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Ask HN: What do productive people do on weekends?

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71–80 of 81 posts

Re: Ask HN: What do productive people do on weekends?

#71
They do whatever they set out to do for the weekend.

For some, that's clean the house, grocery runs, laundry, cook, date with their partner, play with the kids, read a book, video games, visit family & friends, sleep in, work on their hobby, whatever it is. if you planned for it and get it done, then you're productive.

Re: Ask HN: What do productive people do on weekends?

#72

On Saturdays, I wake and get to the office by 4am, just like a regular workday. The only difference is I'll leave around 9-10 am (vs 5-6 pm M-F) when the family is awake. Let's me catch up on things I missed during the week. Sundays I'll try to keep my mind off work but still find myself thinking of things.

Is that schedule something you see keeping up in the long term?

Re: Ask HN: What do productive people do on weekends?

#73
A lot of productive people are as passionate and productive with their free time as they are with work. Competitive, challenging, adrenaline filled and technical activities have great appeal. Things like road cycling, kite surfing, ultra running and skiing attract productive types.

Re: Ask HN: What do productive people do on weekends?

#75
post #44

I am very weary of people that describe/brand themselves as productive. There is something about getting a lot of things done that is appealing to all of us, but in the words of a classic “it does not matter how fast you drive if you’re going in the wrong direction”. Setting that aside, both during the week and during the weekend I optimize for physical and emotional health. Eat well, sleep, exercise, spend time with…

The faster you drive in the wrong direction, the earlier you realize that you drive in the wrong direction, maybe.

Re: Ask HN: What do productive people do on weekends?

#76
post #44

I am very weary of people that describe/brand themselves as productive. There is something about getting a lot of things done that is appealing to all of us, but in the words of a classic “it does not matter how fast you drive if you’re going in the wrong direction”. Setting that aside, both during the week and during the weekend I optimize for physical and emotional health. Eat well, sleep, exercise, spend time with…

The faster you drive in the wrong direction, the earlier you realize that you drive in the wrong direction, maybe.

that’s true, but only if you know there is such thing as direction

Re: Ask HN: What do productive people do on weekends?

#77
post #74

Network with infants. Early investment is best; you get diminishing gains as they age. You need someone trustworthy to delegate your empire to when you're older, so better get your propaganda game on now.

I’m surprised the venture capitalists aren’t scouting 5 year olds as future founders.

Re: Ask HN: What do productive people do on weekends?

#79
post #74

Network with infants. Early investment is best; you get diminishing gains as they age. You need someone trustworthy to delegate your empire to when you're older, so better get your propaganda game on now.

I’m surprised the venture capitalists aren’t scouting 5 year olds as future founders.

VC funds don't go that long. Strategic marriages are a great long term investment.

Re: Ask HN: What do productive people do on weekends?

#80
I don't have 'weekends'. Part of 'success' seems to me doing what you love and what you want to do, and if you're doing that, you want to do it every day, and never 'retire'. Then work and play aren't clearly separate. I don't really have 'hobbies', or I don't understand the idea, at least - I'm kind of equally serious (and unserious[0]) about everything I do. (e.g. for me, whether it's programming, making music, making art, learning some new subject or skill etc) I've noticed from all over the place that 'side projects' almost normally become peoples' main thing, whether in science, programming, art etc. Whatever they're working on for fun and curiosity.

(I read recently about how the Institute for Advanced Studies produced almost nothing, because although it sounded great, to pay geniuses to spend as long as they wanted on anything, the effect was that there were 'no side projects', and making everything 'the main thing' seems to somehow stultify it. Maybe we're natural procrastinators, and the AIS model was defeated by that.)

[0] I mean, in the sense of being alert for the comical, unexpected side of things. A playful sense of joy. Most of my favourite writers (e.g. Chesterton, Russell, Kierkegaard) have a great sense of humour, university lecturers too. I got into following chess tournament commentary online because of some commentators who were very funny. (e.g. Mig Greengard, Ben Finegold, Jan Gustafsson). I've noticed almost all great scientists, mathematicians I read/hear have a strong sense of humour, in their personalities if not in all their works. It's not separate from their curiosity and serious intellectual concerns.

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