Ask Slashdot: What To Do With New Free Time?

An anonymous reader writes "After 25 years of doing IT (started as a PC technician and stayed on technical of IT work through out my career) I've been moved to a position of doing only on call work (but paid as if it is a normal 9-5 job). This leaves me with a lot of free time... As someone who's used to working 12+ hours a day + the odd night/weekend on call, I'm scared I'll lose my mind with all the new free time I'll have. Any suggestions (beyond develop hobbies, spend time with family) on how to deal with all the new free time?"

Comments

so many things

[stoolpigeon]

write apps, contribute to open projects, write a book and or books, volunteer with a non-profit. Or read reddit a lot and play starcraft or something. So many possibilities.

Re:so many things

[Anonymous Coward]

I'd say start your own business. This situation of making money while doing nothing is the perfect time to build something that will allow you to becoming financially independent.

Re:so many things

[c0lo]

Assuming the necessary condition are met: find yourself a mistress and arrange a "leak" about her to your wife; the life will become a lot less boring (a lot more screwing?)

Re:so many things

[hedwards]

Yes, but somehow I don't think giving all your income to the ex-wife in the form of alimony is the kind of screwing that the submitter is interested in.

Re:so many things

[TWX]

(a lot more screwing?)

Uh, does divorce court count?

In all seriousness, pick up some non-computer hobbies if your living arrangements give you the space.

I've tinkered with cars, played musical instruments, built model rockets, played with small machines and appliances, learned to dance, gotten a ham radio license, worked on the house, etc.

I found I don't do too well mixing my career and my hobbies. I did it for computers and now I really don't like computers like I did before.

You could start a youtube channel...

Re:so many things

[c0lo]

A valid solution for the problem of spare time: a second job will bring back those 12+ working hours that are so direly missed.

Re:so many things

[cayenne8]

Seriously?

Is this actually a problem for people? Nothing to involve their lives?

Geez, if I won the lottery tomorrow, I'd walk outta work without a backwards glance, and be overjoyed to have time for ME to do all the stuff I like doing when NOT having to come to work.

Are there actually that many people that are so tied up in their jobs, that they don't have a personality and a life outside of it?

If so.......sad.

Re:so many things

[Sockatume]

Those sound a lot like hobbies to me.

Re:so many things

[Intrepid imaginaut]

It happens, I knew a man, a lifer in one of the byzantine public sector warrens hereabouts, he worked 40 years doing the exact same thing day after day after day and then retired. Two years later he was dead, just didn't have any direction or drive in his life, and couldn't cope with it. I believe some long term prison inmates face the same problem. Personally I'd have gone completely insane living like that in the first place.

Anyway to keep things on-topic, learn my friend, learn all you can. The internet is chock full of information about all sorts of amazing things, use it! Use it hard. I have ~140 tabs just on educational subjects open at any given time.

Re:so many things

[blackraven14250]

I think the solution to that problem is to move to Florida first.

Re:so many things

[xtal]

Depends if you have a job or a career. I'm so tied up in my career that it does define who I am - of course, I love every minute of it. Winning the lotto sure wouldn't change that - but I'd certainly take on different projects.

Re:so many things

[AvitarX]

Winning the lotto implies you have the money to do those things.

If I had 40 more hours of free time, but the same amount of money I have now, I'd love it, but I certainly wouldn't be able to just do more of the things I love. Also, I like doing things with the people in my life, and they'd still all have jobs. It can see how it'd get tedious.

Re:so many things

[Anonymous Coward]

Indeed, my dad's been retired for 20 years and says he doesn't know how he ever found time to work. I retire next year, people ask "but what will you do?" My answer is "any damned thing I want!"

Some people live to work, I work to live. In eight months I'll be shouting Martin Luther King's phase "Free at last! Free at last! Thank God almighty, free at last!"

The first thing I think I'll do is take a hammer to my alarm clock.

Re:so many things

[stoolpigeon]

It all depends on your point of view. Making and selling mobile apps could be a lot more than a hobby.

Contributing to a FOSS project - is that a hobby? I'd say the number of hours a week put in determine that.

I got to sit and have a long conversation once with Louise Solheim. Her husband was Karsten Solheim. He had passed away by the time we met, but she told my wife and I the story of how he started his business and transitioned from being an engineer to selling golf clubs. A lot of what he did for a very long time could easily be described as a hobby - but it became an incredibly profitable business over time.

Re:so many things

[Anonymous Coward]

Read every comment on Slashdot. That's a full-time job. :-)

Re:so many things

[g0bshiTe]

Seriously, that's the best you got and you're on /. come on now, you can do better.

I propose yes you do hammer the alarm clock but take a week or two and Rube Goldberg it up as a last hurrah. Film it and share it with us.

Re:so many things

[tlhIngan]

Seriously?
Is this actually a problem for people? Nothing to involve their lives?

Geez, if I won the lottery tomorrow, I'd walk outta work without a backwards glance, and be overjoyed to have time for ME to do all the stuff I like doing when NOT having to come to work.

Are there actually that many people that are so tied up in their jobs, that they don't have a personality and a life outside of it?

Well, given work takes a major chunk of your time, yes. Especially if you add the commute.

Sure there's a bunch of things on your to-do list one can work on, but that only lasts so long. It can also be a bit self-destructive if one doesn't have the motivation to wake up in the morning and sleeps in all day and gets lazy.

Just having something to structure their time with helps motivate a lot of people. And while the vast majority of people will walk out the moment they win the lotto, they rapidly find two things - 1) they are suddenly bored, 2) the money doesn't last.

Retired people often have the same problem - they enjoy the "extended vacation" but after a few months, find themselves with lots of time and nothing to do. Even the recently unemployed find the same problems (and it often leads to self-destructive habits like alcoholism).

A big problem is socialization - despite wanting to be cooped up all day, most people do want to be social. Of course, with all your friends at work, and too tired when they come home to have a drink, it's rapidly isolating.

Unless one actively transitions away, it's quite difficult - it often requires cutting back gradually while finding other things to do with the time - other hobbies, education, etc. It also allows one to build up the discipline required to follow through and to keep one's mind and body busy to avoid being a fat lazy slob.

Re:so many things

[morari]

Most people define themselves by their jobs, no matter how trivial of a task it may actually be. They have no hobbies, no hopes, no dreams. They go to work 9-5, then come home to their white picket fence and 2.5 kids. The only thing they truly look forward to is mowing their lawn for the third time that week. People are thoughtless automatons that fall apart without orders. You'd think they could pick a creative outlet to use their time for. To learn and ponder the bigger picture, but they won't. Most simply can't. Welcome to the human race.

Re:so many things

[unixisc]

Or post on /.

Re:so many things

[bonehead]

Agreed.

My biggest source of stress is lacking the time to do the things that I would love to do. I would love to hike the entire Appalachian Trail start to finish, but given that that is a 4 to 6 month undertaking, I can't. I would love to spend some time sailing the ocean. I'd like to spend more time fishing, camping. I don't get to spend nearly as much time with my family as I would like.

It baffles me that there are actually people who *fear* free time.

Hell, one of my biggest fantasies is to have a day, just one, where I actually get to remember what being "bored" feels like.

