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Is not life what you make of it? Is not life about what you do do, rather than what you don't do?
As for all the things TTony mentions, I find I have an ebb and a flow about them. Sometimes the emphasis is catching up with my reading list. Sometimes, it's getting to grips with a bunch of songs. Sometimes, I like to catch up with the news. Sometimes, I want to keep in touch with friends, neighbours, family. And other times, I don't. There'll be things I want to do to the home. Now most of that's not about time, it's about money. But weeding the garden and lawn is becoming a priority as we traverse this Bank Holiday. It's been bugging me for a few days, but you know what?
Mañana.
I want to make a plea for not doing things, and for doing less. In life 50% of achievements come because we work at them, and 50% come because we are in the right place at the right time with our eyes and ears open. Doing more doesn’t mean that we achieve more. It means that we pay less attention to what we’re doing, and that we miss what’s going on around us because we are so focused on doing stuff.
In the work I used to do everyone worked hard at fitting more into their lives. They developed tips and techniques for doing more. Then, in their mid 30s, they reached the point where no more could be shoe horned in, and they had to learn to take things out.
Having retired I take great pleasure in waking up, and sitting in bed with a cup of tea. It’s something I didn’t make time for when I was working. It’s productive time. My wife and I talk about what we’re going to do, and I check the forum.
My message is to do less, but do it better, and leave time for the unexpected opportunities. Last night I went to @Garp’s gig. Drop of the hat decision when he posted about it, I wouldn’t have done if my life was too busy.
Most people don't have enough time, so it's important to make the most of the time you do have. (He said whilst wasting time reading and replying to threads on the fb)
I'm not locked in here with you, you are locked in here with me.
Every one of us is sitting on a time-bomb and none of us know what the timer is set to.
Carpe-Diem - or the translation from latin; Shit, or get off the pot.
Chips are "Plant-based" no matter how you cook them
Donald Trump needs kicking out of a helicopter
I'm personally responsible for all global warming
What about work/life balance?
What about doing what makes you happy?
If you are dicking around on the internet and it is making you miserable then make a change, sure.
If you like your life then just enjoy it and don't worry about what you think you 'should' be doing.
Most of the people here who are replying are working full-time and some of them are raising families.
I worked full-time for a bit last year and the start of this year (after the last 13 years of being essentially self-employed, which gave me a lot of time to do music).
At the end of the day I had no real energy to do much music and after dinner and a couple of hours of downtime it was time for bed.
On the weekend I had chores to do, a dog to walk and after 2 days it was time for the sad merry-go-round to start again.
So cut yourselves a break.
Maybe get a subscription to the magazine "The Idler".
Today I have a very busy day of dicking about on guitar, watching Star Trek: Voyager, fiddling with my Eurorack.
I might get a run in, or a swim.
Frankly that is enough.
Studio: https://www.voltperoctave.com
Music: https://www.euclideancircuits.com
Me: https://www.jamesrichmond.com
i just had a sinus op and my blood oxygen levels instantly increased by 7%, and my energy levels with it.
I had been blaming my tiredness on young children and work, but it turns out a relatively simple fix has done wonders.
i don’t have any more time. I have a lot more energy, and that makes all the difference.
also, if I have a block of time I write myself a list of things to do with it. If 3/4 gets crossed off I am happy.
Instagram
No one says making the most of every moment doesn't include winding down and relaxing.
The problem is having so much on the to do list that you end up overwhelmed and feeling like you do nothing all the time, even if you do actually do alot. Making the most out of your time is totally about focus, balence, priorities and knowing how to not beat yourself up when what you really want is a cup of tea in bed.
So imo focusing on 1 or 2 things stops that overwhelming unachieving feeling and allows for do nothing time. Reassess as often as required.
Studio: https://www.voltperoctave.com
Music: https://www.euclideancircuits.com
Me: https://www.jamesrichmond.com
"Disciplining yourself to do what you know is right and important, although difficult, is the highroad to pride, self-esteem, and personal satisfaction." Margaret Thatcher.
This is in complete contrast to people like Elon Musk who works 120 hour weeks and that Silicon Valley guy who said that eating and drinking were taking too much of his time so he created one shake which he can down in ten seconds and get back to work. This isn't the way to live a life. Businesses over on the West Coast are terrible for this sort of thing (sleep pods at work etc - and they're not even the worst [Japan]). One of the reasons I'd never work in America, despite the massive salary increase I'd be getting. Money's not everything.
