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Just do whatever you like! Are you sure they're wrong? Judging by the people I know, there's little overlap between having a ton of free time and being a happy

Just do whatever you like! Are you sure they're wrong? Judging by the people I know, there's little overlap between having a ton of free time and being a happy, satisfied person. "Just eating whatever you want" results in being a five hundred pound diabetic who dies of a heart attack at 40. Are we so certain "just doing whatever you want" isn't equally toxic to our happiness and mental health?

Retric 4y ago
Looking at the people I know there is a huge overlap between free time and happiness. Unemployment is stressful, but looking at the extremes comfortable retirement easily beats constant overwork. And voluntarily working part time beats a full time job as long as their income is sufficient. It’s only when you compare full retirement vs part time work that there is something of an aberration. But, that tends to be a self selecting population.
actionablefiber 4y ago
> Are you sure they're wrong? Judging by the people I know, there's little overlap between having a ton of free time and being a happy, satisfied person. As an anecdote to the contrary, I've just exited a half-year period of unemployment during which I spent a lot of time on hobbies, started eating much better, had nearly no stress in life, and built up a steady exercise routine. I met a lot of people from around the world and learned about them and the places they came from. I'd casually go on bike rides wherever and whenever I wanted and my absolute priority was my own well-being. Now I'm like a completely different person: stronger, more confident, healthier, and more appreciative and aware of the things in life that bring me joy. I probably dragged out that stage of my life longer than I needed to or should have, because it was just so liberating. It felt like I was doing right by my body and soul for the first time in my life. Were it not for my slowly dwindling savings, I might have stayed even longer living like that. And that's the case of doing zero work. In a society with an emphasis on leisure you'd more likely be looking at work with flexible/reduced hours or extended vacations.
soraki_soladead 4y ago
That assumes that people left to their own free will and time would end up in a dismal state as the default. I’m not sure. I’d love to see a proper analysis but there’s lots of evidence both ways. Some people with excess leisure would end up doing nothing. Some would work on hobbies. Some would start businesses or maybe participate in local government or something. It might also be that, given enough time in a leisure society, people would adapt for better or worse.
cecilpl2 4y ago
> "Just eating whatever you want" results in being a five hundred pound diabetic who dies of a heart attack at 40. This is categorically untrue for much (I'd hazard to say most) of the population. It's certainly untrue for me. I don't like feeling full, and I don't really gain weight when I eat whatever I want.

Retric 4y ago

Looking at the people I know there is a huge overlap between free time and happiness. Unemployment is stressful, but looking at the extremes comfortable retirement easily beats constant overwork. And voluntarily working part time beats a full time job as long as their income is sufficient. It’s only when you compare full retirement vs part time work that there is something of an aberration. But, that tends to be a self selecting population.

actionablefiber 4y ago

> Are you sure they're wrong? Judging by the people I know, there's little overlap between having a ton of free time and being a happy, satisfied person. As an anecdote to the contrary, I've just exited a half-year period of unemployment during which I spent a lot of time on hobbies, started eating much better, had nearly no stress in life, and built up a steady exercise routine. I met a lot of people from around the world and learned about them and the places they came from. I'd casually go on bike rides wherever and whenever I wanted and my absolute priority was my own well-being. Now I'm like a completely different person: stronger, more confident, healthier, and more appreciative and aware of the things in life that bring me joy. I probably dragged out that stage of my life longer than I needed to or should have, because it was just so liberating. It felt like I was doing right by my body and soul for the first time in my life. Were it not for my slowly dwindling savings, I might have stayed even longer living like that. And that's the case of doing zero work. In a society with an emphasis on leisure you'd more likely be looking at work with flexible/reduced hours or extended vacations.

soraki_soladead 4y ago

That assumes that people left to their own free will and time would end up in a dismal state as the default. I’m not sure. I’d love to see a proper analysis but there’s lots of evidence both ways. Some people with excess leisure would end up doing nothing. Some would work on hobbies. Some would start businesses or maybe participate in local government or something. It might also be that, given enough time in a leisure society, people would adapt for better or worse.

cecilpl2 4y ago

> "Just eating whatever you want" results in being a five hundred pound diabetic who dies of a heart attack at 40. This is categorically untrue for much (I'd hazard to say most) of the population. It's certainly untrue for me. I don't like feeling full, and I don't really gain weight when I eat whatever I want.