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This is my most important lesson in the past few years. There is value in _not_ learning, building, doing all the time.

I like to work and study, but doing either of it for more than 8hrs is not sustainable for me. I expect to be writing the modern-day equivalent of Fortran when I'm 60. All the young bucks will look down on me for not advancing in my career, but I think I'll be happy. That's all I need.

Everyone has their own balance point. John Carmack can work 12hr days and improve at various subjects continually, so his balance point lies somewhere else. Don't try to be Carmack if you're not and you can still live a fulfilling life :).



> I like to work and study, but doing either of it for more than 8hrs is not sustainable for me.

So, if you're working a proper full-time job, it means you're incapable of learning or working on anything other than your $dayjob for 5 days a week.

I think this is the root for the "productivity drive" - you spend yourself out at work so you can survive, and then... there's the rest of your life, that you would also like to live, not just experience. For many (myself included) it's kind of a trap. Productivity here literally means autonomy - the things I do or build or learn after work are literally... my life.


>Don't try to be Carmack if you're not and you can still live a fulfilling life :).

Thanks, I needed this.


You might find this interesting, from a guy that worked with John Carmack.

http://bookofhook.blogspot.com/2013/03/smart-guy-productivit...


Carmack might burn out someday too. Or have a worse mental state privately than you might think from casual observation. You never know by looking.


> I think I'll be happy. That's all I need

My thoughts exactly. When I'm about to die, I suppose this is all that will matter.




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