We devs spend most of the day sitting, thinking, debugging, building, shipping, and then somehow “relaxing” by sitting again in front of Netflix (ew).
After so many hours of work, the easiest thing is to crash on the couch, order something greasy, and tell yourself you’ll fix your life on Monday.
But health doesn’t really collapse in one dramatic instance. It slowly gets eaten away.
One skipped workout.
One evening where you don’t move.
One “I deserve this” meal every night.
One weekend spent indoors.
And then years pass and we end up with regrets.
For me, the goal is not to become a fitness influencer. The goal is to still feel like a functional human being after years of building software.
My basic routine:
I try to go to the gym 3 times per week. Nothing crazy. Just enough strength training to remind myself that I’m not just a brain attached to a keyboard.
We have replaced Netflix evenings with long walks. Walking is underrated. It clears your head, gives your eyes a break, and helps you process problems without staring at another screen.
On weekends, I like running in the park. Again, not because I’m training for some marathon. It just feels good to move outside, breathe fresh air, and remember that the world is bigger than tickets, commits and emails.
Food is another part of it. I don’t eat everything I crave. That doesn’t mean living like a monk.
It just means not treating every stressful day as a valid reason to eat whatever I want.
The older I get, the more I think about the 80-year-old version of myself.
I don’t want to be retired and broken.
I want to be the kind of 80-year-old who learns guitar, goes for walks, does volunteer work, reads books, tells stories, and still has enough energy to be curious about life.
That version of me is not built at 80.
He is built now.
During the busy years.
During the 10-hour workdays.
During the evenings when Netflix is easier than walking.
During the moments when I either go to the gym or invent a very convincing excuse.
Being a dev can be mentally intense, but it should not slowly destroy our bodies.
You don’t need a perfect routine.
You just need one that keeps future you alive, mobile, and still interested in the world.
What's your routine for staying healthy?
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