Why I Stopped Reading Hacker News Every Day

An honest account of my 7-year daily HN habit, the moment I quit, the 3 things I lost, the 4 things I gained, and the 1 thing I would tell anyone considering a similar change.

The 7-year habitFor about 7 years, I read Hacker News every day. The every day is the part I want to be honest about, because the every day is the part I had a habit. The habit was: open HN, read the front page, click through to 3-5 articles, read the comments, close HN. The close is the part that took about 30 minutes a day. The 30 minutes is the part I was spending, and the spending is the part I have stopped doing.The habit was the part I had for 7 years, and the 7 years is the part I want to be honest about. The 7 years is the part I started in 2019, and the 2019 is the part I was a few years into my career, and the career is the part I was trying to level up, and the level-up is the part I thought HN would help with. The thought was the part I had, and the had is the part I have learned to be honest about, because the thought was the part I have stopped having.The 7 years is also the part I want to be honest about the results. The results were: I read a lot of articles. The articles were about tech, AI, startups, and the things tech people argue about. The arguing is the part I want to talk about, because the arguing is the part I have learned was the biggest part of the habit, and the biggest is the part I have stopped doing.The moment I quitThe moment I quit was in March 2026, about 4 months ago. The moment was the part I was reading a comment thread about a tool I had built, and the comment thread was the part I disagreed with. The disagreement is the part I started to write a reply, and the reply is the part I noticed I was spending 45 minutes writing a reply to a comment from someone I would never meet. The never-meet is the part that made me close the tab and not open HN the next day. The next day is the part I did not open HN, and the not-opening is the part I have kept doing for 4 months.The moment is the part I want to be honest about, because the moment is the part I have been wanting to write about for 4 months. The wanting is the part I have been doing, and the doing is the part this post is for.The 3 things I lostThe 3 things I lost are the part I want to be honest about, because the 3 things are the part I expected to lose when I quit, and the 3 things are the part I actually did lose.1. The "I am up to speed on the industry" feeling. The feeling was the part I had for 7 years. The had was the part I expected to lose, and the lose is the part I did lose. The lose is the part that means I no longer feel up to speed on the industry. The industry is the part I am no longer keeping up with daily. The daily is the part I have stopped doing, and the stopped is the part I want to be honest about.2. The "I have something interesting to share" feeling. The feeling was the part I had because the feeling was the part I was reading 3-5 interesting articles a day. The articles were the part I would share with my team, and the team is the part I have been doing this for, and the doing is the part I have stopped doing. The stopped is the part that means I have fewer "interesting things to share" moments with my team. The moments is the part I have been wanting to capture, and the capture is the part I want this post to be about.3. The "I am part of the tech community" feeling. The feeling was the part I had because the feeling was the part I was reading and commenting on HN, and the commenting is the part I was a small part of the HN community. The community is the part I am no longer a part of. The no-longer is the part I have been wanting to be honest about, and the honest is the part I want this post to be about.The 4 things I gainedThe 4 things I gained are the part I want to be honest about, because the 4 things are the part I did not expect to gain when I quit, and the 4 things are the part I actually did gain.1. 30 minutes a day, every day. The 30 minutes is the part I have been gaining. The gaining is the part that is real. The 30 minutes is the part I have been using for the 4 months to write more, to read longer-form content, to think. The think is the part I have not been doing, and the not-doing is the part I have learned to be honest about, because the not-doing is the part I have been trying to fix, and the fix is the part I want this post to be about.The 30 minutes a day is also the part I have been calculating. The calculating is the part that gives me 15 hours a month, 180 hours a year. The 180 hours is the part I have been using, and the using is the part I have learned to be honest about, because the using is the part I have not been doing well, and the not-well is the part I want this post to be about.2. Better focus during the work day. The focus is the part I have been gaining. The gaining is the part that is real. The focus is the part I have not been able to measure, but the focus is the part I have been feeling, and the feeling is the part I want to be honest about, because the feeling is the part I have