5 ms·

I'm curious to know how others deal with meaning in the context of their jobs. I certainly live for things outside of work, but at the same time work is a nece

by rifung 11y ago

I'm curious to know how others deal with meaning in the context of their jobs. I certainly live for things outside of work, but at the same time work is a necessity to survive. How do you balance how much time you devote to work when your source of meaning is unrelated?

vijayr 11y ago
I keep wondering about this too. If one is stuck in a 9 to 6 job, with a 2-3 hour commute added to it, it is really hard to find time for things outside of work. In this case it becomes important to find work that is meaningful and enjoyable but that is easier said than done.
- tspike 11y ago
  Programmers are in a distinctly privileged position with respect to freeing up time, if that is a priority for you. For us there are only two prerequisites: 1) Be good at what you do. 2) Keep your expenses well below your means. With these two things, there are many ways to arrange your life to have enough time to pursue your passions. You can freelance or contract 20-30 hours a week, or work for a year or two in a regular job and then quit and take months off, or you can take Mr Money Mustache's approach and bust your ass to save up enough to retire within 10 years.
zenogais 11y ago
If you're stuck in an unsatisfying situation, accept it for what it is at the moment and keep looking for ways to get out of that situation. I grew up in a really small town with little to no industry and a massive drug subculture because of it, it really felt like a trap, but it's this method that got everyone I know who got out out.
grecy 11y ago
>work is a necessity to survive While your statement might be true very broadly, you don't need to work anywhere near as much as you think you do to survive. I worked 9-5 for 18 months and saved enough money in that time to then spend 2 years driving Alaska-Argentina. [1] I've just been working 9-5 for 4 years and have now quit and have saved enough money to spend two years driving around Africa [2], then hpefully 2 years from Europe->SE Asia. If I only wanted to earn enough money to "survive" (i.e. food and shelter) I bet I only need to work 2 months a year. Less when I throw in hunting, doing my own maintenance and growing my own vegetables. [1] http://theroadchoseme.com/the-price-of-adventure http://theroadchoseme.com/the-price-of-adventure [2] http://theroadchoseme.com/new-jeep-new-adventure-africa http://theroadchoseme.com/new-jeep-new-adventure-africa
- koonsolo 11y ago
  > Less when I throw in hunting, doing my own maintenance and growing my own vegetables. Why don't you consider this as work?
  - jrk_ 11y ago
    I can't answer the question for OP, but for me it would be * Pursuing my own goals * Working directly on something which benefits me * A lot less boring than sitting in the office all day * Not sitting in an office at all * Nature * Real satisfaction from accomplishment * Don't have to when I don't want, i.e. I have to deal with the consequences (e.g. no food) but nobody can make me responsible for this and fire me * No commute through crowded cities * No recycled, AC'd air * Did I mention not sitting in an office? I think I have to stop now or I get even more depressed than I already am.
    - adrusi 11y ago
      I think what the parent meant to say was "why don't you consider doing that as your main source of income?"
      - jrk_ 11y ago
        I think because this would be only about being self-sustained, without generating additional income. And there lie the downsides: No early retirement, no health care, no social insurance..
  - grecy 11y ago
    As jrk_ said, when I'm pursuing something for myself, I don't consider it "work". If I did, I suppose I'd have to consider putting food in my own mouth, brushing my own teeth, etc, which is absurd. I've always found it strange we all "go to work" to earn money, then trade that money for the things we actually need like food and shelter - and sometimes some wants like entertainment. The problem with using money as a middle-man is that it's very inefficent, because everyone along the line takes some. i.e. taxes, inflation, greed of your boss/company, the bank, etc. etc. I aim to simply cut out the middle man and directly get what I want, which turns out to be way more efficient, i.e. takes way less time, which means I will have way more time to do whatever I want.
epalmer 11y ago
Meaningful life or happy life is a decision that needs to be made with intent. After having 4 way bypass surgery at 48 years old I knew my life needed to change. I worked for a bank and worked 60+ hrs a week. In fact many weeks were near 80 hours. Providing credit cards to the poor was not what I considered a meaningful job. But I was unhappy as well. It still took me 4+ years to figure out what I wanted to do. It was a complex road and it took a lot of visualization of my ultimate satisfaction (note not happiness) before I was able to leave this very well paying role. I now lead a small web development team at a university. I scrum coach a broader high performing team, get to write some code (which I love even when I pound my head on the wall trying to figure out that defect) and interact with people that love what they do. Even though I had not been much of a church goer, when I was on the table ahead of my bypass surgery and waiting to be knocked out I said a prayer to God asking if I was going to be alright. I got a very strong answer that was "You will be fine. It is not about you but the kids." Well I thought, at the time, that was about my kids but I later learned it was about other kids. So I came to be at a university. But the drive to help kids also has me mentoring FIRST robots teams, mentoring FIRST robotics coaches, being one of the organizers of a annual maker event (RVA MakerFest). Speaking to high school students about a variety of topics, mentoring high school students and more. I could probably be happier having a less complex life. Many days start early working on the volunteer work and end after doing the same in the evening. Getting to this place required an exercise in visualizing my demise. I was asked by someone to write down my obituary and what others would say. I was not able to come up with much that was positive. So I choose to find meaning helping K12 students and College Students. My own kids now tell me how I was a grump before and now they love doing things with me (most of the time when not parenting). As I now start to approach retirement (2 years) I will volunteer more not less. For your pleasure you may find this helpful. I did. http://www.ted.com/talks/martin_seligman_on_the_state_of_psychology http://www.ted.com/talks/martin_seligman_on_the_state_of_psy...

