Staying on task during funemployment
March 18, 2018 1:11 PM Subscribe
I recently and voluntarily left my job as a software developer and will be taking the summer off to enjoy life without labor. For me, that involves some amount of video games, but I worry that I won't be able resist the temptation to play games all the time.
I find that, to some extent, I'm unable to manage the amount of time I play video games. For example, if there are no chores that need to be done, no work to go to, or no friends to see, I'm happy to sit and play games for the entire day. From an outside perspective, this probably seems fine because all of my urgent tasks are done, but I know there are more productive ways I can spend my time (reading, learning online, programming for fun, etc.).
I'm a healthy individual and video games have never interfered with my life in a significant way. I'm also aware that I'm allowed to spend my time however I like and that my worth as an individual does not relate to the amount of time I spend productively.
BUT
I worry that while I'm unemployed I'll be unable to resist the temptation to play games all the time since there won't be anything extrinsic to keep me from doing so. If that happens, my goals for funemployment won't be met!
The ideal breakdown of how I spend my time during funemployment looks like:
45% personal projects
20% hanging with friends
20% exercising
10% video games / movies
5% cooking
Have any tips for how I can spend this upcoming wonderful period of time the way I want, without getting sucked into games?
I find that, to some extent, I'm unable to manage the amount of time I play video games. For example, if there are no chores that need to be done, no work to go to, or no friends to see, I'm happy to sit and play games for the entire day. From an outside perspective, this probably seems fine because all of my urgent tasks are done, but I know there are more productive ways I can spend my time (reading, learning online, programming for fun, etc.).
I'm a healthy individual and video games have never interfered with my life in a significant way. I'm also aware that I'm allowed to spend my time however I like and that my worth as an individual does not relate to the amount of time I spend productively.
BUT
I worry that while I'm unemployed I'll be unable to resist the temptation to play games all the time since there won't be anything extrinsic to keep me from doing so. If that happens, my goals for funemployment won't be met!
The ideal breakdown of how I spend my time during funemployment looks like:
45% personal projects
20% hanging with friends
20% exercising
10% video games / movies
5% cooking
Have any tips for how I can spend this upcoming wonderful period of time the way I want, without getting sucked into games?
I've taken staycations for shorter periods of time -- generally a month or so -- when my vacation balance ran up and my partner's wasn't enough to cover a real vacation. I found it useful to have one thing that I wanted to accomplish every day other than gaming and web browsing: going a hike, a bike ride, cooking a complicated dinner, whatever. This gave me enough freedom to "slack off" and not feel troubled by it, while also feeling productive. Your personal tolerance will vary; I don't like being super scheduled during my time off.
(Incidentally, this is how my partner and I structure travel together, and it works really well for us.)
Enjoy it! This is an awesome thing to be able to do.
posted by kdar at 1:33 PM on March 18, 2018
(Incidentally, this is how my partner and I structure travel together, and it works really well for us.)
Enjoy it! This is an awesome thing to be able to do.
posted by kdar at 1:33 PM on March 18, 2018
Find external obligations to force you out of the house or at least away from the screen each day. Invite friends to dinner to make yourself do all the pre guest chores AND give yourself a reason to cook and host. Take classes or attend events during the day to give yourself structure and support yourself in trying new things.
posted by spindrifter at 2:32 PM on March 18, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by spindrifter at 2:32 PM on March 18, 2018 [2 favorites]
I recently set a schedule on my router to block http and https between 8:30pm and 6am. It's a minimal barrier, since I could log into my router at any time and change it back, but so far it has been enough of a barrier that I say, "Welp, Internet is done for the evening, time to start getting ready for bed."
It has helped my sleep. If you're playing online games, perhaps a similar minimal barrier would be helpful for you.
posted by clawsoon at 2:58 PM on March 18, 2018
It has helped my sleep. If you're playing online games, perhaps a similar minimal barrier would be helpful for you.
posted by clawsoon at 2:58 PM on March 18, 2018
Set up a regular time to volunteer for something (Habitat for Humanity, entertaining animals through a rescue group, tutoring). Make it happen in the morning, and only play video games those evenings or evenings when you don't have a gig.
posted by amtho at 5:02 PM on March 18, 2018
posted by amtho at 5:02 PM on March 18, 2018
Can you do at least part of your personal projects from a library or coffeeshop? Or separate your gaming space from your working space? Do you know someone who works remotely who could come over? Getting some structure around the biggest chunk of your days will help.
posted by momus_window at 5:07 PM on March 18, 2018
posted by momus_window at 5:07 PM on March 18, 2018
Thank you for asking this question! I'm a first year teacher and this is my first summer not working in something like a million years. I'm incredibly excited, but I also know that I have a tendency to get both squirrel-y and sloth like when left to my own devices. I don't want to waste my entire summer! So I'm definitely going to be following this thread carefully!
