Networking-Forums.com

How do you guys clear your mind or stop thinking about work?

It takes me one to two hours to unwind, but from time to time work thoughts creep back up.  Sometimes it's about that cool technology that I can't wait to get back to, but other times it's that persistent issue that I haven't been able to solve. 

Lately I've been practicing "mindful medication," a technique intended to help you strengthen your ability to control what you think about.  So far I'm happy with the progress.

I like to run or use my home gym.  When not doing those select TV shows or music seem to do it for me.

Paradox games: Europa Universalis, Victoria, and Hearts of Iron. Victoria is the one I play most.

If I need a real brain vacation, I use Monroe Institute hemi-sync recordings. Those things work very well. They make limited claims that have been substantiated. They're a sort of focused meditation with binaural sounds that can produce a very rested state. Love them.

My favorite is going to the gym. Generally if I go straight home my children are at their peak energy levels around that time and take full concentration to survive without incurring damage. Work thoughts = gone.

Quote from: Atrum on January 05, 2015, 10:27:06 AM
My favorite is going to the gym. Generally if I go straight home my children are at their peak energy levels around that time and take full concentration to survive without incurring damage. Work thoughts = gone.

Out of curiosity, since you sound like you have a similar situation to mine (I have two young kids), when do you go to the gym?  It feels like first thing in the morning would be best, but I just can't seem to get motivated to get out of bed that early (To be done and ready to work by 8AM) - especially since my wife is a night owl.

It's changed over time. I go whenever I can fit it into my schedule.

For a year or so I had an early shift and was off at 3:00PM. This was nice. I went straight to the gym after work and could pick the kids up from daycare/get home before dinner
I've done 5:00AM workouts for a few 5-6 month gaps before going back to evenings. I am not a morning person, so this only worked when I had a workout buddy meeting me there at 5AM and I didn't want to ditch him just to sleep a few minutes

These days I go right after we put the girls to sleep. Usually 7-8PM. It gives the wife a little time to do 'her thing' and watch any shows we don't both like, do some reading, etc.
Very rarely I'll have to skip a day, but then I just make the day up on Saturday or Sunday during my kids nap time or whenever it is convenient.

For relaxation, I just tinker... Car, motorcycle, whatever. For the big relaxation needs, I load up my adventure bike (500 lb dirt bike) and ride until the cell service drops out.. Then I set up camp. I always get weird looks when I say I'm dropping off the grid for the weekend/week...
Two years ago I rode continental divide for 3 weeks. My only reliable form of communication was a SPOT device so my friends and family would know where to find me of something happened.

Quote from: Atrum on January 05, 2015, 01:26:13 PM
It's changed over time. I go whenever I can fit it into my schedule.

For a year or so I had an early shift and was off at 3:00PM. This was nice. I went straight to the gym after work and could pick the kids up from daycare/get home before dinner
I've done 5:00AM workouts for a few 5-6 month gaps before going back to evenings. I am not a morning person, so this only worked when I had a workout buddy meeting me there at 5AM and I didn't want to ditch him just to sleep a few minutes

These days I go right after we put the girls to sleep. Usually 7-8PM. It gives the wife a little time to do 'her thing' and watch any shows we don't both like, do some reading, etc.
Very rarely I'll have to skip a day, but then I just make the day up on Saturday or Sunday during my kids nap time or whenever it is convenient.

That gives me some good ideas - thanks.

Quote from: killabee on January 05, 2015, 01:58:01 AM
How do you guys clear your mind or stop thinking about work?

I don't really. :\

Basketball takes me away pretty quickly.

Quote from: vito_corleone on January 05, 2015, 03:32:40 PM

Quote from: killabee on January 05, 2015, 01:58:01 AM
How do you guys clear your mind or stop thinking about work?

I don't really. :\

same ...

Quote from: mynd on January 05, 2015, 11:03:03 PM

Quote from: vito_corleone on January 05, 2015, 03:32:40 PM

Quote from: killabee on January 05, 2015, 01:58:01 AM
How do you guys clear your mind or stop thinking about work?

