4 ms·

Could I ask how you generally spent your time then? I've always wanted to try it, but fear succumbing to terminal couch potato syndrome. (Ideally I'd be a "make

Could I ask how you generally spent your time then? I've always wanted to try it, but fear succumbing to terminal couch potato syndrome. (Ideally I'd be a "maker" of some sort, do a lot of travel and hiking, yadda yadda).

ornornor 4y ago
It’s not so black and white. I had weeks on end where I’d do nothing special like watching tv shows or playing games all day. But I think I’d have these stretches anyway whether I worked or not at the time. The rest of the time was spent reading many more books than when working, building side projects just for fun (sometimes even to completion, sometimes just to try or learn something). I learnt about building and maintaining bicycles (started rom not knowing a thing to having repaired and built many bicycles now), worked on home improvement projects I had set aside while working because I had “no time” (rather no energy left). I did hike some but I prefer cycling so went on loooong bike rides. Had more time for my family as well (just spending time together doing whatever with no pressure or fomo that the weekend is over soon). Also visited a bunch of museums and nearby cities and countries because all of sudden I could travel off peak for 1/3 of the cost and go places when it isn’t crowded. But all this is very personal. It might not be what you’re interested in at all. The general point I think is that you might have a few weeks or months of couch potatoing (especially if you’ve worked all your life and never took a really multi months break) but I am convinced you’ll eventually find something worthwhile to you to do. Nobody who is healthy enjoys spending months or years on their couch. I think people in that situation have other issues that should be addressed (mental health, depression, hormones, whatever). I don’t buy into the narrative that people without job are lazy and just sit around all day. Idem for retirement. Anyway I highly recommend trying it out. Even if you end up doing nothing much for the duration it will teach you something about yourself, and maybe even reduce or eliminate your apprehension of spending time with yourself and your thoughts.
- jsrcout 4y ago
  Thanks for the insights! Hope to try it for myself at some point :-)
  - ornornor 4y ago
    Hope you get the chance. To me it’s like working part time: the income reduction is well worth it. Good luck

ornornor 4y ago

It’s not so black and white. I had weeks on end where I’d do nothing special like watching tv shows or playing games all day. But I think I’d have these stretches anyway whether I worked or not at the time. The rest of the time was spent reading many more books than when working, building side projects just for fun (sometimes even to completion, sometimes just to try or learn something). I learnt about building and maintaining bicycles (started rom not knowing a thing to having repaired and built many bicycles now), worked on home improvement projects I had set aside while working because I had “no time” (rather no energy left). I did hike some but I prefer cycling so went on loooong bike rides. Had more time for my family as well (just spending time together doing whatever with no pressure or fomo that the weekend is over soon). Also visited a bunch of museums and nearby cities and countries because all of sudden I could travel off peak for 1/3 of the cost and go places when it isn’t crowded. But all this is very personal. It might not be what you’re interested in at all. The general point I think is that you might have a few weeks or months of couch potatoing (especially if you’ve worked all your life and never took a really multi months break) but I am convinced you’ll eventually find something worthwhile to you to do. Nobody who is healthy enjoys spending months or years on their couch. I think people in that situation have other issues that should be addressed (mental health, depression, hormones, whatever). I don’t buy into the narrative that people without job are lazy and just sit around all day. Idem for retirement. Anyway I highly recommend trying it out. Even if you end up doing nothing much for the duration it will teach you something about yourself, and maybe even reduce or eliminate your apprehension of spending time with yourself and your thoughts.

jsrcout 4y ago
Thanks for the insights! Hope to try it for myself at some point :-)
- ornornor 4y ago
  Hope you get the chance. To me it’s like working part time: the income reduction is well worth it. Good luck