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Comment by clnq | Hacker News Reader

So 7-9 hours of sleep, 2.5-5 hours of moderate physical activity if you are healthy and not require more sleep or activity for chronic conditions. 8-9.4 hours that a software engineer (in games) is expected to be at a screen which bossware tracks. Plus an hour for lunch, which is kind of throwaway. All together, that makes 18.5-24.4 hours a day.

But where do you fit other adult responsibilities, chores, social life, spiritual life, self-care, entertainment, learning, hobbies, intellectual pursuits, and other things? Where do you fit your commute, shopping, and kids - the non-negotiables? So something has to give. Sleep or exercise, right? Perhaps this is why we're all so unhealthy?

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That bullet point was a little confusing because it basically connects to the next bullet, but it's 2.5-5 hours of moderate physical activity per week, not per day.

Yes, terrible communication especially since they start all of the other sections with : In a 24-hour day

This primes you to think that everything is for a 24 hour period.

I share the sentiment. Still, this is «gantt chart thinking». I bike the kids around and myself to work and the store, so I can do two things at a time. Bonus, saves $€£ and time, since there’s traffic issues when driving to work. I realize this is not possible for everyone, but there’s a lot of people who could do the same, too.

2.5-5h exercise per week not day and simple things like taking the stairs instead of an elevator, going for a walk during lunchbreak, taking the bike instead of the car, cleaning, shopping (usually involves walking) etc all count.

I "solved" this problem by incorporating movement into work. I spend almost all meetings on bike, the only exception being when they require the camera on (like once a month) or I have to present something/lead a workshop etc. I also make frequent breaks to do some exercises and frankly, nobody cares, because I work from home. It seems unthinkable to go back to the old regime when you were expected to sit on your ass either working or pretending to work "just because".

Bonus: when getting back to my laptop I feel refreshed and full of ideas, and often solve blockers fast.

You're completely right, and barking up the most vital tree.

This 8-9.4 hours "working" is what needs to be adulterated with movement, social life, and intellectual pursuits. It also needs to be shorter. As workers, we need to set stronger boundaries around our health. Our demand for better working conditions should take these scientific findings into account.

Edit: movement, I might add, should also be social and/or spiritual, and shopping should be more social.

This is why the pattern of 1 income households is a thing.

And why stay at home moms are a thing.

And why stay at home moms often complain about their husbands not being there for kids, etc.

Because good luck.

The reproductive labor force have their own tight schedules. Relegating spouses to reproductive labor imposes a sexual hierarchy that subordinates women to men and denies them opportunities for autonomy and self-valorization.

Come on, we've been over this. Mary Wollstonecraft? Betty Friedan? Silvia Federici?

And that makes my point any less valid how? I think it just reinforces it.

It’s a lot of work and specialization on both sides. Pretending everyone can do everything equally on all sides all the time, let alone would want to or have good outcomes is a fantasy.

Amusingly, in my experience the woman is actually in charge in these situations anyway because if the man doesn’t make her happy he will regret it, regardless of how reasonable it is, laws, or facts.

He who can destroy a thing controls a thing?

Any subordination is usually a facade, but I’m sure not always.

There is no perfect, and nothing that ‘works’ for everyone.

Anecdotally, most women I’ve run across would love to be a stay at home parent, but can’t find someone willing to do the ‘other side’ with them. If they say it out loud, they get jumped by most other women though. YMMV.

It’s like women going into labor, construction, combat, etc.

Go ahead, knock yourself out - it destroys one’s body quickly, even for men who are genetically more predisposed to physical toughness and strength, and in some cases one’s mind. Why do it if there is another, more comfortable option? Especially one that fits needs they might have better.

Even if one can, why does one want to? And how likely is it to produce an outcome someone will be happy with later?

Absolutely, we need fewer reproduction-units and more corporate worker-units. Women should be made to serve corporations, not their families.

Ideally we can normalize the 60-80 hour work week so no one has time to question if they do want to keep doing this or get lonely at home either. /s

Don't forget shopping for healthy meals, cooking them, calmly and without distractions eating them, and cleaning up afterwards.

I just plan to die early because I allegedly don't get enough sleep.

> I just plan to die early because I allegedly don't get enough sleep.

Arguably at least you'll have spent the same number of hours awake as, say, the person sleeping 1/4th more and dying 1/4th of his life later.

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