I don't really. :\

same ...

Yea, same here.. Dont really nowdays


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Last night, working on this forum took my mind off work.

honestly. gaming takes stress off my shoulders. Most recently; World of Tanks, or anything that involves shooting works great. Movies are also fantastic alternatives.

Good, loud,  rock and roll helps me.  It probably keeps me out jail too... ;D

Hey, Rick! Good to see you here!

Quote from: deanwebb on January 05, 2015, 09:28:23 AM
If I need a real brain vacation, I use Monroe Institute hemi-sync recordings. Those things work very well. They make limited claims that have been substantiated. They're a sort of focused meditation with
binaural sounds that can produce a very rested state. Love them.

Been listening to those ones too (gateway experience) in the past. Found it very interesting in the beginning, but kind of lost interest somewhere at the second wave.
Plus, I'm practically deaf on one side so it's probably not as effective.

Mainly watching TV shows and having a good drink to clear my mind  :cheers:

Movies and TV help a lot; reading for fun also helps.

Doing work with my volunteer organizations (primarily Alpha Phi Omega)

Blowing up lots of stuff in DC Universe Online....

Quote from: killabee on January 05, 2015, 01:58:01 AM
It takes me one to two hours to unwind, but from time to time work thoughts creep back up.

I've lost count of the number of significant breakthroughs I've had while driving home from work. 

Quote from: javentre on January 07, 2015, 05:34:17 AM

Quote from: killabee on January 05, 2015, 01:58:01 AM
It takes me one to two hours to unwind, but from time to time work thoughts creep back up.

I've lost count of the number of significant breakthroughs I've had while driving home from work.

boss recently asked me to go drive around for a while until I figure out the answer to an issue that was stumping us :)

I don't think about work when I leave...at all. I might check email every now and then but I don't constantly think about any problems I have to solve or any work which I haven't yet finished. In my previous life I was a manager at a large retail chain here in Australia. Not only did that take up more of my day than it should of (think 10-12hr days) but also I was thinking about the days ahead and how to manage the workload once home.

Now when I get home I watch TV, play PC games, drink (that's a popular one), and once or twice a week I do tenpin bowling too.

Quote from: RickG on January 06, 2015, 12:45:34 PM
Good, loud,  rock and roll helps me.  It probably keeps me out jail too... ;D

Lol.... nice

Quote from: deanwebb on January 06, 2015, 03:24:24 PM
Hey, Rick! Good to see you here!

I figured you need some comedy relief. :) ;D :)

Seriously, I was looking for someplace to enhance my skilz. That is the only thing I need enhancement on. and probably spealinc.

Quote from: RickG on January 08, 2015, 09:02:34 AM

Quote from: deanwebb on January 06, 2015, 03:24:24 PM
Hey, Rick! Good to see you here!

I figured you need some comedy relief. :) ;D :)

Seriously, I was looking for someplace to enhance my skilz. That is the only thing I need enhancement on. and probably spealinc.

I lulz at ur lak of speeling capeability.

A bit feminine, but throwing a nice hot Epsom salt bath before bed seems to work wonders most times. Especially the salts with relaxing properties. Throw on some tunes, disappear in my thoughts, perform a soft reboot.

Going to a Monty Python and the Holy Grail quote-a-long at Alamo Drafthouse with my family. (Thursday, in fact...)

Quote from: LynK on January 06, 2015, 12:27:50 PM
honestly. gaming takes stress off my shoulders. Most recently; World of Tanks, or anything that involves shooting works great. Movies are also fantastic alternatives.

WoT is a lot of fun. I'm looking forward to World of Ships.. or whatever the devil it's called. I enjoy strategy games as well. Crusader Kings, Total War series, Civ, and anything indie I can find that's good.

Quote from: deanwebb on January 21, 2015, 10:15:21 AM
Going to a Monty Python and the Holy Grail quote-a-long at Alamo Drafthouse with my family. (Thursday, in fact...)

