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I Wasn’t Prepared for Work (2013)

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Re: I Wasn’t Prepared for Work (2013)

#11

Post by darkmighty »

justboxing wrote: post #7

> How has this affected me? I’ve mentally atrophied. I now feel like I can’t talk about any subject with more than a centimeter of depth. A half a decade ago, I could dive with you to the penetralia of convergence theorems of hypergeometric series, but now I cannot. Even my programming has taken a toll even though I do it every day. I find myself abstaining from studying advanced topics in programming and computer sc…

(standard disclaimers above generic advice that may or may not apply...) Trust your intuition, but not completely, when it comes to work and challenge. We are all lazy because we have very strong instincts to save energy and avoid risks -- that probably makes much sense in nature (where significant risks can mean death to natural causes or conflict). Even today, if you have life set at a boring job, there's not much to be gained, naively and from a naturalistic perspective, from constantly picking difficult topics to learn and stay out of your comfort zone. I think I can call it naive because of course cognitive flexibility and keeping learning may prove its worth if situations change and your safe occupation isn't so safe anymore. But in the end, as another person called, I think the primary motivator is some hunger, some desire to produce great things, to stay sharp/awesome, to beauty, that goes beyond pure individualistic safeguarding.

If you want to avoid mental atrophy, my advice is to find that hunger, find some sense of intense beauty, and pursue it even if it goes against your instincts sometimes.

(also as others noted: you need to be in a position where you can plausibly even find and satisfy this hunger; if your work and commute occupies all your time that's not going to happen of course)

Re: I Wasn’t Prepared for Work (2013)

#12

Post by ellius »

justboxing wrote: post #7

> How has this affected me? I’ve mentally atrophied. I now feel like I can’t talk about any subject with more than a centimeter of depth. A half a decade ago, I could dive with you to the penetralia of convergence theorems of hypergeometric series, but now I cannot. Even my programming has taken a toll even though I do it every day. I find myself abstaining from studying advanced topics in programming and computer sc…

I think people fail to deeply reflect on what they want from life. I'll share my list, because maybe it will help someone else to figure out theirs:

• Maintain my body

• Maintain a sense of mental tranquility

• Work on projects and learn things I find meaningful and interesting

• Visit my friends and family in my hometown regularly

• Have a good home life with my wife and someday children

• Have a job that keeps me interested but isn't so exhausting it detracts from the above

If you don't have a list like this, and you don't know what resonates with you, then your actions will be unguided and you'll not find any sense of peace or progress. Pay attention to what helps you be happy, reflect on it and use it to guide your choices and use of time in this life.

Re: I Wasn’t Prepared for Work (2013)

#13

Post by noir_lord »

MaximumYComb wrote: post #3

I read this article and while it's sad the author doesn't pursue passions anymore, I also can't help think that maybe they just aren't as hungry as they once were. I was diagnosed with cancer 4 years ago and it changed my perspective on life. I'm mid 30's now and more productive than ever. I also work full time and am a single father to two little kids. The way I describe it is that I am hungry. I didn't expect it to…

Similar situation (though not Cancer, in my case a life a potentially life altering spinal condition and a separate unrelated but equality serious stomach condition) and similar response, I suddenly started going for jobs I wouldn't have dared before and both getting them and doing them well.

I also bought a motorbike and will be upgrading that to a faster one next year, both medical conditions are under control and the medication works but now I'm determined to live my life on my terms for as long as I can rather than just drift.

I also ramped up the exercise and I'm now lighter and fitter than I was in my late 20's (I'm approach 40) - I think sometimes you have two choices, cave or say "fuck you" to the universe and carry on, I'm glad you picked the latter but I understand why someone would pick the former.

Re: I Wasn’t Prepared for Work (2013)

#14

Post by Hermitian909 »

justboxing wrote: post #7

> How has this affected me? I’ve mentally atrophied. I now feel like I can’t talk about any subject with more than a centimeter of depth. A half a decade ago, I could dive with you to the penetralia of convergence theorems of hypergeometric series, but now I cannot. Even my programming has taken a toll even though I do it every day. I find myself abstaining from studying advanced topics in programming and computer sc…

I've seen many engineers manage this by simply finding ways to work less.

Programming is sufficiently difficult that time it takes to complete tasks can vary by more than order of magnitude. I've given a junior engineer a task that would take me 2 hours, had them come back with a solution in a week, and been happy with the result.

So if you achieve a certain level of skill you can take jobs that are "beneath you" and claim the tasks that took you 10-20 hours actually took you 40. It's not particularly honest, but most employers aren't willing to engage in fair market rates at 20 hours a week so people find ways to get what they want outside of the system.

Re: I Wasn’t Prepared for Work (2013)

#16

Post by [deleted] »

justboxing wrote: post #7

> How has this affected me? I’ve mentally atrophied. I now feel like I can’t talk about any subject with more than a centimeter of depth. A half a decade ago, I could dive with you to the penetralia of convergence theorems of hypergeometric series, but now I cannot. Even my programming has taken a toll even though I do it every day. I find myself abstaining from studying advanced topics in programming and computer sc…

[deleted]

Re: I Wasn’t Prepared for Work (2013)

#17

Post by mc3 »

MaximumYComb wrote: post #3

I read this article and while it's sad the author doesn't pursue passions anymore, I also can't help think that maybe they just aren't as hungry as they once were. I was diagnosed with cancer 4 years ago and it changed my perspective on life. I'm mid 30's now and more productive than ever. I also work full time and am a single father to two little kids. The way I describe it is that I am hungry. I didn't expect it to…

+1. I don't know about cancer, but having kids just makes you more productive for a given amount of time. Not necessarily at a coding level, but at the meta/self-management level where you decide what really needs to be done.

It's probably aligned with the "ask the busiest person you know" type of thing.

And yes I am more passionate about coding now, but that came from boredom. I learned Ruby then Haskell because I was bored of churning out C# all day, and I am glad I did. This lead me on to Elm which is my side project engine.

Re: I Wasn’t Prepared for Work (2013)

#18

Post by desc »

My advice would be: rigorously eliminate everything from your life which doesn't fit inside your top X critical priorities.

Where X is as small as possible, and seek to cull it further by combining equivalents and trying to identify why some 'important' things might actually be utter wastes of time in the first place.

The world generally uses a ratchet approach to conquer your attention. Use a ratchet to take it back.

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