by rifung 11y ago

vijayr 11y ago

I keep wondering about this too. If one is stuck in a 9 to 6 job, with a 2-3 hour commute added to it, it is really hard to find time for things outside of work. In this case it becomes important to find work that is meaningful and enjoyable but that is easier said than done.

tspike 11y ago
Programmers are in a distinctly privileged position with respect to freeing up time, if that is a priority for you. For us there are only two prerequisites: 1) Be good at what you do. 2) Keep your expenses well below your means. With these two things, there are many ways to arrange your life to have enough time to pursue your passions. You can freelance or contract 20-30 hours a week, or work for a year or two in a regular job and then quit and take months off, or you can take Mr Money Mustache's approach and bust your ass to save up enough to retire within 10 years.

zenogais 11y ago

If you're stuck in an unsatisfying situation, accept it for what it is at the moment and keep looking for ways to get out of that situation. I grew up in a really small town with little to no industry and a massive drug subculture because of it, it really felt like a trap, but it's this method that got everyone I know who got out out.

grecy 11y ago

>work is a necessity to survive While your statement might be true very broadly, you don't need to work anywhere near as much as you think you do to survive. I worked 9-5 for 18 months and saved enough money in that time to then spend 2 years driving Alaska-Argentina. [1] I've just been working 9-5 for 4 years and have now quit and have saved enough money to spend two years driving around Africa [2], then hpefully 2 years from Europe->SE Asia. If I only wanted to earn enough money to "survive" (i.e. food and shelter) I bet I only need to work 2 months a year. Less when I throw in hunting, doing my own maintenance and growing my own vegetables. [1] http://theroadchoseme.com/the-price-of-adventure http://theroadchoseme.com/the-price-of-adventure [2] http://theroadchoseme.com/new-jeep-new-adventure-africa http://theroadchoseme.com/new-jeep-new-adventure-africa

koonsolo 11y ago
> Less when I throw in hunting, doing my own maintenance and growing my own vegetables. Why don't you consider this as work?
- jrk_ 11y ago
  I can't answer the question for OP, but for me it would be * Pursuing my own goals * Working directly on something which benefits me * A lot less boring than sitting in the office all day * Not sitting in an office at all * Nature * Real satisfaction from accomplishment * Don't have to when I don't want, i.e. I have to deal with the consequences (e.g. no food) but nobody can make me responsible for this and fire me * No commute through crowded cities * No recycled, AC'd air * Did I mention not sitting in an office? I think I have to stop now or I get even more depressed than I already am.
  - adrusi 11y ago
    I think what the parent meant to say was "why don't you consider doing that as your main source of income?"
    - jrk_ 11y ago
      I think because this would be only about being self-sustained, without generating additional income. And there lie the downsides: No early retirement, no health care, no social insurance..
- grecy 11y ago
  As jrk_ said, when I'm pursuing something for myself, I don't consider it "work". If I did, I suppose I'd have to consider putting food in my own mouth, brushing my own teeth, etc, which is absurd. I've always found it strange we all "go to work" to earn money, then trade that money for the things we actually need like food and shelter - and sometimes some wants like entertainment. The problem with using money as a middle-man is that it's very inefficent, because everyone along the line takes some. i.e. taxes, inflation, greed of your boss/company, the bank, etc. etc. I aim to simply cut out the middle man and directly get what I want, which turns out to be way more efficient, i.e. takes way less time, which means I will have way more time to do whatever I want.

epalmer 11y ago

Meaningful life or happy life is a decision that needs to be made with intent. After having 4 way bypass surgery at 48 years old I knew my life needed to change. I worked for a bank and worked 60+ hrs a week. In fact many weeks were near 80 hours. Providing credit cards to the poor was not what I considered a meaningful job. But I was unhappy as well. It still took me 4+ years to figure out what I wanted to do. It was a complex road and it took a lot of visualization of my ultimate satisfaction (note not happiness) before I was able to leave this very well paying role. I now lead a small web development team at a university. I scrum coach a broader high performing team, get to write some code (which I love even when I pound my head on the wall trying to figure out that defect) and interact with people that love what they do. Even though I had not been much of a church goer, when I was on the table ahead of my bypass surgery and waiting to be knocked out I said a prayer to God asking if I was going to be alright. I got a very strong answer that was "You will be fine. It is not about you but the kids." Well I thought, at the time, that was about my kids but I later learned it was about other kids. So I came to be at a university. But the drive to help kids also has me mentoring FIRST robots teams, mentoring FIRST robotics coaches, being one of the organizers of a annual maker event (RVA MakerFest). Speaking to high school students about a variety of topics, mentoring high school students and more. I could probably be happier having a less complex life. Many days start early working on the volunteer work and end after doing the same in the evening. Getting to this place required an exercise in visualizing my demise. I was asked by someone to write down my obituary and what others would say. I was not able to come up with much that was positive. So I choose to find meaning helping K12 students and College Students. My own kids now tell me how I was a grump before and now they love doing things with me (most of the time when not parenting). As I now start to approach retirement (2 years) I will volunteer more not less. For your pleasure you may find this helpful. I did. http://www.ted.com/talks/martin_seligman_on_the_state_of_psychology http://www.ted.com/talks/martin_seligman_on_the_state_of_psy...