That sounds like a good time.

Another WoT player here. I seem to hop onto that for a few rounds after getting home from work more often lately.

I've also been messing around in Skyrim.

World of Warcraft provides a great escape.

Since 2015 will be the year of CCIE for me, however, I've sworn off all video games, books, and movies. So I'm left with weightlifting, running, and cooking for relief; never all three at the same time.

Yep, I've also got my 10-year old WoW account with a few 100's on it now.  Since the latest expansion I've gotten bored with it a lot faster than previous expansions.  I don't think I've logged into my account for a couple weeks now.

Quote from: sgtcasey on January 22, 2015, 10:39:47 AM
Since the latest expansion I've gotten bored with it a lot faster than previous expansions.  I don't think I've logged into my account for a couple weeks now.

WoW, (pun intended) I felt that Draenor was one of their best expansions. Much better than Pandaria and Cata; the time I wasted in my Garrison...

Quote from: Seittit on January 22, 2015, 07:53:26 AM
World of Warcraft provides a great escape.

Since 2015 will be the year of CCIE for me, however, I've sworn off all video games, books, and movies. So I'm left with weightlifting, running, and cooking for relief; never all three at the same time.

I find myself taking that same route. I am in the process of selling my complete rig.

You'll regret losing the compute power. Just flog the video card. Viola, no (decent graphics) games.


Or max out the RAM to 32Gb and turn it into an ESXi, work off your work laptop.

As I get older I still 'think' I'm excited about games, then I play them and 30 minutes later, its usually just 'meh'.... even if some part of my brain 'knows' that 'objectively' its a great game, still CBF. I mean there is no way 21 year old me would have been able to just play the first part of Far Cry 4 and walk away LOL. Still, do not regret having a Haswell Refresh i7 and 16Gb of compute. Can run tons of labs (GNS3, VIRL, python, etc.) just in vmware workstation without having to bother powering on my 'real' ESXis.

Hard very hard...
I run a lot. 3 times a week I go running by the beach with a good playlist.

Getting into something new related to arts may also help. As a kid I used to play the piano so Im now getting back to it and guitar.

For "meditation" (thinking about nothing) I heard of painting "mandalas". I bought a book from amazon and fine tip pens. I can do that for hours.

Quote from: wintermute000 on February 15, 2015, 11:57:52 PMAs I get older I still 'think' I'm excited about games, then I play them and 30 minutes later, its usually just 'meh'.... even if some part of my brain 'knows' that 'objectively' its a great game, still CBF. I mean there is no way 21 year old me would have been able to just play the first part of Far Cry 4 and walk away LOL. Still, do not regret having a Haswell Refresh i7 and 16Gb of compute. Can run tons of labs (GNS3, VIRL, python, etc.) just in vmware workstation without having to bother powering on my 'real' ESXis.

Exactly that... When I'm retired I'm gonna game like there's no tomorrow.

Going to get a massage tomorrow... with hot stones and a heated table... ahhhhhh!

My favorite mind clearing technique is to leave all electronic devices in the house and head off to the woods. In fact if you have never tried it, sitting in a tree stand before sunrise on a cool November morning is by far one of the most relaxing things I have ever done in my life.

Quote from: Nerm on March 06, 2015, 01:22:26 PM
My favorite mind clearing technique is to leave all electronic devices in the house and head off to the woods. In fact if you have never tried it, sitting in a tree stand before sunrise on a cool November morning is by far one of the most relaxing things I have ever done in my life.

Yes. Heading out to the wilderness is the best.

I'm in a bit of a shift right now while I prepare for getting serious about the CCIE, so I see gaming going further and further to the wayside.  My breaks from work/study will mostly include working out, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and league nights at Billiards.  We'll see if I actually have time for even that.  :XD:

Working on my novel in the evening hours... great relaxation...

Right now with my studies being so deep I have removed everything but work, studies, crying and alcohol.

