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I think one of the most meaningful things in life for many people is connections to others, and it's something we can do easily during those periods that you me

I think one of the most meaningful things in life for many people is connections to others, and it's something we can do easily during those periods that you mention. For example, PG's post made me think about how I could call my mom when taking a break since I don't see her often, and beyond that I should probably spend more time texting people and keeping up other such relationships.

ranic 9y ago
This is good advice. And as far as "single-player" activities are concerned, I think pursuing curiosities as far as your interest will go is a good way to discover new interests. Read an article on a topic you find compelling? Find additional reading material. Maybe take a class. Catch the urge to make something? Go for it. Something might stick or it may not. Either way, you'll have done something you might not have otherwise done and it won't have been a waste of time.
- lazyjones 9y ago
  > I think pursuing curiosities as far as your interest will go is a good way to discover new interests. Read an article on a topic you find compelling? Find additional reading material As we get older, we develop stronger biases, so we think we can dismiss more and more as not worthwhile without even trying it. That's why I believe some outside influence is key.
mehrdadn 9y ago
What are your criteria for something to be "meaningful"? Does it have to be hard? Does it have to be emotional? Does it have to involve other people? Or can it just involve changing something for the better (e.g. via just a side coding project)? Because if I'm taking it at face value, to me, writing (say) a password manager that laymen and power users will all enjoy using (i.e. solving the password management problem once and for all) would be plenty meaningful, and it's easy enough to schedule into your spare time.
- rsyngh 9y ago
  That's the weird thing about meaning it is completely subjective to that person.Having better connections with people especially one's immediate family and friends ,doing something that helps something larger you (like your pwd manager),etc has a good chance but does not gurantee meaning in one's life. Overcoming a challenge which is hard (but within your limits a hard) is an incredible thing to experience. As we humans are social creatures something emotional(mostly +ve) might also sustain your involvement in that activity and thus lead to eventual higher reward from that activity. But at the end for most people who are present here I think I can safely say that doing something which involves less screen time and more "physical interaction" with the world would be beneficial.

ranic 9y ago

This is good advice. And as far as "single-player" activities are concerned, I think pursuing curiosities as far as your interest will go is a good way to discover new interests. Read an article on a topic you find compelling? Find additional reading material. Maybe take a class. Catch the urge to make something? Go for it. Something might stick or it may not. Either way, you'll have done something you might not have otherwise done and it won't have been a waste of time.

lazyjones 9y ago
> I think pursuing curiosities as far as your interest will go is a good way to discover new interests. Read an article on a topic you find compelling? Find additional reading material As we get older, we develop stronger biases, so we think we can dismiss more and more as not worthwhile without even trying it. That's why I believe some outside influence is key.

mehrdadn 9y ago

What are your criteria for something to be "meaningful"? Does it have to be hard? Does it have to be emotional? Does it have to involve other people? Or can it just involve changing something for the better (e.g. via just a side coding project)? Because if I'm taking it at face value, to me, writing (say) a password manager that laymen and power users will all enjoy using (i.e. solving the password management problem once and for all) would be plenty meaningful, and it's easy enough to schedule into your spare time.

rsyngh 9y ago
That's the weird thing about meaning it is completely subjective to that person.Having better connections with people especially one's immediate family and friends ,doing something that helps something larger you (like your pwd manager),etc has a good chance but does not gurantee meaning in one's life. Overcoming a challenge which is hard (but within your limits a hard) is an incredible thing to experience. As we humans are social creatures something emotional(mostly +ve) might also sustain your involvement in that activity and thus lead to eventual higher reward from that activity. But at the end for most people who are present here I think I can safely say that doing something which involves less screen time and more "physical interaction" with the world would be beneficial.