboarding, rock climbing, racquetball, or cooking. I imagine playing a musical instrument falls into this category as well.
I read books, mostly sci fi and stuff like that but also humor horror and other genres. Books are wonderful and when you read right before bed you can really tell when you are tired (which is vastly different if you are watching T.V. or other more passive things), I guess after a while your imagination just stops working.
I probably spend most of my personal free time reading books and they are great for me to wind down.
I bike to work, which feels good and offsets a bit of the sitting-on-my-fat-ass all day syndrome. Likewise playing sports (soccer, ultimate frisbee, lately team handball).
Making/crafting things in the real world as opposed to in software is nice. And hearing/watching/playing music, for me mostly a blend of acoustic/bluegrass.
I ride - either mountain-bike or road. I love getting out and riding up the river or just wandering through areas I don't know. I see a lot more that I wouldn't if I were driving. It can be somewhat meditative and it's an antidote to sitting in front of a computer.
I used to play world of warcraft, nothing like that level of immersion to relax in respect to real life, but it might just replace real life tension with virtual tension.
Until the new expansion pack comes out I find myself just watching TV
Well...Apart from reading fiction/non fiction, ( I usually alternate between them ), I've taken up painting, and it's soothing to say the least. Put on some light music and let the brush follow it's will :)
I watch Arsenal play some kick-ass football. Also, performing magic, playing the guitar, listening to classical pieces (or sometimes classic rock) and just going for a walk if the weather permits.
One thing that really works is Meditation. Best combination is work out in a gym for about an hour and after that meditate for half hour. You are completely de-stressed after that.
Exercise, cook, read (I read a lot), play Halo Reach, sex, meditate, spend time with friends, and read on-line material (what used to be called "surfing the web").
Watch TV in a foreign language. There are lots of ways that this could be entertaining, and if done correctly you can pick up a language in your leisure time.
after working behind a computer all day, walking the dog is a great way to unwind. sometimes, i ride my bike. getting a drink with friends is good too.
Agreed. Long morning showers have a profound effect on my ability to concentrate, meditate, think through problems and interestingly nearly 100% of my best ideas and solutions to problems come from the shower. Sometimes I have more than one shower a day to help work through tough problems (both personal, technical and business). I do live in a hot country and work from home so this is easier. If I don't have a shower to start the day I feel incomplete and a nagging feeling all day that something is not quite right!
I read all sorts of books to help unwind or enhance my existing knowledge or learn something new. Mixing genres of books each time is also good. I usually read scifi, fantasy (Terry Pratchett anyone?), biographies, history books,science/maths, technical, business... reading is one of mans greatest gifts!
Also, learn to do things like crosswords and jigsaws as a way to take your mind off things. Jigsaws are an amazing way to completely switch off - like stacking shelves without the significant labour! Mind wonders, but you also achieve something with each piece laid. Seriously dont knock it until you try :)
Exercise is critical. I swim 50+ laps in the pool each day and this really helps. But I hate exercise so you gotta find something that works for you.
And of course spending time with family - particularly children if you have them can be a real boon and gives you an excuse to play lego - anther wonderful invention of mankind! In fact I often build robots using technic lego with the kids which is a cool bridge between mechanical and computer skills.
If hot showers are a great ay to relax, cold showers are a great way to reinvigorate yourself. I always feel more energetic and enthusiastic about life after a cold shower.
Do it right though. Sit down in a comfortable chair. Turn off your computer so you're not constantly getting up and checking your email. Maybe turn on some music. Allocate a sufficient block of time, so you can become truly engrossed in your book.
Good fiction has a way of taking your mind elsewhere that no other medium can match. It's the most satisfying and fulfilling way to relax that I know of.
edit: minor grammar correction