Re:so many things

[operagost]

I'd wire up the speaker to the trigger for an IED. Having the poor, unsuspecting device do itself in would be deliciously ironic.

Re:so many things

[pnutjam]

This guy needs a copy of Civilzation... And someone to remind him to eat.

Re:so many things

[SerpentMage]

Its called work contract? Most businesses especially a job like this one don't allow you to have a job on the side. The idea with this job is that you are always available! This is why you are paid a 9 to 5 salary and dont work it. My brother has a job like this one. For the most part he is in maintenance, etc. But sometimes he has to on call service. It is not much fun because you can be called 24x7, which means,yes even Christmas might go down the tubes...

Re:so many things

[Anonymous Coward]

I've seen this happen to many people. The brother of a co-worker of my dad's retired from work after 40 years. He sat in the house and watched TV (a lot of TV). That's it. Breakfast, TV, Lunch, TV, supper, TV, bed. He suffered a massive heart attack two years later, was in a nursing home two years after that, dead three years after that. A neighbour had driven a truck for about 35 years. No family, couldn't spare the time. He had a banjo (brand new) that he always wanted to learn to play. He had a motorcycle that he always wanted to ride. When he died, his girlfriend called the ambulance and they carried him off. He died in poor health, with a 15 year old motorcycle with 20 miles on it, a 10 year old Fender banjo with all the packing material still on it. He thought he would still have time. Nope! I try and do something really nice for me every day. I work to live, I don't live to work. I have worked (briefly) for employers who thought my very existence was to provide them with labour and profits, and I didn't work for them long. Like one parent said, if I won the lottery tomorrow, I would be building a light sport aircraft in the garage, playing golf every weekend, and I somehow wouldn't mind going on a lot of road trips, doing a lot of travelling, learning to scuba dive, have (a lot more) photo equipment than I have now, and probably doing the amateur farmer thing and donating excess food to the poor.

Re:so many things

[geminidomino]

It's not a non-compete, and being "on-call" isn't "your own time."

Re:so many things

[samkass]

Whatever you do, make sure it looks good on a resumé. You're now relatively inefficient to the company that employs you.

Re:so many things

[Cederic]

Work doesn't make me feel good about myself. Being out of work makes me feel relaxed and happy.

I try and hit a sensible balance between happiness and income, but given financial independence I'd stop working as quickly as possible.

Re:so many things

[Anonymous Coward]

It happens, I knew a man, a lifer in one of the byzantine public sector warrens hereabouts, he worked 40 years doing the exact same thing day after day after day and then retired. Two years later he was dead, just didn't have any direction or drive in his life, and couldn't cope with it. I believe some long term prison inmates face the same problem. Personally I'd have gone completely insane living like that in the first place.

Go back to school and learn something that may not be useful but interests you (e.g., philosophy, art history).

It fills one's day and still gives flexibility because you don't necessarilly care about the marks, but about the experience.

Re:so many things

[icebike]

Cutting down over a few months is not significantly different than cutting down cold turkey.
You still have to find new things to do, and you are less likely to find anything new when you essentially start with a long weekend every week. I've been through this, and didn't find an additional day off helped much, because you know the same mess will be there when you return.

Besides that, the Original Poster still is on-call, which means cell phone in his pocket, and computer near by, regardless of where he might be. If he can do everything remotely from a computer he's good to go. Hop in the car with laptop in tow, and get out and see the world a bit. Visit the parks. See old friends.

The good news: He's found Slash-Dot, so entire days can be soaked up pontificating on nothing at all. On line gaming is another good time sink.

Re:so many things

[wooferhound]

Styx
Too Much Time On My Hands
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNYKxiRJ2LA

Re:so many things

[CAIMLAS]

Personally, if I didn't have a job, I'd get bored pretty quickly. Why? Because everyone else is working; that's what they do all day. Our jobs provide a significant social outlet. And - chances are - if you work a "9-5" job, that's when most other people are working too. Unless you have a different schedule, friends who are all layabouts, or a massive social network, chances are good you'll be doing a lot of things by yourself. That gets old fast.

This is part of what makes working from home so difficult, IME.

I'm not saying work is the end all, be all - thank God - but I am saying that it provides a meaningful structure to life (which can be gotten elsewhere, but not easily or meaningfully, usually).

Re:so many things

[cayenne8]

Friends are people you deal with outside of work. You should be friendly to co-workers, get along with them, etc....but rarely is it a good idea to have more than that and dangerous to have social interactions with them outside of work.

There are exceptions to the rule, but in general, work and real life should be separated.

I have TONS of friends...I have great co-workers, but those circles don't generally intersect.

Re:so many things

[lsatenstein]

write apps, contribute to open projects, write a book and or books, volunteer with a non-profit. Or read reddit a lot and play starcraft or something. So many possibilities.

Get a dog and take long walks.

Re:so many things

[bingoUV]

If one of my biggest fantasies took just one day to realize, I'd find that day within a month.

Re:so many things

[hawk]

Head out onto the street. Look around.

You will notice some people are shaped a little differently. They have a couple of bumps, and their hips stick out. Some even have longer hair than the system administrator in the back room.

These are called "girls", and can be an interesting way to spend your time . . . :)

hawk

Re:so many things

[CAIMLAS]

See, I've worked with most of my friends at one point or another. Some I've met through work and later became friends; some I've become friends with through work, and with others, we've intentionally tried to work together because, well, we work well together - and not all in IT, I might add, though that is a proclivity we all share.

get a library card

[jehan60188]

get a library card, and learn about something you've always been interested in.

Re:get a library card

[somersault]

When I'm interested in something, I Google it. Sometimes I do buy books, but Googling is generally a better first step than going to the library.

The library would probably be better if you have no idea what you're interested in, and want to find something completely random and new..

Re:get a library card

[Russ1642]

I went to a library once last year. It felt like I stepped back in time to when I was in high school. Nothing had changed. The books hadn't changed, the computers hadn't changed, their sense of relevance hadn't changed. On top of that it was noisier than hell as people were using it as a meeting place so it was an awful place to study. I backed out of there slowly and I'll probably never visit a library again.

Re:get a library card

[ArhcAngel]

The library would probably be better if you have no idea what you're interested in, and want to find something completely random and new..

Isn't that what the "I'm Feeling Lucky" button is for?

Re:get a library card

[gauauu]

I went to a library once last year. It felt like I stepped back in time to when I was in high school. Nothing had changed. The books hadn't changed, the computers hadn't changed, their sense of relevance hadn't changed. On top of that it was noisier than hell as people were using it as a meeting place so it was an awful place to study. I backed out of there slowly and I'll probably never visit a library again.

Your city must have a poorly managed library. My small-city library is always getting new interesting books (I look through the computer & technology books and magazines every month, and there's always new stuff on the shelves). If they don't have a book you're looking for, they'll request another library to mail it to them, and so you can borrow just about any book you can think of, without any sort of fee. They're always working to incorporate new technology (they lend out kindles, they have an ebook lending program, you can use your smartphone to checkout books by scanning the barcode). They also host all sorts of programs (cultural events, performances, etc) to try to engage the community and bring people into the library.

