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What about picking up a hobby where long stretches of concentration aren't needed and there can be a slight social angle? I personally would love to have more

What about picking up a hobby where long stretches of concentration aren't needed and there can be a slight social angle? I personally would love to have more time for solo board gaming or board gaming online? With board gaming the social interaction is on rails with the game, the same goes for joining a book club or more non-cognitively with solo or pair dancing. And then there is the meditative path. * solo board gaming https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUqB2AKAexw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUqB2AKAexw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpyeWbbdssY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpyeWbbdssY * paul schelnutt dancing https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2Zbs56AKYs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2Zbs56AKYs * ecstatic dance https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lY41coxPKuY&t=70s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lY41coxPKuY&t=70s

iSnow 5y ago
Thanks for answering :) I could do all that, it's just that nothing "clicks" in the sense that I really want to do it, instead of doing it to pass time. That sounds like depression and maybe it is, but I feel it's got more to do with the "I have achieved all I wanted in life, wife, kids, wealth, whoops, now what?" thing. When I was younger, every item of that list seemed like a challenge, and now that they are behind me, I realize I never planned for it. Also when I was younger, I was just day dreaming when I wasn't busy and I was content. Now that I feel that I only have a couple of decades left, I feel the need to no longer waste my time. That kinda clashes with the lack of ambition. Work helps in the sense that I have social interaction outside the family and some problems to solve, but I also feel I am just papering over a void.
- fsiefken 5y ago
  Yes, it sounds it has less to do with depression and more with working through existential questions https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Existential_Psychotherapy_(book)#Part_IV:_Meaninglessness https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Existential_Psychotherapy_(boo... or the buddhist notion not to waste time https://tricycle.org/magazine/how-not-waste-time/ https://tricycle.org/magazine/how-not-waste-time/
- heliodor 5y ago
  Maybe "not waste time" means do something big and important, impactful. But that feels overwhelming and that prevents you from getting started, which can manifest as lack of ambition. Once you work on something for a bit, you start feeling driven.

iSnow 5y ago

Thanks for answering :) I could do all that, it's just that nothing "clicks" in the sense that I really want to do it, instead of doing it to pass time. That sounds like depression and maybe it is, but I feel it's got more to do with the "I have achieved all I wanted in life, wife, kids, wealth, whoops, now what?" thing. When I was younger, every item of that list seemed like a challenge, and now that they are behind me, I realize I never planned for it. Also when I was younger, I was just day dreaming when I wasn't busy and I was content. Now that I feel that I only have a couple of decades left, I feel the need to no longer waste my time. That kinda clashes with the lack of ambition. Work helps in the sense that I have social interaction outside the family and some problems to solve, but I also feel I am just papering over a void.

fsiefken 5y ago
Yes, it sounds it has less to do with depression and more with working through existential questions https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Existential_Psychotherapy_(book)#Part_IV:_Meaninglessness https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Existential_Psychotherapy_(boo... or the buddhist notion not to waste time https://tricycle.org/magazine/how-not-waste-time/ https://tricycle.org/magazine/how-not-waste-time/
heliodor 5y ago
Maybe "not waste time" means do something big and important, impactful. But that feels overwhelming and that prevents you from getting started, which can manifest as lack of ambition. Once you work on something for a bit, you start feeling driven.