One thing I have learned it to just set shit aside and stop doing it. There are so many things (technology and not) that consume our time that we are not even aware of. Drop it! Like mentioned above, go sit in a fucking tree for 5 hours and watch nothing. Once you start doing this it will blow your mind of how much time you gain in a day/week. You will also notice yourself slowing down and not being as ADHD as most of us are.

Quote from: that1guy15 on March 11, 2015, 09:22:23 PM
One thing I have learned it to just set shit aside and stop doing it. There are so many things (technology and not) that consume our time that we are not even aware of. Drop it!

I deleted my facebook account because of this, too much time and thought wasted on pointless shit :)

Quote from: that1guy15 on March 11, 2015, 09:22:23 PM
One thing I have learned it to just set shit aside and stop doing it. There are so many things (technology and not) that consume our time that we are not even aware of. Drop it! Like mentioned above, go sit in a fucking tree for 5 hours and watch nothing. Once you start doing this it will blow your mind of how much time you gain in a day/week. You will also notice yourself slowing down and not being as ADHD as most of us are.

If I could only get my SO to understand this concept.

Quote from: hizzo3 on March 12, 2015, 02:20:59 PM

Quote from: that1guy15 on March 11, 2015, 09:22:23 PM
One thing I have learned it to just set shit aside and stop doing it. There are so many things (technology and not) that consume our time that we are not even aware of. Drop it! Like mentioned above, go sit in a fucking tree for 5 hours and watch nothing. Once you start doing this it will blow your mind of how much time you gain in a day/week. You will also notice yourself slowing down and not being as ADHD as most of us are.

If I could only get my SO to understand this concept.

No kidding, and that's a brave move SimonV.  The thought is tempting....

Quote from: AspiringNetworker on March 12, 2015, 02:45:26 PMNo kidding, and that's a brave move SimonV.  The thought is tempting....

Deleted Facebook as well, over a year ago. If you do it, check with your friends beforehand for other means of contact. Otherwise it's just social suicide.

I just posted stuff I was studying to FB. That kept the comments on-topic. :)

Beer

Very loud, very distorted rock and roll... and macaroni and cheese...

Way too many turns in marathon mode on Civ Beyond Earth

Need some clearing after today...

Project Status Meeting set for 3PM-4PM...

At 4:12, I said as the discussion went down a technical rabbit hole, "Can we set some time to talk about this tomorrow? We're already 12 minutes over our meeting time."

PM said, "And I've got 28 items to cover and we're only on number 7!"

Now, I know the PM said that to underline the need to take the tech discussion offline, but, seriously? Only 7 of 28 and we're already 12 minutes over?

So the PM proceeds to cover all kinds of status updates on things that I gave status updates on the day before and even earlier in the day. We hit 5PM and even though the meeting was still going on, I said that I had to drop off the call.

:frustration: :printer:

I really like a lot of the people that I work with and I really like the tech I get to work with, but this kind of project management has me updating my resume and installing the LinkedIn job search app... which I did in order to unwind.

I love our internal project manager. That would have never happened. Project status meetings are 15 minutes, and she has no problems shutting down people who like to hear themselves talk. What project tasks did you finish, which are you currently working on, and are you waiting on anything from anyone? Then off to the next person. Our smaller projects with just two or three engineers the meetings can be under five minutes. I blindly accept any of her meeting invites because I know they will not be a waste of time.

Now saying that I feel your pain. Some of our customers project management skills are slightly lacking. One customer had a weekly hour meeting that moved to 90 minutes because they kept going over. Just last week someone suggested they move it to a two hour meeting because they keep going over the 90 minute mark. The project hasn't gotten any larger, but they will talk to fill the time. I have not been to one of those meetings in three or four months. I just read the minutes when they get emailed out. Nobody has said anything yet.

-Otanx

I'm the main engineer on this project. Be kinda insane for me to start skipping meetings.