I guess it depends on your library, but some libraries are pretty cool places.

Re:get a library card

[alexander_686]

I am finding Massive Online Open Courses better then Google or the Library. The problem with those 2 is you tend to get a scattering of knowledge. The MOOCs I have taken march you from start to end covering all of the bases.

I have worked with some brilliant self-taught programmers but they always had gaps in their knowledge which resulted in some interesting kludges.

Re:get a library card

[somersault]

Haha.. the weird thing is that I'm not sure if you're kidding.. I wonder what percentage of people actually know what that button does..?

Re:get a library card

[somersault]

MOOCs are usually first year level stuff though, and in my first two years of Uni I didn't learn anything that I hadn't already picked up myself (okay so my dad gave me a couple of lessons too, but I got most of it from books, before the internet was available to me..).

Someone talking about some software I wrote when I was ~16 referred to it as working well, but "twisted hacked" :p

Re:get a library card

[Russ1642]

Exactly. I needed a study space and thought a library would be good. Quiet, few distractions. Boy was I wrong. I got to watch security guards fight with homeless people. So I went back another day. Same BS. Libraries suck for studying.

Re:get a library card

[LateArthurDent]

When I'm interested in something, I Google it. Sometimes I do buy books, but Googling is generally a better first step than going to the library.

The library would probably be better if you have no idea what you're interested in, and want to find something completely random and new..

That sounds backwards. You google when you don't have a clear idea of what you're interested in. It is the first step, but not where learning happens. Roughly 15 minutes into your googling and wikipedia one of the things you should have found on your research of the topic is a list of books which sound interesting if you want to have a deeper understanding into the topic. At that point, you head to the library with a very specific book in mind.

Re:get a library card

[slim]

You went to one bad library, and therefore all of them suck?

I went to my local library at 9:30am the other week, to kill time before a dentist's appointment (usually if I go to the library it's on a weekend).

The study area was fully occupied with people studying in silence.

Re:get a library card

[Russ1642]

If my local library sucks then it doesn't really matter about the other ones. I'm not driving across town to a slightly better library.

Re:get a library card

[ArhcAngel]

I actually wish that is what it WAS for. The "I'm bored with the interwebs...Ooo! What does this do?" button.

Re:get a library card

[TheSeatOfMyPants]

That's what StumbleUpon is for. :)

Re:get a library card

[somersault]

I mean that when you google, you start with a search term. You're directing the search. Even if you click through random links in wikipedia, you're still following a certain trail of links. In a library, you are surrounded by books, can just wander in a random direction, and find something completely unrelated to anything you may have even been thinking about. I know you can approximate that by looking at an online book store, but the library is much more likely to give you random new things, and you're able to quickly leaf through the books etc if you want to.

Btw I actually love reading eBooks, I'm just saying that the library seems like a good place to come across something unexpectedly interesting and educational. When I'm online I often end up looking at funny pictures of cats.

Life

[TemperedAlchemist]

Has work so drained your soul that you have forgotten how to live?

Re:Life

[Anonymous Coward]

Probably - that is what happened to me during grad school.

Re:Life

[junq316]

As someone in a similar position as the original poster, I'm facing the same issues he does. I'm about to change jobs and will have a lot more freetime in the future compared to now. Going from a very demanding job working a minimum of 12h a day to a 9to5. And yes, if most of your waking hours are spent working and you sleep with one eye open in case an alarm goes off, you do tend to forget how to live. It won't be an easy transition, so best of luck to timothy on figuring this out. For me, I'm trying to find new hobbies that won't have me sitting at home infront of a screen but to actually go outside and meet & interact with people.

Re:Life

[Quirkz]

This, I think. I would have actually said "go back and time and learn to work 8 hour days and fill the rest of the time with something else of your choosing."

That said, and despite the fact you dismissed it, hobbies and pet projects are the way to go. This could include technical hobbies, which might even be part-time businesses, if you're really driven to work. I spent five happy years running a web-based computer game on the side when I was a PC tech, for instance. Trying your hand at some new technologies (mobile app, programming, database stuff) might be a fun way to branch out.

Besides that: try classes. There's a lot of neat stuff blossoming online. Coursera, Udacity, and the like have a number of technical and nontechnical subjects. You could also try a traditional class, if the combination of location, price, and timing is right.

And if that's not enough, read a few books, go for a few walks, dabble in some things, and chase after whatever seems fun.

Re:Life

[korgitser]

It is common for an it guy to get stuck waiting in the main loop when there is no new input. Beyond ones existing hobbies, i would recommend turning to your wife for recommendations. She is supposed to know you well.
something like
ssh wife "dd if=/dev/urandom bs=1M count=1" > /dev/null
should fill up your own entropy pool quite nicely and refresh your imagination.

Re:Life

[Anonymous Coward]

I've been in that situation twice before. First time I did long-term travelling, second time I started volunteering for events and festivals around town. Both times were extremely stressful at first, especially for a nerd like me, but both experiences made me grow as a person 100 times more than a lifetime of working in a sheltered office. Seize the day, you won't regret it.

One word of caution: if you decide to volunteer, do not do so as their computer expert, that's just sad. Go out and take tickets, man the information booth or the merchandise stand, anything that is as far away from computers as possible.

Brag about it

[Anonymous Coward]

When I am faced with similar problems, the first thing to do is go on slashdot and brag about it to all the people without my priviliges

Re:Brag about it

[Zaelath]

It's part of the masturbation issue: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=co_DNpTMKXk

Learn Programming --- interesting side project

[Anonymous Coward]

Allows you to make financial gains from something that is interesting (and dare I say it, fun at times).

GOLF

[cod3r_]

Bottom line. Get to work on that golf game.

Try exploring the forbidden planet

[phayes]

All that free time would be well used if you could finally go on a date with a real woman...

Porn

[Anonymous Coward]

Porn. Furious amounts of porn.

Re:Porn

[SleazyRidr]

Oh yes, with that much free time you can really get into the sub-sub-sub-genres where it gets really interesting. There is a whole world of porn out there, and without the couple of months I had between jobs I would never have even scratched the surface. So scratch that surface my friend, and find the world of wonders awaiting you.

Re:Porn

[Anonymous Coward]

Confucius say: Man who masturbate with sandpaper get raw deal.

Re:Porn

[Gaygirlie]

This is what I was going to suggest myself, too!

well...

[Anonymous Coward]

first thing, ask slashdot.

An Understatement

[Splitterside]

To say I wish I had your problem would be an understatement.

Re:An Understatement

[xmousex]

it is exactly how i feel, my every last moment is jammed packed, one second smashed up tightly against the next. Projects at work i have to put away for the projects i have to hit at home, and then the weekend its mostly just deciding in what environment im going to pound the shit out of my keyboard on the next project.

Seriously i do not understand people who have technical training and abilities and not spasm out at the endless possibilities of things that need to be built immediately... i likely have less then a hundred years to live and im panicked at what i know will not get done.

and then theres the family and relatives constantly coming over that need help with their laptop/website/wordpress...

cant you all just leave me alone im busy

I have a suggestion

[Anonymous Coward]

You're welcome to come do my job for me. In return, I'm happy to find ways to spend all the free time you'd otherwise have.

