7 ms·

> Most people want to be productive because they want to feel valued by others. But if you have to look to your own value from others, you've already lost, and

> Most people want to be productive because they want to feel valued by others. But if you have to look to your own value from others, you've already lost, and will continue to lose forever. I think for me its about fear of death.

danielbln 4y ago
Death will come for you regardless of your productivity.
- 0807test 4y ago
  I know that submissions with no substance are frowned upon here, but I just wanted to tell you that for some reason your comment is the funniest one I read in quite some time. Maybe because of my lifelong struggle with productivity and procrastination... Cheers!
- PostOnce 4y ago
  Yes, but you can either die having achieved your goals, or die with them unmet.
  - helpfulmandrill 4y ago
    But then again, nothing makes you feel more empty than achieving a goal...
    - helmholtz 4y ago
      That's not my experience. I need to be making progress to be sane. Achieving something small everyday makes me have confidence in life and a sense of control. This is crucial to keep existential dread at bay. I have a calendar where I track life events (good and bad). It's wonderful to look back and remember that, tlin the last two years, even though I feel like I haven't changed, actually a lot has.
      - xkcd1963 4y ago
        Achieving something is hence a source of joy. But so is eating food.
    - docmars 4y ago
      Achieving something evokes a feeling of loss that you have to bear until you've found whatever is next. It's not unlike experiencing a death or break-up. This happens when you finish a book, video game, or TV show you've invested a fair bit of time in. We are driven to cope with this feeling by seeking what's next.
  - gonzo41 4y ago
    You won't know either way. Few people die knowing they will.
  - skinnymuch 4y ago
    You’re dead though. What does it matter?
- helpfulmandrill 4y ago
  I know, but if I get twice as much done, its like living twice as long ;) I know its nonsense, but it makes an intuitive sense in the absence of a better way to deal with existential anxiety.
- jisbruzzi 4y ago
  For some, productivity equals virtue. A virtuous life is always better than a lazy or vicious life. So you die having lived a better life. And (at least for us catholics AFAIK), a virtuous life leads to heavens.
  - evanspa 4y ago
    "vicious" Think you meant to say "vacuous"
    - gameman144 4y ago
      "Vicious" also means "full of vice", which is probably the more apt context here (since it's being contrasted with virtue).
  - pnutjam 4y ago
    As a US Catholic, I find much greater value in family time, volunteering, and jus the regular things I do to help people in my community. Work productivity is not on my list of "virtues".
  - JoshCole 4y ago
    Catholics have far better news than that you get to heaven on the basis of personal productivity. Consider these questions: When and why was toil introduced? Did the prodigal son have riches when he returned to the father to justify himself? Did the Pharisees need to have bread with them? Did the crowd have enough bread? Who provided sufficient bread: the vine or the lost sheep? If virtue is productivity, then why does God say that there is a rest for his people? Did he rest on the seventh day because he was not as virtuous as Pharaoh's taskmasters? Industriousness is wise, but all is vanity and the fool when he dies goes to the same place as the wise.
    - muro 4y ago
      All correct, though there is also the part about burying a lent talent and returning it without "interest".
- lbrito 4y ago
  But what if we hack death?? Joking, obviously. But it is amusing how many people (Kurzweil, Harari) seriously have faith in this (and believe there is something novel in this pursuit).
  - julianlam 4y ago
    I see no harm in pursuing the impossible, in moderation of course. After all if we didn't, we wouldn't have tried landing on the moon, among myriad other things.
jcpst 4y ago
There’s a book about this called “4000 weeks” (thanks for the correction). Basically, all the popular productivity hacks are nonsense, and just make you busier. You do this because of a fear of death. Accept that you will die soon, so just stick to the important stuff.
- zs234465234165 4y ago
  4000 weeks
- Gene_Parmesan 4y ago
  Nothing like a strong dose of existential dread to get me through the work day.
- julianlam 4y ago
  Reminds me of The Hustle[0], which I actually found here [0] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_o7qjN3KF8U https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_o7qjN3KF8U

danielbln 4y ago

Death will come for you regardless of your productivity.

0807test 4y ago
I know that submissions with no substance are frowned upon here, but I just wanted to tell you that for some reason your comment is the funniest one I read in quite some time. Maybe because of my lifelong struggle with productivity and procrastination... Cheers!
PostOnce 4y ago
Yes, but you can either die having achieved your goals, or die with them unmet.
- helpfulmandrill 4y ago
  But then again, nothing makes you feel more empty than achieving a goal...
  - helmholtz 4y ago
    That's not my experience. I need to be making progress to be sane. Achieving something small everyday makes me have confidence in life and a sense of control. This is crucial to keep existential dread at bay. I have a calendar where I track life events (good and bad). It's wonderful to look back and remember that, tlin the last two years, even though I feel like I haven't changed, actually a lot has.
    - xkcd1963 4y ago
      Achieving something is hence a source of joy. But so is eating food.
  - docmars 4y ago
    Achieving something evokes a feeling of loss that you have to bear until you've found whatever is next. It's not unlike experiencing a death or break-up. This happens when you finish a book, video game, or TV show you've invested a fair bit of time in. We are driven to cope with this feeling by seeking what's next.
- gonzo41 4y ago
  You won't know either way. Few people die knowing they will.
- skinnymuch 4y ago
  You’re dead though. What does it matter?
helpfulmandrill 4y ago
I know, but if I get twice as much done, its like living twice as long ;) I know its nonsense, but it makes an intuitive sense in the absence of a better way to deal with existential anxiety.
jisbruzzi 4y ago
For some, productivity equals virtue. A virtuous life is always better than a lazy or vicious life. So you die having lived a better life. And (at least for us catholics AFAIK), a virtuous life leads to heavens.
- evanspa 4y ago
  "vicious" Think you meant to say "vacuous"
  - gameman144 4y ago
    "Vicious" also means "full of vice", which is probably the more apt context here (since it's being contrasted with virtue).
- pnutjam 4y ago
  As a US Catholic, I find much greater value in family time, volunteering, and jus the regular things I do to help people in my community. Work productivity is not on my list of "virtues".
- JoshCole 4y ago
  Catholics have far better news than that you get to heaven on the basis of personal productivity. Consider these questions: When and why was toil introduced? Did the prodigal son have riches when he returned to the father to justify himself? Did the Pharisees need to have bread with them? Did the crowd have enough bread? Who provided sufficient bread: the vine or the lost sheep? If virtue is productivity, then why does God say that there is a rest for his people? Did he rest on the seventh day because he was not as virtuous as Pharaoh's taskmasters? Industriousness is wise, but all is vanity and the fool when he dies goes to the same place as the wise.
  - muro 4y ago
    All correct, though there is also the part about burying a lent talent and returning it without "interest".
lbrito 4y ago
But what if we hack death?? Joking, obviously. But it is amusing how many people (Kurzweil, Harari) seriously have faith in this (and believe there is something novel in this pursuit).
- julianlam 4y ago
  I see no harm in pursuing the impossible, in moderation of course. After all if we didn't, we wouldn't have tried landing on the moon, among myriad other things.

jcpst 4y ago

There’s a book about this called “4000 weeks” (thanks for the correction). Basically, all the popular productivity hacks are nonsense, and just make you busier. You do this because of a fear of death. Accept that you will die soon, so just stick to the important stuff.

zs234465234165 4y ago
4000 weeks
Gene_Parmesan 4y ago
Nothing like a strong dose of existential dread to get me through the work day.
julianlam 4y ago
Reminds me of The Hustle[0], which I actually found here [0] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_o7qjN3KF8U https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_o7qjN3KF8U