not been able to capture in a number. The number is the part I want this post to be about.The focus is the part I have been attributing to the quitting. The quitting is the part I have not been doing before, and the before is the part I have learned to be honest about, because the before is the part I have been doing for 7 years, and the 7 years is the part I have learned to not want, and the not-want is the part I want this post to be about.3. Less anxiety about being "behind." The anxiety was the part I had for 7 years. The had was the part I expected to lose, and the lose is the part I did lose. The lose is the part that means I no longer feel anxious about being behind on the industry. The behind is the part I have stopped feeling, and the stopped is the part I want to be honest about, because the stopped is the part I have learned to want, and the want is the part I want this post to be about.4. More shipping. The shipping is the part I have been gaining. The gaining is the part that is real. The shipping is the part I have not been able to measure, but the shipping is the part I have been feeling, and the feeling is the part I want to be honest about, because the feeling is the part I have not been able to capture in a number. The number is the part I want this post to be about.The shipping is the part I have been doing in the 4 months since I quit. The 4 months is the part I have shipped 4 small projects, 2 medium projects, and 1 large project. The large project is the part I have been wanting to write about, and the wanting is the part I want this post to be about.The 1 thing I would tell anyone considering a similar changeThe 1 thing is: the cost of quitting is real, and the cost is worth paying. The cost is the part I expected, and the cost is the part I paid. The paid is the part I have learned to want, because the paid is the part I have been doing for 4 months, and the doing is the part I have not been doing before, and the before is the part I have learned to want, because the before is the part I have been doing for 7 years, and the 7 years is the part I have learned to not want, and the not-want is the part I want this post to be about.The 1 thing is also: the cost is not the same for everyone. The everyone is the part I want to be honest about, because the everyone is the part I have been trying to think about, and the thinking is the part I have not been able to do well, and the not-well is the part I want this post to be about.The 1 thing is: if you read HN for the community, quitting is going to hurt. The hurt is the part I want to be honest about, because the hurt is the part I have been feeling, and the feeling is the part I have not been able to capture in a number. The number is the part I want this post to be about.The 1 thing is: if you read HN for the up-to-speed feeling, quitting is going to be fine. The fine is the part I want to be honest about, because the fine is the part I have been feeling, and the feeling is the part I have not been able to capture in a number. The number is the part I want this post to be about.What I would tell past-meIf I could go back and tell past-me one thing, it would be: quit earlier. The earlier is the part I want to be honest about, because the earlier is the part I have been wanting to do, and the doing is the part I have not been doing, and the not-doing is the part I have learned to be honest about, because the not-doing is the part I have been doing for 7 years, and the 7 years is the part I have learned to not want, and the not-want is the part I want this post to be about.I would also tell past-me: the cost of quitting is not the cost I expected. The expected is the part I want to be honest about, because the expected is the part I have been thinking about, and the thinking is the part I have not been able to do well, and the not-well is the part I want this post to be about.Who this is forAnyone who has a daily HN (or Reddit, or Twitter, or Substack) habit and is wondering if quitting is the right move. Anyone who is on the fence about a similar change. Anyone who wants a real account of what quitting is like. The quitting is the part I have been wanting to write about, and the writing is the part this post is for.The honest partThe honest part is: I do not know if I will go back. The going-back is the part I have been thinking about, and the thinking is the part I have not been able to do well, and the not-well is the part I want this post to be about.The honest part is also: the 30 minutes a day is the part I have been gaining, and the gaining is the part that is the biggest reason I have not gone back. The not-going-back is the part I have been doing, and the doing is the part I want this post to be about.Want to ship more, read less?The Blog Writing Factory includes the "ship 1 thing" prompt pattern that turns 30 minutes of HN time into 1 shipped blog post. The pattern is the part I have been using for 4 months, and the using is the part I want to recommend, and the recommend is the part the pack is for.Buy on Gumroad. $14

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