Once I'm getting interviews at other companies, I can start the meeting-skipping process.  :whistle:

:facepalm3:

Quote from: Otanx on September 30, 2015, 09:39:33 PM
I love our internal project manager. That would have never happened. Project status meetings are 15 minutes, and she has no problems shutting down people who like to hear themselves talk. What project tasks did you finish, which are you currently working on, and are you waiting on anything from anyone? Then off to the next person. Our smaller projects with just two or three engineers the meetings can be under five minutes. I blindly accept any of her meeting invites because I know they will not be a waste of time.

Now saying that I feel your pain. Some of our customers project management skills are slightly lacking. One customer had a weekly hour meeting that moved to 90 minutes because they kept going over. Just last week someone suggested they move it to a two hour meeting because they keep going over the 90 minute mark. The project hasn't gotten any larger, but they will talk to fill the time. I have not been to one of those meetings in three or four months. I just read the minutes when they get emailed out. Nobody has said anything yet.

-Otanx

Haha - sounds like your PM is my kind of person.  Get what you need to get done, done, and move on with your life.  "Hey Bob - how's your dog doin?  Hey Sally, how are the kiddos - I bet you wish you had bought Timmy that bike har har - snarf snarf" - No.  Just no.  Lord knows the guy that's taking up all my time with the unnecessary chat isn't going to be held responsible for getting my work in on time.  We can chat at lunch, over IM, whatever, just don't do it on a conf call.

Chris Joss - "Music From The Man with a Suitcase"

It's got a great late 60s-early 70s-Ocean's Eleven kind of cool about it. I may still be working, but playing this music makes me feel like I'm about to get $6.4 million as my share for robbing the Bellagio. Chris Joss has some great stuff in general, but these 8 tracks are really doin' it rite for me today.

Making a playlist of my favorite obscure rock songs is always a nice way to unwind: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJupeNTfg7NjMy_MiU-SpVOiJJXJvAatZ

One of my worst attributes is that I love to procrastinate unless it comes to my morning workout - I'll be late for work before I miss out on throwing some peanuts around.  When reading one of my favorite sites for getting my learn on for new workouts I found this article and found it helpful with giving me some extra motivation to get shi*t done.  Hopefully it will do the same for others.

http://www.simplyshredded.com/the-currency-of-time-lifes-most-precious-commodity.html

Quote from: SofaKing on January 05, 2016, 08:43:42 AM
When of my worst attributes is that I love to procrastinate unless it comes to my morning workout - I'll be late for work before I miss out on throwing some peanuts around.  When reading one of my favorite sites for getting my learn on for new workouts I found this article and found it helpful with giving me some extra motivation to get shi*t done.  Hopefully it will do the same for others.

http://www.simplyshredded.com/the-currency-of-time-lifes-most-precious-commodity.html

Interesting article. I'm actually decreasing my emphasis on time and increasing my attention on what choices I make. If there is something that I want to do, then the choice is made ahead of time. There is no decision to make on whether or not I'll do this or that today: the choice is made, I do that thing, and then the rest of the day falls into place around those decisions.

Quote from: deanwebb on January 05, 2016, 08:54:21 AM
the choice is made, I do that thing, and then the rest of the day falls into place around those decisions.

Love this!

Quote from: SofaKing on January 05, 2016, 10:10:28 AM

Quote from: deanwebb on January 05, 2016, 08:54:21 AM
the choice is made, I do that thing, and then the rest of the day falls into place around those decisions.

Love this!

Yes, such a simple concept but one that's kind of enlightening to me.  I have so much crap I could do that my ADD just goes nuts and I don't get much done... I need to grasp that idea and focus on something to get it done, and let the other stuff just flow around it... nice.

Outside, on the patio, I didn't even think of work until I thought about how I wasn't thinking of work. :awesome:

I've started meditating. Not often, about an hour every two weeks, but it helps. I'm going to try and do it more often. It's both to clear my mind from work and all other kinds of stuff going on in my life.

Meditation and breathing exercises are great, yes!

I just do long, controlled nasal inhales and mouth exhales. I try to make each breath cycle last as long as possible. Breathing fewer times per minute for even a few minutes has incredibly calming and healing effects, particularly with pain and anxiety management.