Don't worry too much

[Rob the Bold]

You don't really need to worry about what to do with your new-found free time. Nature abhors a vacuum and whatever you already do will expand to fill it up like it was never there.

Volunteer work

[edsousa]

Use your skills (or learn new skills) to help people who can't pay you back.
I am a volunteer firefighter/EMT and the biggest joy is when the frail old lady you just helped thanks you. I'm sure you can find a number of places where you can make a difference.

Re:Volunteer work

[dubdays]

Use your skills (or learn new skills) to help people who can't pay you back. I am a volunteer firefighter/EMT and the biggest joy is when the frail old lady you just helped thanks you. I'm sure you can find a number of places where you can make a difference.

Absolutely...MOD UP!!! I've been an EMT, and I completely agree with this. I love IT, but if I could be an EMT full-time without having to worry about making money, I'd do it in a heartbeat.

Re:Volunteer work

[frallon]

I agree. Teach kids. Share what you know. http://coderdojo.com/

Electronics

[Alioth]

Learn how to make electronic devices. It's never been easier to get started with this stuff than today. Start out with a breadboard, some transistors/resistors/capacitors/common IC types like the venerable 555, work with AVR or PIC microcontrollers, and perhaps work up to designing digital circuits in CPLD and FPGAs. You can even get four layer PCBs made in a factory for your projects in small runs.

Re:Electronics

[gl4ss]

I'd know exactly what I would do faced with a similar situation.

I'd build a cnc machine. that would provide enough tinkering and learning for a decade.

the question is just bragging. otherwise it would be "I'm bored! help me!".

Re:Electronics

[TeknoHog]

I was about to say the same thing, specifically about FPGAs. I've played with computers and electronics since I was a kid, and there are two major things that have rekindled that childhood sense of wonder about them during my adult years: Linux and FPGAs. The magical thing about FPGAs is that they are the ultimate combination of programming and electronics; not just designing a circuit with a programming language, but also another kind of programming in itself. As a side benefit, I think I have learned tons about parallel programming, because in FPGAs you are building real circuits with real parallelism.

Of course, you need to have some goals in mind what to do with them. fpga4fun is a good starting point with some toy projects that will probably get you interested further.

Re:Electronics

[TheSeatOfMyPants]

Or, for a related first step, learn to solder electronics using old throwaway PCBs and identify/repair common problems, which can lead to all kinds of other projects. You might be surprised at how long it takes to merely become proficient at it (let alone really good), but it's a very relaxing "Zen" sort of hobby to practice, and can be done just as easily outside when the weather's nice as long as you have a safe workspace and electricity.

PS. If anyone does decide to try it, check the reviews before you buy any desoldering braid or solder -- a lot of the stuff out there is useless crap. (I ended up with really shitty solder & desoldering braid from Radio Shack, and they were so useless and frustrating that I almost gave up entirely.)

Ok

[redmid17]

Develop hobbies, spend time with family, and work on expanding your technical skills. Fuck even if you don't want to do any of those, just catch up on some TV or something. Read a book. How did you pass your time before you got this position?

You could...

[Anonymous Coward]

1. Watch Battlestar Galactica, every Star Trek episode, Dr. Who, LOST, Twin Peaks, Larry Sanders, Arrested Development?
2. Learn to write iPhone, Android, Windows Phone, webOS, and Blackberry apps
3. Learn to work with AWS, Hadoop, Wordpress, Django
4. Play an instrument
5. Read all of Stephen King's Dark Tower series
6. If all else fails, go ride a bike or go hiking

Air-cooled Volkswagen

[intermodal]

If I were in your position, I'd get an old air-cooled Volkswagen and restore it. Probably an old VW camper or bug. There's something appealing about getting to know a machine inside and out.

uh...

[houbou]

why is this on Slashdot? why are YOU on Slashdot if you need to ask a question like this? not being disrespectful, just curious... and then again, not really all that curious, perhaps just sarcastic.

Re:uh...

[idontgno]

Because it's a question... and this is "Ask Slashdot".

Think about it. If I had to ask any community for advice on slacking, Slashdot has got to be the absolute optimum target.

Just be grateful this particular "Ask Slashdot" isn't asking us to engineer his sound system or solve his failing interpersonal relations at work.

Re:uh...

[Ozymandias_KoK]

I disagree - at least there he'd be asking "I need advice on subject X. What should I do?" on a specific topic instead of "I have too much time on my hands. What should I do?" which is so vague as to be meaningless.

Re:uh...

[houbou]

Yep, I agree with you and that was pretty much why I replied the way I did. But if he's got too much free time, I can always pass him a few of my projects for him to do (since he's paid anyways) we can always keep him busy that way.

Ask Slashdot: What To Do With New Free Time?

[datalore_tv]

Raspberry Pi - nuf said. Or outsource yourself. You can remote into other people's systems to help them out. #envy

develop skills

[KernelMuncher]

In the current job market it's always desirable to keep up one's skills. Learning a new language like Python or (if you haven't already) Java would be great. If your language skills are good contributing to an open source project is smart. Both of these document your continuing education. It's good to show you can benefit the company in multiple ways (or be prepared for another job if necessary).

Re:develop skills

[SecurityTheatre]

- Learning a new language like Python or (if you haven't already) Java would be great. -

  Or Spanish...

Or Portugese... mmmmm yes.

Re:develop skills

[aaarrrgggh]

Yup. Your current position sounds like a trap. You need to either diversify income sources or add skills or something, assuming you aren't ready for retirement. If you are 45-50, it seems like those are the danger years.

If I was in your shoes I would get a realtor's license.

polish your CV

[lfourrier]

not sure your job will still exists in 6 month...

Re:polish your CV

[Anonymous Coward]

not sure your job will still exists in 6 month...

Agreed. You should spend this free time preparing your skills to find new work. Improve your professional network. Update your skills. Get certified. You might have more than six months, though. Some places can take a couple of years to write you off, if you're lucky.

You're asking the wrong crowd

[mepperpint]

Go post your question on a forum for stay-at-home parents. They should have some pretty good ideas as they have a lot of mind-numbing boredom to deal with.

I'm busy... really I am...

[ChromaticDragon]

Nice try boss.

I really don't have any free time.
(these aren't the droids you're looking for)

I'm totally swamped... really...

We have so much work, you shouldn't even begin to think of headcount reductions. But if you are, I hear Jimmy may have some free time...

Bragging.

[Anonymous Coward]

I can't help but feel he is only asking us to show off.

Dear /.,

I want some advice. Every time I leave the house more women proposition me. It is getting difficult to find the time to spend with all these ladies. What should I do?

N. Joe Face

Re:Bragging.

[Darinbob]

Show off? He says he's been doing 12+ hour work days for 25 years. This guy is screaming for for help! If anyone out there is a professional psychiatrist, you need to contact this poster and help him adjust to the real world. There's some sort of mental illness spreading in the US that makes some workers think it's normal and legal to exceed 40 hours in a week without getting overtime.

As you said

[mblase]

Develop hobbies, spend time with family.

How the heck are WE supposed to know what you'll enjoy doing? Try a few things and figure it out.

