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Comment by high_byte | Hacker News Reader

yes. people don't realize this, but IT'S OKAY to take a break... in my last office, besides dragging feet to get coffee it seemed people wouldn't even go stretch for 10 seconds. they even bought a brand new PS5 and NEVER even played for months and months (and it probably still accumulates dust over there...)

it seemed inhumane - and crazy nobody told them it wasn't okay or anything... I like getting some sun, let the blood flow, things like that. it's not only okay, it's highly recommended - even necessary.

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This is one of the reasons diversity (in this case neural diversity) is important in the office. I've worked in a number of startup where theoretically take breaks, playing video game, going for a walk, whatever was supported, but in practice nobody did it. But all it takes (when the management is supportive) is 1 or 2 outgoing people that make a point to prod their colleagues to do something. Working with a few people that say, "hey, who wants to go play drisbee in 15 minutes" or "pinball tournament after lunch" makes the work environment much more enjoyable. On the other side, the company driven "mandatory fun" is a drag. It needs to be opt-in, often spontaneous, and supported by culture.

>"hey, who wants to go play drisbee in 15 minutes" or "pinball tournament after lunch" makes the work environment much more enjoyable

Oh hell no. I need a break, but the last thing I want to do is take a break with other people. I'd rather sit at my desk pretending to work that go play games with other people. That is literally hell on earth.

But now I can't go for a walk on my own because then I'll get questions about where I am going and why didn't I go and play their stupid game with them instead of going on a walk on my own.

one size doesn’t fit all is the takeaway of almost every post here.

there's an unspoken rule to appear productive and "committed" while in the office, especially when everyone else - including your engineering manager - is doing it, you feel a pressure to do the same!

same thing for not leaving home at 5pm sharp and waiting 15-30 mins before you allow yourself to leave

it has to start from the top

If the weather is nice, you should leave at 3. To stay happy and motivated.

The weather is almost always nice in california

Then you need to create the special occasion on your own :)

And yet if you have to use or rely on code by other people, you for sure don't want the code from a grinder, work hard and get something out by hook or by crook, rather than the code from a brilliant thinker who goofs around and then does an elegant and complete solution. There's good intentioned and capable people that are a net negative to a code base. It's like yes, this solves the problem of the minute, but couldn't you have taken two hours to think a little?

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