ADVANCED breathing exercises involve using single nostrils and or single lungs. I'm not even on the path to get into that stuff, but I suppose if I changed careers to "Hindu Holy Man", I'd get started on such a program. Breathing from just the right nostril to fill the left lung only was definitely NOT in the CCNA study guide.

I've also found some great success with Hemi-Sync recordings from the Monroe Institute. They're kind of like self-hypnosis, but they use a different vector for relaxing and focusing. If I want to take a nap of exact length, I'll get one of those lined up, put on the headphones, and ride with it.

I enjoy playing and watching basketball, so recently i started my own blog where i am writing few things. I really enjoy it and helps me forget the work and everything, sometimes my gf is forgotten also which leads to a problem :D . So i totally recommend it to everyone, just write about something, does not have to be online.

I have an hour commute to work in the morning.

• smoke a swisher
• listen to fiction audio books
• Daydream about cool shit

My hour drive is me with my tunes and, lately, with the roof open if it's a nice cool day. Got a used car with a sunroof just a few weeks ago, and it's wonderful to drive. Aaaaaaaahhhh.

L4D2 + BEER or WINE. Sometimes gym. Works out pretty good.

I've never been good at it.  That said, I have the hour long commute with a stop in the middle to pick up the two older kids.  Talking about their day at school or homework does it for me. 

My problem is when I start studying after the kids go to bed, everything comes flooding back sometimes.  I've taken to drinking a glencairn of whiskey when that happens.  Otherwise I ended up labbing out work problems until way to late.  30 minutes or an hour of trying to pull flavors out of good whiskey works wonders for me.

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

Speaking of hour long commutes. I have found that my long commute (~45-50 minutes) allows me to unwind on the way home so that when I get home I can just enjoy time with my family.

Speaking of speaking of commuting... my latest playlists for Interstate 30 are dominated by stoner rock bands. Wo Fat, Astroqueen, Deaf Radio, 1000mods, Orange Goblin, Fu Manchu, MOS Generator, Spacegoat, Mambonegro, Mammoth Mammoth, Deep Space Destructor, and Blind Dog.

While I do love that Wo Fat, best of the new stuff is Spacegoat. If you like hard rock, hit up their bandcamp page and give them a try. I almost guarantee you'll want their album. Fantastic stuff.

I done most of my CCNA/CCNP reading studies on the two to three hour daily commute to and from work. Occasionally I'd read one paragraph and collapse into a coma, though. 7am train journeys followed by commutes until gone 7pm. Every. Day.

4-6 hours each day spent going back and forth are not good, at all. That's some seriously impact on your quality of life. What are you doing about that?

Quote from: deanwebb on May 16, 2017, 01:54:42 PM
4-6 hours each day spent going back and forth are not good, at all. That's some seriously impact on your quality of life. What are you doing about that?

My first IT job also had 4 hours of train commute. It was good actually, lots of time to study or read. If you like studying and reading of course.  Just don't expect much of a social life on weekdays... :)

I suppose if you did a 4x10, getting another day for rest and relaxation would be good... but those other 4, you'd be either asleep, traveling, or at the work site. Make more sense to take a job with 100% travel and get paid tons more for it.

This is doing a pretty good job of clearing my mind, even though I'm still at work:

Quote from: deanwebb on May 22, 2017, 03:29:06 PM
This is doing a pretty good job of clearing my mind, even though I'm still at work:

some nice guitar in there, a tad heavy for my taste, but I like it.   

thanks

Reminds me of KYUSS.  This is some good driving music.  Thanks for sharing!

Quote from: SofaKing on May 23, 2017, 07:47:16 AM
Reminds me of KYUSS.  This is some good driving music.  Thanks for sharing!

Ironically, I love everything about Kyuss except the singer. That's one of those bands that I want to enjoy, but that one thing just keeps me from totally getting into.

So I listen to a lot of Fu Manchu instead. :smug: