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Ask Slashdot: What To Do With New Free Time?

Posted by timothy on from the when-you're-finished-gloating-at-least dept.

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?"

18 of 299 comments (clear)

  1. so many things by stoolpigeon · · Score: 5, Interesting

    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.

    --
    It's hard to believe that's how Micronians are made. Why don't we see it right now by having you both kiss one another?
    1. Re:so many things by cayenne8 · · Score: 5, Insightful
      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.

      --
      Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
    2. Re:so many things by Intrepid+imaginaut · · Score: 4, Insightful

      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.

    3. Re:so many things by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

      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.

    4. Re:so many things by pnutjam · · Score: 5, Funny

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

      --
      Cheap storage VM.
  2. get a library card by jehan60188 · · Score: 4, Insightful

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

    1. Re:get a library card by ArhcAngel · · Score: 4, Funny

      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?

      --
      "A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky dangerous animals and you know it." - K
  3. Life by TemperedAlchemist · · Score: 5, Insightful

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

  4. Brag about it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    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

  5. An Understatement by Splitterside · · Score: 4, Insightful

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

  6. develop skills by KernelMuncher · · Score: 5, Insightful

    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).

  7. polish your CV by lfourrier · · Score: 5, Insightful

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

  8. I'm busy... really I am... by ChromaticDragon · · Score: 4, Funny

    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...

  9. Bragging. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    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

  10. It's simple. by azav · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Learn shit.

    Do shit.

    --
    - Zav - Imagine a Beowulf cluster of insensitive clods...
  11. Bang your wife by mooingyak · · Score: 5, Funny

    She ain't getting any younger.

    --
    William of Ockham had no beard. The most likely explanation is that it was chewed off by squirrels every morning.
  12. Nothing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    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.

  13. Re:Mod parent -1, Redundant ;) by JaredOfEuropa · · Score: 4, Insightful

    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.

    --
    If construction was anything like programming, an incorrectly fitted lock would bring down the entire building...