Obvious answer

[Cyfun]

...you mean besides masturabte?

The Bucket List

[yogeshg1987]

Write yourself a bucket list. Here's some inspiration: http://www.nerdfitness.com/epic-quest/ And don't forget to start striking things off. :)

Education...

[David_Hart]

Check to see if your company has an educational program where they reimburse their employees for taking university courses. If so, see if you can sign up for a degree program (i.e. Masters in IT or an MBA). Taking 1 Masters level course at a time, while working, will eat up a lot of time, taking 2 will eat up most of it.

There are a lot of people on here who do not understand the value of university education, so don't let their opinions sway you if it's something that you would like to do. After all, if the company is paying for it, why not take advantage of the opportunity.

Walden

[Bleek II]

This person, "anonymous," clearly needs to read Walden. E-text http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/205 Full audio version http://librivox.org/walden-by-henry-david-thoreau/

Porn

[wbr1]

Lots and lots of porn.. the last refuge of a bored neckbeard.

Prelude to Firing?

[BoRegardless]

Get another career or position going REAL QUICK!

Mod parent -1, Redundant ;)

[Kjella]

If you remembered what life was all about you wouldn't be working 12+ hours a day in the first palce. Add sleep, commute, basic living like hygiene, meals and basic housekeeping and it's obvious you don't have a life outside work. I could do it for a short while for lots of money, but in general life's too short to live it later. Not that I'm doing anything "useful" with my spare time in that sense, but I'm certainly enjoying it. You want to be an old geezer with money because all you've done in life is work? Well if you make it that far, most that work all day and all night don't.

Re:Mod parent -1, Redundant ;)

[JaredOfEuropa]

Not that I'm doing anything "useful" with my spare time in that sense, but I'm certainly enjoying it.

To me, this is very important. I've seen a few people around me who so got in the habit of always being busy at work, that they crammed what little free time they had with activities and hobbies as well. And I've been there myself. Of course, hobbies are fine, but I am a lot happier overall after I started "pissing away" (as I used to call it) some of my free time. Just doing whatever I feel like, which includes doing nothing at all except lying on the lawn with a beer, gazing up at the sky. A little down time for the brain, no distractions, calls, or tablets near at hand, helps me perform better at work as well.

It's simple.

[azav]

Learn shit.

Do shit.

Bang your wife

[mooingyak]

She ain't getting any younger.

Re:Bang your wife

[InitZero]

His current wife may not be getting any younger but his next wife is already half her age.

Cheers,
Matt

Learn how to be.

[bdwoolman]

Meditate.

Learn how to be.

Once you know how to be.. you will know what to do.

Hint: Start with the breath.

Re:Learn how to be.

[Graydyn Young]

If he hasn't learned how to breath yet, then yes I'd say that would be a great place to start.

Exercise

[Sez Zero]

Just do it.

You sound like your tempted by complacency

[onyxruby]

You can't afford to get complacent, resist the temptation. Your 25 years into your career, which could easily mean your in your 40's and have another 20+ years to go. Your far from done with your career and need to prepare for the next job. Your in IT, that means you have one of the few fields that demands more education after you graduate than before. Look at industry trends and start training for your next thing.

There's a five year difference between someone on the bleeding edge and a dinosaur. Experience makes it easier to give into the temptation of complacency and complacency is how you can far too easily become one of the countless numbers of IT people that can't get a job because their skills are out of date. Age discrimination in IT is entirely too real and you have to stay as hungry for career success now as you were fresh out of school.

Nothing

[Anonymous Coward]

A few friends of mine have recently switched jobs so they are working less time. Let me share something that has worked well for them: Make no plans for two weeks.

When you first find yourself with free time you may think you need to fill it up with a hobby or visiting people or getting a part-time job or starting a new project. Don't do that right away. Give yourself a few weeks where you daydream or consider options, but make no plans. Your body is in the habit of working and you will feel a drive to keep moving. Don't. Relax, let your mind and body adjust to your new schedule.

Eventually, two or three weeks into the new gig, you will probably find you naturally gravitate toward certain activities. Maybe you end up playing ball in the park or reading about history or you learn a new language or you start hanging out at the pub. Whatever it is, let it happen naturally. Don't go out into the world with a set plan, let yourself wander aimlessly for a few weeks and something will catch your interest.

Update your skills

[DoofusOfDeath]

If you only exercise your IT skills when called, you'll probably find yourself a lot less marketable if/when this new gig dries up.

Assuming you're on the verge of retirement, I'd work aggressively during this time to stay marketable.

Re:Update your skills

[MadChicken]

This. Observe carefully the direction of the industry and apply yourself like a student to some upcoming tech. It's easier (less outlay) with software/programming but you can probably keep yourself occupied with learning admin tasks as well.

Free time?

[fustakrakich]

Catch up on old reruns... Nick at nite... Then go to the beach...

Any suggestions...

[l3v1]

Yes: develop hobbies, spend time with family.

I'd do that.

Otherwise, be creative. Start by being creative enough to come up with some ideas to spend that free time creatively.

If all fails, go volunteer.

There's lots of ways to pass the time.

[wonkey_monkey]

Hitch up your pants. Air whittle. Make friends with a Chinese man!

Try this "What if..." question

[Fubari]

What if you didn't have to work for a living?
Suppose you inherit $5 billion from a long-lost uncle.
What would you do ?

Some people I ask say they would "Move to a tropical island and drink margaritas all day."
Some people I ask say they would "Travel around the world."

Fine... I have trouble imagining doing anything like that for more than 30 days tops.
What would you do with the rest of your life?
What cause would you work for?
What language (human, or programing) would you learn?
What skills would you learn (flying? martial arts? scuba?)

The point of the question isn't to give you a "single right answer".
Instead the point is to help put some boundaries around what you want to focus your life on, to get an idea of what interests you.
And then maybe help jump start some brainstorming about how to make it practical...

Good luck! Sounds like you have a neat opportunity here, do write back in a year and tell us what you did with it :-)

Re:Try this "What if..." question

[Darinbob]

Wow, I'd be getting 8 hours sleep a night! Seriously, I'm baffled by people who voluntarily subject themselves to these long working hours. If you can't get the job done in 40 hours a week, the the work load needs to be cut. The more that workers continue to work longer than this then the more corporations will start expecting this abnormality from everyone. Being "on call" should be a rarity; if the entire staff is on call every day, then something is broken. If the same worker is on call all the time then something is broken. If the company treats "on call" as free overtime then something is broken. For god's sake, if you think this is normal then STOP and get a new career. It is not healthy to work those long hours, it is not healthy to go home and continue the office work from there, it is not healthy to be a slave.

At the very least, the first thing to do when getting free time is nothing. Sit down and do literally nothing. Stop panicking every minute about what the corporate overlord will think if people start doing nothing.

The US is considered a joke by the rest of the world, the US worker is being viewed as a workaholic who never takes a vacation before retirement.

Hike!

[lxrslh]

Seriously, after being cooped up in a basement or server room or cube farm, your body is not likely to be a fit as your mind and it will eventually desert you long before you're ready. Get outdoors, hike in state parks, national parks, local greenways, etc. Listen for wildlife, look for unusual vegetation, apply some brain cells to learning about evolution and our natural history. Sweat is good!

