> If you live in a city and want to live somewhere affordable, you're often looking at 1hr+ of commute each way. You have to get up a little early to prep for the day. Some jobs don't count a lunch break towards your 8hr day, or expect you to stay later, so you end up working more like 9hrs. If you factor in ~30-60mins chores that you do after work such as cooking/cleaning its easy to take up ~10-12hrs doing _work type_ stuff.
I thought the same thing, until I focused on tightening up my schedule and making active choices to minimize wasted time.
If you want to live somewhere that requires 2 hours (!!) of commuting each day, take long lunch breaks away from the office, have relaxed mornings with hours between alarm going off and leaving the house, that's fine.
However, you have to recognize where you're making personal choices. You don't have to choose a job and house combination that requires an hour long commute each way. You don't have to leave the office for lunch every day. You don't have to have leisurely mornings. It's perfectly fine if you choose to do those things, but you're not being completely honest with yourself if you start portraying those personal choices as completely out of your control.
> And do you really want to spend all those 4hrs being productive?
It's not about being productive all day every day. You can spend those 4 hours watching TV if you want, or you can spend those 4 hours going to dinner with friends, or going to the gym. It's your choice.
> If you follow the pomodoro technique and use 5min for leisure every 30 mins, you end up with only ~40mins of "leisure" in that type of day.
The Pomodoro technique is for work time. You shouldn't be Pomodoring you personal time after work.
> What if you want to do things like spend an hour working out at the gym / looking after physical health?
Make a priority and make it happen.
If you spend 1 hour at the gym 3 times per week, that's less than 3% of your waking hours. Surely you can find 3% slack in your schedule somewhere?
> It quickly drains away at any time you would have to spend on your own personal projects, interests, hobbies.
The idea of "side projects" has become a major problem for many new grads growing up the internet era. For some reason, many of them feel obligated to be working on side projects when they're not working. They basically end up with two jobs, a day job and tending to their side projects, and then they wonder where all of their time has gone.
The solution is simple: Don't do side projects if you would prefer to spend your time on something else.
It's all about making active choices in how you spend your time. Once you go down the spiral of assuming everything is an obligation in your life, your schedule starts to feel out of your control. Start being honest about the choices you're making and what you want to do with your time and it becomes much easier to take control again.
The hour at the gym idea is just a function of poor time accounting. To get an hour at the gym you need a minimum hour and a half probably 1:45 when you account for getting dressed parking, driving and showering.
That’s true with all those things you wanted to do but didn’t realize that there is actually a hidden time sink that nearly doubles the duration.
This is actually a big reason why people don’t accomplish everything they set out to do because they didn’t budget for all the extra non value add things
I’ve really liked home workouts for that reason. Much more time efficient. I prepare my breakfast during the breaks between sets.
It’s maybe not as effective as barbells, but I also hurt myself sometimes with those. My home routine hasn’t hurt me yet.
Basic equipment:
* Chinup bar above doorframe. I like the rogue jammer. You can still shut the door.
* Dip bar, for dips and rows
* Exercise bike, for sprints
Other exercises are pushups, planks, and bodyweight squats. I have a weight vest for when I need to add more to squats, but don’t need it yet. Am doing 50 squats, and they’re still hard just with bodyweight.
Also have a powerblock, but haven’t used it recently. However, it’s a great addition to a home gym, and would go well with a bench.
Cost of equipment I am using was $400 or less. Comparatively affordable, especially if it cuts a gym membership.
Time savings:
* No commute, changing
* No waiting for machines
* Can use rest breaks efficiently preparing food, a mindless task that doesn’t interfere
I would suggest kettlebells to build and maintain connective tissue and add a bit of bulk. Otherwise I've found the same - I don't need a gym but I go mainly for the social aspect and heavier weights. And nifty massage devices.
Thanks, may try that again. When I tried before I had some lower back issues. This may have been the same mobility issue that gave me trouble doing squats.
For the back issue, start with lower weight or build up your "core" muscles better first before doing any other strength training. I am not a trainer, though!
Connective tissue = tendons, fascia, muscles themselves
When working with machines like at many gyms, the movement is really isolated. Free weights are better since they kind of force your muscles into different directions. Kettlebells are a bit better in that regard and are more versatile and easier to use sporadically like in a home office environment.
I thought the same thing, until I focused on tightening up my schedule and making active choices to minimize wasted time.
If you want to live somewhere that requires 2 hours (!!) of commuting each day, take long lunch breaks away from the office, have relaxed mornings with hours between alarm going off and leaving the house, that's fine.
However, you have to recognize where you're making personal choices. You don't have to choose a job and house combination that requires an hour long commute each way. You don't have to leave the office for lunch every day. You don't have to have leisurely mornings. It's perfectly fine if you choose to do those things, but you're not being completely honest with yourself if you start portraying those personal choices as completely out of your control.
> And do you really want to spend all those 4hrs being productive?
It's not about being productive all day every day. You can spend those 4 hours watching TV if you want, or you can spend those 4 hours going to dinner with friends, or going to the gym. It's your choice.
> If you follow the pomodoro technique and use 5min for leisure every 30 mins, you end up with only ~40mins of "leisure" in that type of day.
The Pomodoro technique is for work time. You shouldn't be Pomodoring you personal time after work.
> What if you want to do things like spend an hour working out at the gym / looking after physical health?
Make a priority and make it happen.
If you spend 1 hour at the gym 3 times per week, that's less than 3% of your waking hours. Surely you can find 3% slack in your schedule somewhere?
> It quickly drains away at any time you would have to spend on your own personal projects, interests, hobbies.
The idea of "side projects" has become a major problem for many new grads growing up the internet era. For some reason, many of them feel obligated to be working on side projects when they're not working. They basically end up with two jobs, a day job and tending to their side projects, and then they wonder where all of their time has gone.
The solution is simple: Don't do side projects if you would prefer to spend your time on something else.
It's all about making active choices in how you spend your time. Once you go down the spiral of assuming everything is an obligation in your life, your schedule starts to feel out of your control. Start being honest about the choices you're making and what you want to do with your time and it becomes much easier to take control again.