I also recommend installing f.lux (http://stereopsis.com/flux/) or redshift (http://jonls.dk/redshift/). These applications gradually shift the color temperature of your monitor to match the time of the day - the default bluish glow of a computer monitor can really mess up the melatonin production in the evenings.
For this winter, I've made 99400 lumen lighting powered by 1kW of metal halide lamps with full, close-to-sun spectrum. This is about 50-100 times brighter than usual room lighting (100-200W of incandescent lamps or 15-35W of luminescent lamps).
It feels great! It's even lighter than in the daytime on the street (at winter of course). I tried really hard to sleep with light on, and it's just impossible :-D I might write an article, if there are guys interested.
Great stuff. For me, I always feel much cheerier after getting some exercise and it doesn't even need to be long or high intensity. Just 15 mins of walking, or a few sets of 30 pushups does the trick.
I also think people naturally feel sad after the holidays because there's nothing to look forward to. So maybe it's best to start a startup during the winter months.
What a bunch of hooey. I love winter, the more snow the better. Get out, and blow the stink off. Go sledding with the kids, snow shoeing with your friends, downhill skiing for yourself (downhill skiing is just like golf - you only have to make yourself better). Too many people stay inside and talk themselves into being sad. You are what you do - so get out and do something fun.
Oh yeah, don't forget the snow camping - nothing beats sitting around a hissing campfire watching the snowflakes fall, drinking something hot, eating something warm, and snuggling up in a nice down sleeping bag. Winter ROCKS!!!!
I went to Lowes and bought a single bulb fluorescent fixture like what you might see in a garage or workbench, along with a 'daylight' bulb. I put it above the window nearest my desk, and it seems to really help with the murky Pacific Northwest winter. I'd guess I paid less than $30, though I did have to wire up a plug myself (should be no hard task for an HNer).
As long as I remember to turn it off by about 9pm, I have no problem getting sleepy by about 11 or midnight.
[+] [-] Sharlin|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] BarsMonster|14 years ago|reply
It feels great! It's even lighter than in the daytime on the street (at winter of course). I tried really hard to sleep with light on, and it's just impossible :-D I might write an article, if there are guys interested.
[+] [-] rawland|14 years ago|reply
I would like to see a picture if your CCD survives that ;-)
[+] [-] chett|14 years ago|reply
Anecdotally, running a few miles a couple times a week improves my mood as well.
[+] [-] unknown|14 years ago|reply
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[+] [-] AznHisoka|14 years ago|reply
I also think people naturally feel sad after the holidays because there's nothing to look forward to. So maybe it's best to start a startup during the winter months.
[+] [-] im3w1l|14 years ago|reply
What?!
[+] [-] vonskippy|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] philwelch|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] vonskippy|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] stbtrax|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] georgieporgie|14 years ago|reply
As long as I remember to turn it off by about 9pm, I have no problem getting sleepy by about 11 or midnight.
[+] [-] BarsMonster|14 years ago|reply