Two things

[Rambo Tribble]

First, learn. Learn anything you can. History, languages, geography, philosophy, any and all of it will enrich your life and expand your mind.

Second and perhaps even more importantly, get outdoors, in nature and remember what it is to be a human on planet earth.

Ride Your Bicycle, Relax

[InitZero]

When you say 'Any suggestions (beyond develop hobbies, spend time with family) on how to deal with all the new free time?', you're missing the point. Free time is all about hobbies and spending time with the family. It isn't about finding more work.

When I was, more or less, unemployed for ten months, I rode my bicycle. A lot: sometimes more than 200 miles a week. Lost 30 pounds. Felt great. By the time I had to go back to real work, I was in the best shape of my life, was relaxed and had spent wonderful amounts of time with my wife and kid. (Now I'm a fat slob again. But I'm making money. So, I've got that.)

Whatever you do, don't feel guilty about having free time. Don't try to fill your free time with more day-job-type work. You've done day-job-type work for 25 years and are, apparently, valuable enough that you don't have to do that 40 hours a week anymore.

Cheers,
Matt

Wikipedia or LibreVox

[Anonymous Coward]

Try contributing to Wikipedia/Wikibooks (spread some of your knowledge) or LibreVox (reading public domain material out-loud for the blind or just to contribute to Free audiobooks) - http://librivox.org/

Sports, cooking, meditation, coursera,...

[Anonymous Coward]

I am in a similar situation, by choice (I worked hard this winter and now am taking the summer off - something I did last year as well, but didn't spend my time as well as I could have). So far this summer, I love it - my house is suddenly getting cleaner and more organized, I have lots of time for cooking good and healthy food (and nerding out on Japanese kitchen knives, need to have something to please my inner nerd!).

Another thing I picked up for the first time this year is skating (for which I'm a bit old, but it's a lot of fun now that I'm slowly getting the hang of it). Other sports are fun too and will keep you active as well. I find that my days are better if I get active early in the morning, to prevent lazing around my PC reading slashdot.

Finally, so many fun courses at coursera and the like - or pick up a new language (I'm learning German currently).

So much to do! Enjoy!

Cycling

[ZorinLynx]

Step 1: Get a bicycle.

Step 2: GTFO.

Seriously, get out there. I've so enjoyed cycling, exploring new places, taking pictures, getting kicked out of places I shouldn't be, etc.

Even better if you can find someone to do it with.

Re:Cycling

[jones_supa]

Cycling has the problem that it only makes your legs stronger, leaving the top of your body crappy. Not that it wouldn't be a great activity, otherwise!

Convert your time into money

[StripedCow]

Time == money, after all.

Re:Convert your time into money

[LateArthurDent]

Time == money, after all.

That's horrible advice. You are constantly running out of time, and you can't take your converted money with you when you finally run out.

Make us much money as necessary to live through your life without worrying about money. After that, convert any extra money into time. Work less, play more.

You have not yet slain the Enderdragon, have you?

[platypusfriend]

Be love. The dream is over. Start a new dream. Dream again, dream better. You are the player. Wake up.

I would...

[TomGreenhaw]

Invent something new. Donate time to a worthy cause. Help somebody who needs help. Learn something new.

Work on things you're not good at

[haruchai]

Things that you may have avoided doing when you were younger may not be as difficult as you think and there are few things as satisfying as mastering something difficult.
Pick two - something that you've only ever been average or below average at doing and something that you've always been terrible at or that terrifies you.

It doesn't have to be technical, it could be a sport or learning to sing or dance.

Enrich Your Creative Life

[DigiWood]

I can understand a lot of the comments here suggesting that you write an app, contribute to an OSS project, etc. How about learning a musical instrument. Something you have never played. It's a skill that you can share with others and pass down to your children.

Just my $0.02

Porn

[Torvac]

nt

I'm sorry, but....

[mark-t]

... but I find myself far too flooded with feelings that almost qualify as psychotic jealousy about your working hours (while still being paid as a full time worker) to be able to answer your question productively.

The same thing we do every night, Pinky

[tautog]

Try to take over the world!

Get a life

[SlovakWakko]

It's supposed to be fun...

look to the classics

[holophrastic]

there are countless activities which consume vast quantities of time and thus are only feasible for a select few. Painting comes to mind. Cooking comes to mouth. I love cooking. It takes very little time to learn how to bake fancy desserts at home.

go grocery shopping at farms. that's a pleasure in itself. aside from supporting farmers, the food is just so much better.

if you've got a motorcycle or a convertible, learn the pleasure of long relaxing drives on spectacular roads -- go find those roads near you.

learn to work on your own car. if you like that sort of thing.

learn to work on your house. learn to work on your neighbour's house.

Paid to do nothing

[sinij]

First, you have to realize that people are not paid to do nothing. Your situation is unique and very likely temporary. You have to consider the very real possibility that at some point in the near future process that lead to your unique arrangement will get optimized and you will be out of job or back at the desk doing 40+/week.

Time is money, and you were given a sizable gift, so your choices conceptually can be categorized into two categories - a) spend it b) invest it. Spending would be anything that you find enjoyable - this will be from browsing cat videos 10h/day, to learning new personal skill (language, music, mechanics, crafts). Investing would be anything that would make you more employable. Polish your skills, take couple coursera online classes, take community college course, study for and pass certification...

My personal suggestion is to not worry about this and just spend days playing computer games and browse cat videos. After all, it is all those other something-wrong-with-them people get fired, and it won't ever happen to you because "PEOPLE SKILLS!". Right?

Audio books

[justthinkit]

Speaking of audio books :), what about making some? There are plenty of subjects lacking in audio books. Choose one that you think is important and have at it -- leave something significant for others after you shuffle off planet #3.

Hmmm ...

[gstoddart]

Any suggestions (beyond develop hobbies, spend time with family) on how to deal with all the new free time?

Pretty much everything boils down to those two, don't they? How you spend your free time is pretty much the definition of hobby, no?

But, a random list of stuff: golf, painting, photography, topiary, bonzai, knitting, cooking, model rocketry, robotics, sculpting, social/political activism, volunteering, write a book, astronomy, swimming, jogging, macrame, recreate the cold fusion experiments, starring in pornography, celebrity stalking, opening a booger museum ...

It's your free time, what interests you? All we can do is throw out suggestions.

Give it to me

[gshegosh]

Or even sell it.

dancing

[markian]

Learn ballroom dance.

No, really. If you're not in shape it will get you there. If you are, it will be that much easier. You can compete at any level. Practicing technique can happen nearly anywhere you have time. And partner practice is a great way to fill time.

http://ballroomdancers.com/

Yeah, this is a problem

[Anonymous Coward]

Yeah, it's actually not uncommon for people to completely lose all sense of self-worth, the will to live, and so on, and so forth. Lose your job and you might lose your friends, even spouse and kids too. Plenty pensioners die in just a few short years because they fail to keep themselves busy.

