6 ms·

It is rather strange. More and more things of everyday life are automated and computerized. Nevertheless, I have the impression to have less and less time to do

It is rather strange. More and more things of everyday life are automated and computerized. Nevertheless, I have the impression to have less and less time to do all the things I want/need to do.

Swizec 13y ago
I have noticed the same. Then I remembered the internet makes my day feel like running with a parachute. Sure, I could just get up and go make lunch when I'm hungry. But I could also just refresh HN first. I think it takes a second, it actually takes 10 minutes. Especially if I reply to something. Sure I could just get home from exercise and start working. But I can also check out imgur and twitter first. I feel liek it takes 5 minutes, but it's actually half an hour. I have all this leisure time that I am being leisurely, but it doesn't feel leisurely. It feels like a rush to quickly pack more stuff in between work.
- kamaal 13y ago
  >>I have all this leisure time that I am being leisurely, but it doesn't feel leisurely. This happens to me too. I wonder its because we are using the same tools for work and leisure. I would describe leisure as going out and playing a sport, or playing a musical instrument, or <add non computer hobby here>. I am now thinking we are confused between leisure and procrastination.
  - Swizec 13y ago
    > I am now thinking we are confused between leisure and procrastination. It's even simpler than that. We're addicted to the instant gratification of easily digestible information packets. Humans like to be informed and we innately think this is valuable, even when it isn't.
    - eniacpx 13y ago
      Your last sentence is on the money, and the reason people "enjoy" using Facebook.
    - deleted 13y ago
      [deleted]
    - n_time 13y ago
      We're addicted to the applications that were designed like VLTs. Practically every application feeds into the animalistic trigger, action, reward habit loop in order to retain users. Advertising and sites that sell user data attain value through eyeballs. It doesn't matter whether those eyeballs are glazed over, sad, and lonely.
      - smacktoward 13y ago
        It actually helps if those eyeballs are sad and lonely, since sad and lonely people frequently buy stuff in the hopes that it will either make them less sad and less lonely, or make it easier for them to cope with their sad loneliness.
- simbolit 13y ago
  >the internet makes my day feel like running with a parachute this phrase gets you an upvote. thank you! :-)
  - ludwigvan 13y ago
    Especially considering he replied to "parasight".
eliben 13y ago
Might that simply be because there's more things you want to do? Isn't this a basic psychological tendency, to want more and more when you have more?
zackmorris 13y ago
I'm beginning to think this is the problem of our time. We have the combined resources to solve any and all problems, but generally solve none of them, and the predicament spans individuals to governments. There is no readily apparent solution, because if there was, it would already be happening (is there a scientific term for that?)
cafard 13y ago
The book The Harried Leisure Class (http://www.amazon.com/Harried-Leisure-Staffan-Burenstam-Linder/dp/0231033028/ref=sr_1_19?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1381239561&sr=1-19&keywords=Leisure+Class http://www.amazon.com/Harried-Leisure-Staffan-Burenstam-Lind...) suggests an interesting explanation for this.
- xenonite 13y ago
  thanks, I just found it in a library. Yes, a real library!
Toenex 13y ago
And why is it we all seem to spend the majority of our time doing things for others? Surely there must be a net equality to this?
d23 13y ago
Something happened to me yesterday that I haven't quite had the time to figure out. I'm normally the introverted "stay at home and relax" type, at least during the week. I frequently want to get home from work as early as possible to play video games, play music, or read. The only problem I've had lately is I've had little motivation to do the creative parts (e.g. creating music or programming something). But last night I went to the gym after work, making me get home an hour later than usual. Then I went out to an open mic with some music friends and had food and beers. Then I came back home and played video games for an hour or so. Then I managed to actually write music for another hour and a half. It was weird, because normally I'd feel like I had a huge block of time in front of me (in theory, "relaxing"), so I could do whatever I wanted. But the catch was that I actually wouldn't do them! I'd procrastinate, and feel like I wasn't using the time "best" way. Last night was so different, and I felt really energized this morning. What's the takeaway? I don't know yet. Maybe I'll try to do more. It was fun.
- salemh 13y ago
  I think momentum plays a big part. That goes both ways in creative pursuits of getting things "done" or at least moving forward on projects, as well as stagnating. The more time you "I'll do it later" on something, the easier it becomes, etc. The book "Art of War" while some "hippie'esque"'ness breaks down "resistance" to getting to creative pursuits.
  - mercer 13y ago
    I think it is especially this. There's a reason for the thought that the best person to ask for help or a favor is a busy person, as they are more likely to reliably do it if they say yes (and often they do, just as much as less busy people). I've experienced this quite often myself. I remember a period when I was particularly productive and creative, but also very busy two bachelors and three side-jobs.
  - weezer 13y ago
    I think you might mean "The War of Art," which is a great motivational book. The "Art of War" is good too, but would be tough to classify as "hippie'esque."
ternaryoperator 13y ago
Really, just prioritize what you want to do, rather than just doing it in the moment. You'll limit yourself this way to the cool stuff and still have time for doing nothing. But the "do nothing" time has to be made a priority, rather than being what's left over. If you have to, schedule the do-nothing time. It's incredibly refreshing and balancing.

