Top all-time · #637
Declan Fleming
Personal blog · bakadesuyo.comhealthproductivity
Declan Fleming writes Barking Up The Wrong Tree, a personal blog at bakadesuyo.com about health and productivity. Since 2009, 98 different Hacker News readers have linked it 157 times, most often “How to Change Someone’s Mind: Secrets from Research”. It is still writing: the last post was on 2026-10-26, and you can follow it by feed.
Too few sampled comments (18) to say how often HN recommends it.?
Why HN links it
HN readers link it for posts on motivation, happiness, habits, productivity and resilience, and use it to answer questions. One commenter doubted an addiction-rate post.
- Recommended for · 6 comments
- called a good blog, one of the best on its topic, a short read, worth a look, and an expert followed religiously
Summarised by Claude from a sample of 18 HN comments that link here. Each comment is marked recommending, critical or neutral (citing without judging); how this works.
Everything you need to know about Homepage
Most-linked posts?
- How to Change Someone’s Mind: Secrets from Research3 people · 3 mentions · first linked 2019-12-21
- /2015/01/how-to-be-motivated/2 people · 3 mentions · first linked 2015-01-15
- Barking Up the Wrong Tree: A Navy SEAL Explains 8 Secrets to Grit and Resilience2 people · 2 mentions · first linked 2015-02-01
- How to Stop Being Lazy and Get More Done2 people · 2 mentions · first linked 2014-08-11
- Neuroscience Reveals Rituals That Will Make You Happy2 people · 2 mentions · first linked 2015-09-23
What Hacker News says?
I seem to recall that there are studies showing that venting isn't an effective tool to make you feel better, despite the popular "catharsis" meme. I can't find them right now, but here's a quote: http://www.bakadesuyo.com/a-few-more-things-pop-psychology-h... In any case, if somebody feels the need to vent, I hope they don't do it where I end up reading them. ^^
Comment linking /a-few-more-things-pop-psychology-has-been-wro
on “My fellow geeks, we need to have a talk.”Submitted Becoming an expert through deliberate practice as a story · 170 points
HN discussionAny links to such research? It's hardly presented in a scientifically rigorous way, but take this for example: http://bakadesuyo.com/2012/08/whats-the-most-addictive-drug/ . It supports the notion the delivery significantly impacts behaviour, but it also cites highly variable addiction rates - not a consistent 90%. Still Googling for better research, but suffice it to say I'm a bit skeptical of the claims...
Comment linking /2012/08/whats-the-most-addictive-drug/
on “Why animals eat psychoactive plants”Submitted How to Be Someone People Love to Talk To (2015) as a story · 69 points
HN discussionNegotiation skills. https://abe-winter.github.io/2018/12/20/stalin.html http://www.jamesaltucher.com/2014/05/the-ultimate-cheat-shee... http://time.com/38796/6-hostage-negotiation-techniques-that-... https://hbr.org/2016/07/how-to-negotiate-with-a-liar https://hbr.org/2014/06/how-to-negotiate-with-someone-more-p... https://www.fastcompany.com/3001209/negotiate-car-salesman-5... https://www.theatlantic.com/business/a…
Comment linking /2014/11/how-to-deal-with-difficult-people/
on “Ask HN: What skills to acquire in 2019?”Submitted How to Be Someone People Love to Talk to (2015) as a story · 50 points
HN discussionI've tried a zillion to do apps, most of them are just not very good and add a lot of annoying overhead or have super specialized workflows that have tons of shortcomings. I started using a bullet journal in June and it's been a fantastic experience. This is what sold me on the idea: https://www.buzzfeed.com/rachelwmiller/how-to-start-a-bullet... It's amazing how well organized you can be when you keep track of stuf…
Comment linking /2016/02/evening-ritual
on “How Writing To-Do Lists Helps Your Brain”Submitted What should you do every day to improve your life? as a story · 47 points
HN discussionIf you want to hear what English sounds like to foreigners, take a look at http://www.bakadesuyo.com/what-english-sounds-like-to-foreig...
