Re:The Free-Time Paradox in America
by erroneousfunk on Tuesday September 20, 2016 @09:38AM
(#12539378)
I was recently unemployed for the second time in my career (one of the pitfalls of working at unstable startups). The first time was an absolutely awful depressive hell. The second time, I ramped up my volunteer hours at a local Museum, going 2-3 times a week instead of just once a week. I happened to be working on a part-time master's degree program as well, and finished that up while I was unemployed.
I spent just as much unemployed time between jobs both times (about 6 weeks), but the second time around was worlds better. I wasn't working full time, I had plenty of leisure time, but instead of using that time sitting around watching TV and wallowing, I had lunch with friends, I studied in cafes, after volunteering I took walks around the city, I went to bookstores -- it was awesome! I actually miss being unemployed. Having a "thing" you have to do during the day, instead of a vast blank schedule is an amazing psychological boost.
Re:The Free-Time Paradox in America
by forrestbrazeal on Monday September 19, 2016 @07:10PM
(#12535545)
Re: Keynes, I think we're both right. He seemed to view increased leisure (discretionary time) as an objective good and idleness (the wasting of leisure) as a worrying problem. This becomes clear in the context of his full essay [0], which is definitely worth a read.
On the health issue - most of the studies I've seen cap the health benefits of working at a few hours a week. Volunteering for an hour a day seems to be just as beneficial as spending most of your waking hours on an office job.