It is rather strange. More and more things of everyday life are automated and computerized. Nevertheless, I have the impression to have less and less time to do all the things I want/need to do.

Swizec 13y ago

I have noticed the same. Then I remembered the internet makes my day feel like running with a parachute. Sure, I could just get up and go make lunch when I'm hungry. But I could also just refresh HN first. I think it takes a second, it actually takes 10 minutes. Especially if I reply to something. Sure I could just get home from exercise and start working. But I can also check out imgur and twitter first. I feel liek it takes 5 minutes, but it's actually half an hour. I have all this leisure time that I am being leisurely, but it doesn't feel leisurely. It feels like a rush to quickly pack more stuff in between work.

kamaal 13y ago
>>I have all this leisure time that I am being leisurely, but it doesn't feel leisurely. This happens to me too. I wonder its because we are using the same tools for work and leisure. I would describe leisure as going out and playing a sport, or playing a musical instrument, or <add non computer hobby here>. I am now thinking we are confused between leisure and procrastination.
- Swizec 13y ago
  > I am now thinking we are confused between leisure and procrastination. It's even simpler than that. We're addicted to the instant gratification of easily digestible information packets. Humans like to be informed and we innately think this is valuable, even when it isn't.
  - eniacpx 13y ago
    Your last sentence is on the money, and the reason people "enjoy" using Facebook.
  - deleted 13y ago
    [deleted]
  - n_time 13y ago
    We're addicted to the applications that were designed like VLTs. Practically every application feeds into the animalistic trigger, action, reward habit loop in order to retain users. Advertising and sites that sell user data attain value through eyeballs. It doesn't matter whether those eyeballs are glazed over, sad, and lonely.
    - smacktoward 13y ago
      It actually helps if those eyeballs are sad and lonely, since sad and lonely people frequently buy stuff in the hopes that it will either make them less sad and less lonely, or make it easier for them to cope with their sad loneliness.
simbolit 13y ago
>the internet makes my day feel like running with a parachute this phrase gets you an upvote. thank you! :-)
- ludwigvan 13y ago
  Especially considering he replied to "parasight".

eliben 13y ago

Might that simply be because there's more things you want to do? Isn't this a basic psychological tendency, to want more and more when you have more?

zackmorris 13y ago

I'm beginning to think this is the problem of our time. We have the combined resources to solve any and all problems, but generally solve none of them, and the predicament spans individuals to governments. There is no readily apparent solution, because if there was, it would already be happening (is there a scientific term for that?)

cafard 13y ago

The book The Harried Leisure Class (http://www.amazon.com/Harried-Leisure-Staffan-Burenstam-Linder/dp/0231033028/ref=sr_1_19?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1381239561&sr=1-19&keywords=Leisure+Class http://www.amazon.com/Harried-Leisure-Staffan-Burenstam-Lind...) suggests an interesting explanation for this.

xenonite 13y ago
thanks, I just found it in a library. Yes, a real library!

Toenex 13y ago

And why is it we all seem to spend the majority of our time doing things for others? Surely there must be a net equality to this?

d23 13y ago

Something happened to me yesterday that I haven't quite had the time to figure out. I'm normally the introverted "stay at home and relax" type, at least during the week. I frequently want to get home from work as early as possible to play video games, play music, or read. The only problem I've had lately is I've had little motivation to do the creative parts (e.g. creating music or programming something). But last night I went to the gym after work, making me get home an hour later than usual. Then I went out to an open mic with some music friends and had food and beers. Then I came back home and played video games for an hour or so. Then I managed to actually write music for another hour and a half. It was weird, because normally I'd feel like I had a huge block of time in front of me (in theory, "relaxing"), so I could do whatever I wanted. But the catch was that I actually wouldn't do them! I'd procrastinate, and feel like I wasn't using the time "best" way. Last night was so different, and I felt really energized this morning. What's the takeaway? I don't know yet. Maybe I'll try to do more. It was fun.

salemh 13y ago
I think momentum plays a big part. That goes both ways in creative pursuits of getting things "done" or at least moving forward on projects, as well as stagnating. The more time you "I'll do it later" on something, the easier it becomes, etc. The book "Art of War" while some "hippie'esque"'ness breaks down "resistance" to getting to creative pursuits.
- mercer 13y ago
  I think it is especially this. There's a reason for the thought that the best person to ask for help or a favor is a busy person, as they are more likely to reliably do it if they say yes (and often they do, just as much as less busy people). I've experienced this quite often myself. I remember a period when I was particularly productive and creative, but also very busy two bachelors and three side-jobs.
- weezer 13y ago
  I think you might mean "The War of Art," which is a great motivational book. The "Art of War" is good too, but would be tough to classify as "hippie'esque."

ternaryoperator 13y ago

Really, just prioritize what you want to do, rather than just doing it in the moment. You'll limit yourself this way to the cool stuff and still have time for doing nothing. But the "do nothing" time has to be made a priority, rather than being what's left over. If you have to, schedule the do-nothing time. It's incredibly refreshing and balancing.