(And digressing, but let's face it, pension was originally assurance against living past your life expectancy without the means to support yourself--can no longer work, still lifespan left. The idea of permanent vacation is quite at odds with what it originally was ment for.)

The trick is in finding something useful to occupy yourself with, and do that actively. With income, though, it's vastly easier because you still have disposable income to spend on hobbies, books, whatever.

These days, well, with an internet and MOOCs and bazillions of FOSS projects to devote time to (not necessarily programming!), you needn't ever watch TV. If that's too newfangled, there's books, sports, so many other things to try.

Personally I have the reverse: I know how to lose time, but for the life of me cannot get a job any longer. Been out too long. Very, very occasionally I land one and lose it in less time than it takes to land it (months, finding a fit has become *hard*), which just gets really depressing really fast. And with no income, no benefits whatsoever, and savings slowly running out... yeah.

For the asker it's a solvable problem, especially since supporting himself is not a problem, in fact he has money to burn. Find something to do, then do it, and keep doing it, is all.

Create your own Kickstarter project

[Camembert]

Create your own Kickstarter project, there is the technical realisation (perhaps team up), the marketing, the budgeting, all the good things to be knowledgeable about.

Make yourself useful

[ggpauly]

Write an Edward Snowden biography.

Not again

[Reliable Windmill]

These posts.. people in their 40's or 50's who have no idea how to live their lives, and have to ask others what to do with spare time. How life? Do you also need help with go toilet and do poopy?

!(new hobbies || time with families)

[Zinho]

Why are you rejecting out of hand the two best suggestions I could think of? I'd encourage you to reconsider that position.

* Everyone I've ever heard express regrets about their career started with "I wish I'd spent more time with my family".

* I can't think of a single time-wasting activity done outside of work that wouldn't qualify as a hobby. Exercise? Yep. Gaming? Yep. Home improvement? Yep. Writing a novel? Yep. Fishing? Yep. Transcendental meditation? You betcha. [1]

For each person the answer to "what should I do" is different. The way to answer it is to think of any time you've ever said "I wish I could do that" or "I'd do that if I had more time", then go and do it. For me, a while ago, it was knitting armor out of stainless steel. I finished one shirt, am halfway through another, and have enjoyed making jewelry for my wife as small projects. More recently I've expanded that skill using knot-tying techniques (it becomes challenging when you use stainless steel instead of rope or softer metals). I can't tell you what will float your personal boat.

What I can tell you, though, is to do what you've always wanted to do. Figure out what that is, then do it.

Also, for everyone else who doesn't suddenly have 8+ extra hours in their day, I'd give you the same advice:
1. Decide what's important to you
2. Do that.

What I've found is that whatever I really want I can make time and find resources for, regardless of my work schedule or other circumstances. I still waste too much time in each day and money on things that aren't really important. When I decide that there's something I really want to learn or to do I can cut back on video games/TV/sleep if necessary.

Don't wait to do what's most important. Start today.

[1] Incidentally, going the exercise/meditation route in addition to whatever else you do is likely to do wonders for the damage to your body and psyche inflicted by long hours in the server room. Give it some thought.

Study something and write a book about it

[dkleinsc]

Obviously, pick something that hasn't been written about before, but you can find a niche and become the definitive book on the subject.

Alternately, get into creative writing - poetry, novels, short stories, etc. Even if it never gets published.

Teach yourself music

[Liquid Len]

Pick up an instrument, or if you used to play an instrument when you were a teenager, time to get it out of the attics.
(Re-)learn how to play (we have great softwares and books/CD for this, nowadays) and learn by listening to the masters. Learn also some theory.
At some point, get out and find yourself a band, suited to your skills (a bit better, ideally) and taste. At the very least, you'll have fun but you could even end up being a good musician. Depends on the time you want to spend on it.

Really?

[operagost]

Wait.... what? Are you gloating? Time is the most valuable commodity in the universe. Travel the world and try new things. If you don't have enough money to do that, take on some side work until you do. In fact, now would be a pretty good time to look into starting your own business.

Write

[ElitistWhiner]

25 yrs. of what can go wrong in the realm of software environments will serve you well in framing a future that's not much different but uniquely designed and engineered.

you will die

[Nyder]

Let's be real here. Work was your escape from life. And now that the work isn't there, you are scared of life. Nothing anyone suggests is going to be good for you.

You don't want to hear about hobbies and family, so that suggests that you don't have any hobbies and don't find them interesting. As for family, you worked to hide from them. So what sort of things do you really want? I mean, obviously you could try to find another job, or volunteer. Except that isn't what you want to hear.

Look, you will probably become a drunk or druggy and die in a few years. It's okay, some people are just one track minded and can't think beyond what they have been doing for the last 25 years.

I'll tell you what, life isn't that bad, it's the people in it that suck, can't escape that. But you can blow them up, or stab them with a sword online. If that doesn't make life a bit sweeter, I don't know what could. Oh, yes I do. Start smoking weed. It's a gateway drug.

Live Life

[Shortguy881]

I am in the same position. I worked at a start up with 60+ hr weeks that went south. My next gig was a simple 9-5 position, so I have so much more time on my hands.

Somehow I managed to fill that time with all sorts of crazy adventures and meet many new cool people. The key: get out of the house and be daring.

Last night my evening consisted of a transvestite (with one hell of a good voice), a bad cross-dresser, a human pincushion, want to be poets, and a phone conference with the writer of Naked gun, hot shots 1 & 2, and police academy.

Point is, life is awesome. Enjoy it

Try to take over the world.

[SuricouRaven]

Could you do any worse than the current management?

Prepare yourself for a layoff

[Sivaraj]

If the number of hours you are being *called* is minimal and you are worried about what to do with your time, then it is doubtful you will have that job for longer.

Loop Quantum Gravity

[hendrikboom]

Read Rivelli's book on Loop Quantum Gravity. Then explaiin it to the rest of us.

Re:Loop Quantum Gravity

[justthinkit]

Go to the source. Lee Smolin created LQG. I'd recommend Lee's "Three Roads To Quantum Gravity", which features LQG, ST and a hybrid approach. You could also check out this for a variation on LQG.

Fuck

[Lawrence_Bird]

done right that can take up three or four hours a day.

Really?

[jon3k]

You worked 12+ hour days for 25 years? Did you at least get paid overtime? If not we have a name for people like you: "sucker". I genuinely hope you were appropriately compensated for that kind of work and dedication.

pre-retirees have similar fears

[peter303]

Although nearly everyone I know has not realized that fear. If they have the money and health, some travel more. Some volunteer at museums or park management. Some audit classes. Some write open source software.

I've heard some complain they've are too busy and have taken on too much.

The astonishing availability of....

[i_want_you_to_throw_]

Masturbation! There's tons of it on the internets! You got free time!
( I know, I know but having great karma means you have to burn some occasionally ).

Re:The astonishing availability of....

[magic maverick]

I masturbated when I saw this comment. It's hot.

Homebrew

[Slime-dogg]

Brew beer, or make wine and cheese. When I retire, I'll be swimming in homebrew after a while.

Re:Homebrew

[rs79]

Ginger beer.

Put old biological data online

[rs79]

Go through old books and papers - stuff going back to the victorian era is well represented.