@midiglitch thanks for your words re Sheena - I'm glad you got something out of it, so to speak. I agree, to an extent - things like guitar/band - they're really going nowhere in general unless you're somebody like Slash. But I do think you need that enjoyment - something outside of work and relationships that gives your life a bit of meaning. Guitar defines a large part of who I am.
Spreading yourself too thin... I keep my hobbies list to a minimum. Guitar, films... err, that's about it. I realised that although variety is the spice of life and trying many different things in life can make you a bit happier, I wanted a less-frequent but deeper happiness through the labour of love that is intense guitar practice! Do one thing and do it lots and actually try to get good at it. I mean, it's achievable if you just put the hours in - turn off the tv etc. These days it's tailed off a bit but I am immensely grateful for the hours I put into it when I was younger. We do all deserve a pat on the back for learning an instrument! However got to be careful not to make it all about the gear..
I read some articles about efficient people once and realised (not trying to blow my own trumped) that I might be one of them. I rarely watch TV, I set goals and work toward completing them, I imagine being at the end goal so that it's not just a dream (other than being in a gigging rock band lol) - just not wasting time and putting focus on what's important and being an honest and harsh critic of yourself. Must admit that this last year I've done a bit more of the "variety is the spice of life" thing in terms of meeting friends more and eating out and "enjoying life." Sheena loved to travel and I'd like to do more, too - though a bit daunting on my own (or rather, I think it'd be a bit naff as the sharing is the best bit... for me, anyway). And that's been ok, but I feel a bit guilty about my guitar-ing. I'm still trying to complete the drums for this album I've been doing but that is like one of my life's big goals. Even if it comes out total rubbish and goes to the bargain basement £1 box, I don't care - I can say I've done it. Well, I do care - and I'm working to make it half-decent Every year I also do my New Year's Resolution. This year I said I'd exercise more, which I have done... and said I'd do more acoustic and singing, which I have done (and yet to do in front of others, but I will).
I'd love to do a 4-day week. The richness of that one extra day.... I say that now, but would I... if somebody offered it? It'd be mightily tempting but we do get used to the money.
I was out last night at a "widowed and young" group event I joined. It was basically a piss-up. I stood there and realised... this just isn't my thing. I don't like going out and having drinks (I don't really drink) with folk I don't really know. I actually felt angry that I'd wasted my time. So I'm not going do do it again. It doesn't mean I wont hang out with friends or have my own sort of downtime... but that's their thing, and as they're out on the lash, I'll be true to myself (important, that...) and progress on guitar. Anything worth doing does require sacrifice, hard work and long hours. And I like that I'm not wasting my time and putting it toward doing something productive.
Kids - I am immensely glad I've got my step-daughters. They're grown up, but the eldest (24) does need support as she is autistic. Unfortunately their dad doesn't grasp this and broke a death-bed promise to Sheena regarding her care (and then had the cheek to ask about what money he was getting), and it seems I'm the one doing all the heavy-lifting. It sucks for me in some ways because I'm a young guy still and taking on almost the entire parenting role - but I'm also sort of ok with it and it's better that I take care of her than him. That limits things I can do (she gets lonely a lot now her mum isn't here so I need to spend dedicated time with her) and places I could move to and work etc. It places me in a strange situation because IF I ever met somebody, they'd have to be the right person to accept all that. I actually went on one (just the one!) speed date a few months ago (I was sitting in the house depressed a lot and needed to get out and meet people) and I think this is what put off somebody who seemed interested. So I'm sort of resigned to being on my own. And most women would probably want kids of their own... I'm 34 next month... I'd want to know somebody for 5 years, I'll be too old (for me, anyway - I'm tired enough as-is!) ! When younger I thought I'd always want kids and then I went to uni and spotted "opportunity" and ever since I said to myself that I wanted to live a different sort of life - and I value that time I have to myself to DO things. But the responsibility is then on you to actually make those things happen and not waste the time. I think that if you make that decision, you ought to do great things with your time.
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Most of the time, springs to mind. See your already doing it.