I have experienced that if skip even one day after 8 hour of physical labor streak my energy levels suddenly go to the bottom and I start to feel super bad. It’s quite strange because I do not think I could not be depressed if I had a sedentary job. Sedentary things just destroy me. Also I like and wanted job in programming/cs so yeah. Gotta career switch or something apparently because cardio in the evening isn’t enough, I am like golden retriever. Only truly satisfied when all my muscles ache at the end of the day. And also I need immediate results out of my work
I’ve got a desk job. I need to stand up a lot. More than other people. I also lift, do martial arts, and some other physical activity. There was a point in my life where I would exercise for every hour I spent working. A couple months ago, I went 5 days without exercise because of a surgery and I was losing it. So yah, I know where you’re coming from.
The body rewards physical excercise with dopamine and endorphins. ADHD people are especially sensitive to rewards. You are accustomed to that now and it’s your new normal. I think that you could readjust after a while if you stopped the physical activity but that’s your choice.
I wish I worked like this. I get no such dopamine rush from exercise, even after integrating it into my routine. Skipping a day doesn’t significantly alter my mood.
However, I do have a lot of passive movements. Pacing, fidgiting, leg bouncing, etc. I’m usually constantly moving in some small way.
When you say “exercise,” what do you mean? I only ask because I HATE running. I can’t get into it, it just sucks. But I love basketball. Because it’s running for a purpose.
I never thought I could get into weightlifting, and it’s still a struggle to keep at it. I never got a “runner’s high,” but a basic weightlifting regimen DID do something like that. I realized if I were doing, say, a chest press type exercise, once I started to struggle to lift it, if I forced myself through and finished the lift, THAT was usually the moment I’d get the big hnnnngh chemical release. Almost orgasmic. I can stretch and crack everything (neck, arms, etc…) after that happens. It’s nice. But even with that, it’s still a struggle when I fall off the wagon.
In this scenario I mean running or resistance training. I also enjoy hiking and tennis, which I find more enjoyable, but nothing that gives me the chemical release others describe. And not doing them does not significantly affect my mood.
I found an office job was too physically limiting so I have a treadmill desk, became a volunteer firefighter, and do powerlifting. It’s the only way I keep stable
That’s very noble, I am way too big of a snowflake to see stuff that firefighters must see. I think it would mess with my head
Yeah it can be pretty disturbing. Being a volunteer helps, you can take a break to process trauma if you see something upsetting. I don’t think I would want to do this for a career, it’s too hard to have to just keep grinding after a terrible call.
There’s a ton of evidence that regular exercise is super good for mental health, so it tracks. I notice my depression is worse if I pull something and have to skip my workouts for a week or so
That I knew but I didn’t know that whole day of physical work feels so good for me. Then I thought of the primal people adhd theories and maybe I need more physical style of life. I like to think that answers to present are in the past
Being sporty is not a pathology lol
That’s good but I can’t really be sporty that’s the problem. Like should I really plan my whole life around this instead of programming that will truly kick my ass mentally tbh if I have to sit for so long
Like cutting trees is fun as heck but I can’t really seriously do this every day
I really need to figure out how to wrap my life around these needs while still pursuing intellectual highest paying stuff. I don’t know, bit late for such mind changing now
I might be stating the obvious, but it sounds like you are a prime candidate for standing desks and treadmills.
Naw I just decided programming is boring as shit and depressing after a decade of time investment, standing desk or not. I know that there are some ex programmers who run farms and such. I just can’t look at screen for 8 hours locked up indoors no more. 12 hours of vigorous physical labour for 3 days that’s something I never thought feels that good. I guess if it wasn’t my own stuff it would feel worse but with working for your own credit with no boss, stranger things were pleasurable
I don’t think I was ever happy programming. It is satisfying to solve programming problems yes but fulfilling? Not at all
When you are renovating for example you also solve many problems and design the space but then also you move around a lot and there are quick physical results and satisfaction from neatly laid floor for example
The thing with programming is it isn’t really 8h of looking at the screen unless you make it that, and your boss is an asshole. We had plenty of excercise during the day - we were sparring with swords, going for walks, had an accessible gym, etc. A good company understands a problem isn’t getting solved quicker by chaining someone to the PC. Though I get you - I gave it up too. Now running my own medical device company - pays like shit but is infinitely more satisfying / fulfilling. At least the interesting R&D part is lol.
I’m one of those people who went home at 40. It’s been a few years and I still don’t know if it was a good idea.
The stress went away, that’s good. But motivation is harder if you only work for yourself. Raising animals takes too long to feel satisfied with it.
Absolutely have to get a run in before EOD.