Find the animal/plant that interests you and cut out the photos and grab test and curate them properly into the web.

That stuff could very easily go away. A lot of it already has.

I wouldn't pay much attention to copyright either. There's no point in protection of information that goes extinct.

Re:Too Much Free Time? You Entitled Twat!

[jones_supa]

Heh, that was a full-bodied rant with mustard, ketchup and various spices. Nice!

There's a subreddit for the OP's problem. ;)

This is what Ask Slashdot has come to?

[FuzzNugget]

I'm not usually one to violate the first rule (never talk about X on X), but, seriously, Ask Slashdot is for technology and related advice, not a First World Problems thread.

Boy, I wish I had the problem of being *paid* to sit on my ass and wonder what to do my time. Don't quit or fuck it up, you have it good, man.

Write!!

[echusarcana]

Write the book you picture in your head. That one you always wanted to read but no one has written yet. Once you get into it, it is very engaging.

Learn to program for mobile devices

[technomom]

Start to learn how to program for mobile devices - Android & iOS.

buy a sport bike

[Laebshade]

Take a rider's course (I recommend Harley Davidson Rider's Edge) buy a sport bike and tour.

Re:buy a sport bike

[GodfatherofSoul]

Take the MSF course offered closest to you. It also gets you out of your state motorcycle driving test.

Re:a few comments to the comments

[Cederic]

Aspergers doesn't stop you doing shit. Go dancing. Trust me, partner dancing is fucking perfect for people with Aspergers. Just have a shower, spray on something that smells nice and enjoy the nice structured controlled limited social engagement.

Free time

[m1ndcrash]

I scramble for it, I wish there was more hours in the day... and at least one more weekend!

Some Of Us Have A Backlog

[sabinelr]

I have probably 10 years of deferred stuff to take care of. What, you been living in a packing crate all these years? I have drywall to replace (after first learning how to do drywall). House painting. Junk squirreled away all over the property to figure out what to do with. Carport needs remodeling. Attic full of junk to figure out what to do with before I get too old to go up there. A busted weed eater to try to fix. Many square yards of weeds to get rid of. Deferred electric and electronic repairs. Unfortunately, I go to work every day because SS doesn't pay enough to cover the cost of all the above. So, no time. You got time and money. Why don't you drop by and I can put you to work until you drop dead.

meditation

[blue_teeth]

Try meditation.

Re:Too Much Free Time? You Entitled Twat!

[dyingtolive]

...there's that word again!

I have to agree with Mellencamp on this one

[kjshark]

You may find a cushy job and I hope that you go far
But if you really want to taste some cool success
You better learn to play guitar

Develop an identity outside of work

[sethmeisterg]

As someone who has worked for the same company for a long time, my advice is to develop your extra-work identity. Not doing that can cause you to fall into a deep depression if you should lose your job, since your personal identity will have been bound so closely.

Hang out at a MakerSpace/HackerSpace

[poolecl]

Find a MakerSpace/HackerSpace to hang out in and make, learn, or help others. And if there isn't a suitable one near you, start one! You could learn a new hobby every day, have other techies to hang out with, get ideas for projects, and be able to hang out with peers.

I faced this issue

[davidannis]

when I sold my software company and went from a 60+ hour work week to a variable one with maybe 35 hours. A few of the more rewarding things I've tried are learning a foreign language (in may case Japanese), taking a class on Udacity, coaching middle school debate, and doing gifted and talented math pull outs in an inner city elementary school. I'm starting a chess club in that same school next fall. I know the plural of anecdote is not data but learn about things that interest you and give back by teaching things that interest you.

Golf

[mlheur]

I need to pitch the ever-on-call-but-never-working idea to my boss. If I did, I'd golf 10 months of the year and snowboard the rest. Stay outdoors.
Take up kayaking, rock climbing, bicycling.

volunteer with the fire dept, coast guard, search & rescue - they always need daytime callout people.

Why no hobbies?

[noc007]

There're a lot of fun things that can positively to your mental and physical health. If I had extra time, I would try and learn a few trades like blacksmithing and wielding. There're a few languages I'd like to learn. There're some musical instruments that I'd like to learn as well. We were designed to work and play outside, not sit at a desk for hours on end. People that do stuff regularly outside generally are healthier from the activity, vitamin D production, and breathing some fresh air.

Start a side business that doesn't directly compete with your employer if your downtime isn't still on their time. If you do go this route, structure your company in a way that removes you from any liability; you may need to find a good lawyer for that since there're other good lawyers that are adept at legally seizing the company owner's assets that aren't related to the company. A former colleague of mine started a site that he sold fantasy and reproduction props from. He didn't maintain any inventory and just dropped shipped from suppliers. He'd advertise his side on a couple of enthusiast forums that he engaged in and also did SEO work on his site to get at the top of Google results. He said he spent one hour a day working on fulfilling orders with the suppliers, answering e-mail, SEO, and engaging the community. He ended up with about $2k/mo in profit.

If you're not interested or can't do that, try finding a fun video game. I suggest the X series from Egosoft. Those games are a blackhole of time. The latest one is X3: Albion Prelude.Each new release has gotten better and you really don't need to play the previous games in order to play the current one, however the back story from the previous games is interesting and explains WTF. You can still read the plot on Wikipedia IIRC. Another option is to play some MMO. Grind away and sell virtual wares for real currency.

Re:MUSIC

[jones_supa]

Apparently the mods are on crack again.

Learn a language

[GodfatherofSoul]

Then, go visit that country.

Re:Time is money?

[Darinbob]

"Time is money" is the myth fed to workers so that that naively think they have to work 12+ hours a day for 25 years. When they realize that they get paid the same amount if they work 80 hours a week as if they get paid 40 hours a week then they'll start giving their own time more value than the corporation's time.

Hobbies are good

[Tighe_L]

I program all day at work so in my free time I like to repair and restore 1980s arcade games. It is nice to work on actual hardware.

You already said it

[gregthebunny]

...(beyond develop hobbies, spend time with family)...

Develop hobbies and spend time with your family.

Programming (or learning to program if you don't already know how) is a productive hobby. Get a train set. Repaint your house. Buy and restore a classic car by hand (although that can be quite expensive). Go hiking/kayaking/skiing/biking/fishing. Learn to play the guitar/bass/drums/piano/sax/trumpet/sousaphone. Have a barbeque. Build a barbeque. Go geocaching. Go geohashing . And get your kids/parents/spouse/siblings/friends/neighbors involved.

I only wish I have free time for these things

Give me your free time...

[DiSKiLLeR]

Give me your free time...

I only work 37.5hrs a week (standard in Australia or New Zealand for fulltime employment) and I still don't have anywhere near enough time to do all the things I try to do. Maybe I just have too many hoobies and addictions (gaming).

When I was unemployed for 2-3 months I had so much free time and loved every second of it. It takes a couple weeks to adjust to so much free time but you will.

Well, you could just

[certain death]

Purchase HOOKERS! Sorry if someone already suggested this, but I didn't want to read all the comments!

What job

[spayce]

What job is this and how do I get it?

Spread your knowledge

[ignavus]

Mentor a kid who is interested in programming.