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This is very oddly framed. If the time is psychologically useful, then it isn't wasted. Some people need more, and some people need less relaxation time. I t
by moxious 9y ago
This is very oddly framed. If the time is psychologically useful, then it isn't wasted. Some people need more, and some people need less relaxation time. I think the author's real issue is with the psychology of trapping yourself into feeling you must work at every moment and feeling guilty if you don't.
The trouble with that in turn is that it's a person's habit or emotional orientation, and likely doesn't change just by being given evidence that you're more productive if you give yourself a break sometimes. Habits don't respond to evidence because they're pattern continuations, not logical choices.
- qntty 9y agoI've definitely developed habits that were based on mistaken beliefs, then changed them fairly easily when my beliefs changed. I don't think it's crazy to think that someone who is obsessed with optimizing every second of life could change their tune when they start to think of "down time" as productive.
- philipov 9y agoPeople respond more strongly to the framing of an argument than to its logical content (case in point: GP), and so I would argue that choosing the frame of the oppressor (e.g. it is wasted time) actually reinforces the belief and is counterproductive to changing the habit. It would be better to attack the frame directly by challenging the notion that it's wasted time, instead of parroting it.
- kmonad 9y agoWhat is GP? Why do you use an undefined acronym for your case in point?
- labster 9y agoGrandparent post: the post two levels up.
- freshhawk 9y agoI'm not sure about that, how much of the benefit remains if you look at leisure time as another productivity optimizing activity? I like the attack on the fundamental ideology at play (not just the frame built on top of it) in the statement that "wasting time is good". I think it might be far more helpful.
- nicky0 9y agoHowever, using the phrase "wasting time" supports the idea that time is something that can be wasted, and reinforces ideas that being "unproductive" is somehow wasteful.
- freshhawk 9y agoIf it was a habit and you "changed [it] fairly easily", then it either wasn't a habit or you have an exceptional ability there, one most everyone doesn't have.
- hrxn 9y agoExcellent observation.
- ivm 9y ago> I think the author's real issue is with the psychology of trapping yourself into feeling you must work at every moment and feeling guilty if you don't. I would say that you need to grow as a person at every moment. This includes sleeping, walking in the park without thinking about work, learning themes unrelated to your professional occupation (humanities are great for software engineers), spending time with good people, and of course meditating. There are almost universal time-wasters though, especially if you spent enough time with them in the past – online and other endless games, most of the movies and TV series, arguing on the Internet, etc. When you have a subtle feeling that you have experienced it before – it's time to quit.