Comment linking /what-english-sounds-like-to-foreigners
on “Here's how you really use your iPhone”Submitted How Many People Have Ever Lived on Earth? as a story · 19 points
HN discussionThere are a lot of blog posts out there, many of which refer to peer-reviewed literature (or at least to news articles about peer reviewed literature). This is one of the best IMO: http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2011/09/10-things-you-need-to-know... A lot of it aligns with what you might consider "common sense": exercise a sense of purpose and meaning (can be religion-based, but doesn't have to be) meaningful work gratit…
Comment linking /2011/09/10-things-you-need-to-know-to-be-happier/
on “The 10 commandments for happiness and success”Submitted Does power influence moral thinking? as a story · 17 points
HN discussionAs I said earlier I don't think you can learn it in a book. A short read : http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2015/01/grit/ ( A Navy SEAL Explains 8 Secrets To Grit And Resilience) A previous ask HN on this topic but it didn't get many comments : https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=10048402
Comment linking /2015/01/grit/
on “How People Learn to Become Resilient”Submitted India now has social networks related to caste as a story · 17 points
HN discussionReminds be of the study showing doodling also benefits cognitive function ( http://www.bakadesuyo.com/does-doodling-make-you-smarter ). It's not hard to imagine how physically occupying yourself in some way, whether it's doodling or chewing gum or diddling your thumbs or playing with a pen, frees up your mind to concentrate on a mental task.
Comment linking /does-doodling-make-you-smarter
on “The Cognitive Benefits Of Chewing Gum”Submitted Is the decline in rape due to the accessibility of porn on the internet? as a story · 13 points
HN discussion> Are the rich and famous happier than the rest? Generally, yes, though not as much as expected. See http://www.bakadesuyo.com/who-is-happier-billionaires-amish-... or https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:www.ba... for example.
Comment linking /who-is-happier-billionaires-amish-the-homeles
on “What Is Seen and What Is Unseen: The Hidden Price of Immoral Acts”Submitted 4 Lifehacks From Ancient Philosophers That Will Make You Happier as a story · 11 points
HN discussionNo...it was bakadesuyo http://www.bakadesuyo.com/what-english-sounds-like-to-foreig... I knew what site, just not how to spell it
Comment linking /what-english-sounds-like-to-foreigners/
on “It's Gibberish, But Italian Pop Song Still Means Something ”Submitted Is it better to start off with ambitious goals or conservative goals? as a story · 8 points
HN discussion> this is more likely related to the current social norms rather than an anything else. Again, no >> Studies have shown that there is surprising agreement about what makes a face attractive. Symmetry is at the core, along with youthfulness; clarity or smoothness of skin; and vivid color, say, in the eyes and hair. There is little dissent among people of different cultures, ethnicities, races, ages and gender. Symmet…
Comment linking /2012/04/how-long-does-it-take-to-decide-if-a-person-i/
on “Lessons from the 'World's Ugliest Woman': 'Stop Staring and Start Learning'”Submitted Which Job Skills Will Be Most Important In The Coming Years? as a story · 7 points
HN discussionEric Baker has some good insights http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2015/01/how-to-be-motivated/ I struggle to get motivated as well.
Comment linking /2015/01/how-to-be-motivated/
on “Ask HN: How do you motivate yourself?”Submitted This Is How to Be Productive: 4 Secrets from the Stoics as a story · 6 points
HN discussionI don't have much of a view on what other people should do with themselves or how drugs ought to be controlled, I just wanted to throw out this fact I had seen before. An estimated 65% of people who inject heroin don't develop an addiction compared to only 20% of cigarette smokers [1]. I wouldn't bet my life on these exact numbers but everything I've read suggests that occasional heroin users exist [2] and may exist…
Comment linking /2012/08/whats-the-most-addictive-drug/
on “New Zealand to ban smoking completely under radical plan”Submitted How to Make Your Kids Successful: 4 Secrets from Research as a story · 5 points
HN discussionI find drinking a lot of water keeps me alert. I read that the brain uses a lot of water so I started drinking water and trying to stay hydrated at all times. Not sure if its placebo or it actually works. I have also started meditating recently and I find it very good to relax before I go to sleep. It also keeps me happy and sane.I use this site, I haven't upgraded to the paid version. http://www.getsomeheadspace.co…
Comment linking /
on “Ask HN: tips for fueling your brain each day?”Submitted How much is your success dependent on those around you? as a story · 5 points
HN discussionmight not answer your question but talking about motivation, this is pretty relevant to how I keep myself motivated. http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2015/01/how-to-be-motivated/
Comment linking /2015/01/how-to-be-motivated/
on “Ask HN: How do you stay motivated to complete your side projects?”Submitted How to Get People to Like You: 7 Ways from an FBI Behavior Expert as a story · 4 points
HN discussion