posted by firei at 5:52 PM on March 18, 2018
posted by firei at 5:52 PM on March 18, 2018
I think the key to managing unstructured time is to explicitly structure your time, and make commitments to real actual humans that you'll be in a certain place every day or week. Recurring commitments are best because there's less friction. So sign up for classes or a personal trainer for your fitness time. Block off time and ideally rent space to work on personal projects. Plan recurring dinners with friends, or a weekly Sunday brunch.
posted by potrzebie at 7:26 PM on March 18, 2018
posted by potrzebie at 7:26 PM on March 18, 2018
What helps me in these kinds of periods is to try and keep a very clear picture of the overall life I want to lead. I want to be someone who goes to the gym, delivers side projects etc, and not someone who spends a lot of time in activities that while pleasurable, do not add up the life I want. So if I start each day with the question 'How would the best version of me live this day?' I tend to do a lot better. That said, I also have complete breakdowns in random surfing, so don't forget to be kind to yourself when you fail. Just go again.
posted by StephenF at 7:28 PM on March 18, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by StephenF at 7:28 PM on March 18, 2018 [3 favorites]
1) Have a clear idea about what your personal projects are, why you care about them, and when you want to have them done. Tie them to your values, or else it's easy to talk yourself out of buckling down to do the work. Be able to remind yourself why your specific projects (not just the idea of working on personal productivity) is better than video games.
2) Create some kind of routine where you have an unbreakable date with your to-do list once or twice a week. First thing after chores on Monday, you sit down with a notebook and check in on your own progress and set new goals and deadlines for yourself, and once you do that, treat yourself to a fancy pastry, so you feel good inside and other-inside.
3) Set your personal work goals and targets on a weekly basis rather than a daily one. Instead of saying "three hours of writing every day", know that you want to reach a milestone by Friday, and it will probably take 12 hours. Then you can plan chunks of time to "clock in" and write, or you can find them organically when you're inspired, and also be able to move things around when spontaneous plans come up... but if you're not hitting your goals and are running out of week-hours, you can practice saying "no" to other things to say "yes" to the work you committed to (and deep down want to finish, right?)
4) #nozerodays is a nice low bar to hold yourself to.
5) Accept that some of it will be hard and will take willpower you don't have yet. There's no magic structure that will ensure 100% effortless compliance. Don't be afraid to cheer yourself on early and often for making good choices (especially if they took effort).
posted by itesser at 10:05 PM on March 18, 2018
2) Create some kind of routine where you have an unbreakable date with your to-do list once or twice a week. First thing after chores on Monday, you sit down with a notebook and check in on your own progress and set new goals and deadlines for yourself, and once you do that, treat yourself to a fancy pastry, so you feel good inside and other-inside.
3) Set your personal work goals and targets on a weekly basis rather than a daily one. Instead of saying "three hours of writing every day", know that you want to reach a milestone by Friday, and it will probably take 12 hours. Then you can plan chunks of time to "clock in" and write, or you can find them organically when you're inspired, and also be able to move things around when spontaneous plans come up... but if you're not hitting your goals and are running out of week-hours, you can practice saying "no" to other things to say "yes" to the work you committed to (and deep down want to finish, right?)
4) #nozerodays is a nice low bar to hold yourself to.
5) Accept that some of it will be hard and will take willpower you don't have yet. There's no magic structure that will ensure 100% effortless compliance. Don't be afraid to cheer yourself on early and often for making good choices (especially if they took effort).
posted by itesser at 10:05 PM on March 18, 2018
Response by poster: Thank you all for the great answers! I think they're all valid strategies.
To summarize:
- Create external, repeating commitments like volunteering, classes, hosting friends,
- Establish a minimum number of things to be done every day, and do them every day
- Create a why for each of the non-video game tasks that should get done
- Set weekly goals, not daily goals, to allow yourself some wiggle room while still getting things done
- Force the internet to turn off at a certain time
- Separate spaces meant for work or play, but not both (go to the library, coffee shop, or rent a work space)
- Be kind to yourself if you do end up wasting too much time
posted by lalunamel at 5:46 AM on March 20, 2018 [1 favorite]
To summarize:
- Create external, repeating commitments like volunteering, classes, hosting friends,
- Establish a minimum number of things to be done every day, and do them every day
- Create a why for each of the non-video game tasks that should get done
- Set weekly goals, not daily goals, to allow yourself some wiggle room while still getting things done
- Force the internet to turn off at a certain time
- Separate spaces meant for work or play, but not both (go to the library, coffee shop, or rent a work space)
- Be kind to yourself if you do end up wasting too much time
posted by lalunamel at 5:46 AM on March 20, 2018 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
Have you considered volunteering on-site for a charity? Your skills and sustained attention for a few months could make a huge difference for a nonprofit. They rarely get help from software developers for more than a few hours here and there. Having an appointment you can’t break once or twice a week would give structure to your days, and could prevent you from going down an unproductive time-suck.
posted by third word on a random page at 1:19 PM on March 18, 2018 [2 favorites]