4 ms·

Why don't you pick up programming and do freelance work half the time, then physics the rest? You can work on whatever you want with no pressure.

scottlocklin 8y ago
That's the worst possible thing you can do. Citation: I did this.
- alephu5 8y ago
  Why was it such a bad experience for you?
  - js8 8y ago
    Not OP, but I considered doing something similar. I believe the problem is that you cannot well concentrate on either, constant switching of completely different mental tasks will be very taxing. Also, when you're "in the flow" in one area it's difficult to suddenly switch to the other. So it's hard to manage that time split.
    - akvadrako 8y ago
      I try to do it in big chunks to minimize context switching; so 3 months making money full-time, 9 months doing my own research.
- gugagore 8y ago
  Do you see another way to do whatever research you want to do, while not being in academia? Or do you mean, just don't do research on your own?
- malikolivier 8y ago
  That's exactly what I am doing now. I have been enrolled as a PhD student in computer science and working at the same time for almost 3 years. I cannot really recommend it, mainly because of the workload. However there are things to be learnt both from academia and from the private sector. Moreover, being a PhD student won't make you earn any real money any time soon, nor give you any valuable work experience, IMO. > You can work on whatever you want with no pressure. Nor being a PhD candidate, nor being a freelancer guarantee that you can work on whatever you want with no pressure. And doing both at the same time will only make things harder to manage your time and actually do it "with no pressure".
CalRobert 8y ago
If physics is just going to be a hobby, treat it like a hobby (and timebox it accordingly). Definitely don't let somebody else destroy your life for it. I hated it at the time, but my lying, psychopathic "project advisor" where I got my Bachelor's in Physics did me a big favor by helping me realize the last thing I wanted was people like him in control of my life. Related - "Don't Do For Money What Others Do For Love" - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=16792942 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=16792942 At the moment no matter how much you protest there's a stream of chumps happy to take your spot. We need to start examining the ROI of academia the way we would for anything else demanding such a huge chunk of your life and sanity.
- akvadrako 8y ago
  I'm not suggesting it be a hobby, actually I'm saying you should take it more seriously than just a job. For me it's a personal mission - I don't think academia is the best avenue to pursue so I find my own money and focus on what I find important.

scottlocklin 8y ago

That's the worst possible thing you can do. Citation: I did this.

alephu5 8y ago
Why was it such a bad experience for you?
- js8 8y ago
  Not OP, but I considered doing something similar. I believe the problem is that you cannot well concentrate on either, constant switching of completely different mental tasks will be very taxing. Also, when you're "in the flow" in one area it's difficult to suddenly switch to the other. So it's hard to manage that time split.
  - akvadrako 8y ago
    I try to do it in big chunks to minimize context switching; so 3 months making money full-time, 9 months doing my own research.
gugagore 8y ago
Do you see another way to do whatever research you want to do, while not being in academia? Or do you mean, just don't do research on your own?
malikolivier 8y ago
That's exactly what I am doing now. I have been enrolled as a PhD student in computer science and working at the same time for almost 3 years. I cannot really recommend it, mainly because of the workload. However there are things to be learnt both from academia and from the private sector. Moreover, being a PhD student won't make you earn any real money any time soon, nor give you any valuable work experience, IMO. > You can work on whatever you want with no pressure. Nor being a PhD candidate, nor being a freelancer guarantee that you can work on whatever you want with no pressure. And doing both at the same time will only make things harder to manage your time and actually do it "with no pressure".

CalRobert 8y ago

If physics is just going to be a hobby, treat it like a hobby (and timebox it accordingly). Definitely don't let somebody else destroy your life for it. I hated it at the time, but my lying, psychopathic "project advisor" where I got my Bachelor's in Physics did me a big favor by helping me realize the last thing I wanted was people like him in control of my life. Related - "Don't Do For Money What Others Do For Love" - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=16792942 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=16792942 At the moment no matter how much you protest there's a stream of chumps happy to take your spot. We need to start examining the ROI of academia the way we would for anything else demanding such a huge chunk of your life and sanity.

akvadrako 8y ago
I'm not suggesting it be a hobby, actually I'm saying you should take it more seriously than just a job. For me it's a personal mission - I don't think academia is the best avenue to pursue so I find my own money and focus on what I find important.