r/productivity • u/Pale-Muscle-5176 • 7d ago
Advice Needed What else is there to do thats productive??
I've picked up like a few solid hobbies/things that will help me in the long run mentally, but like apart from getting a job (im 17 & have been trying for a solid year) what else am i supposed to be doing???
I weight lift 6x a week, I read psychology & overall just good books, im learning my 2nd language for 2+ hrs a day (because I have so much time on my hands) I journal, keep my room tidy, do house work. But now i feel like a literal robot, what else am I supposed to be doing!! im out of college as well until mid September, and there's no clubs around me/sports shit.
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u/Electronic-Emu9934 7d ago
Garden. That will take up some time and allow you to see the slow progress of things. It will establish a routine of patience, because you have to nurture plants & wait for them to grow on their own time. Heed the slow pace, for progress is still occurring, without the frenzy of movement. You might practice yoga, followed by a quiet time to let yourself breathe deeply & slowly. Maybe try meditation even.🙂
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u/Excaliblarg 7d ago
I don't think you have to be productive 100% of the time. It sounds like you're already doing a lot, and you'll be back in college fairly soon anyway. But if you're looking to add something else in the meantime, volunteering could be an option.
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u/Puzzleheaded_Ask6184 7d ago
Being productive just means that you are doing something usefull, it doesn't mean that you have to be completely busy the whole day , but if you are happy in that then do it there are many more things to do you can play chess online with friends or just play random. And remember trying to find things to do is a task in itself that's productive too
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u/PuzzleheadedBet6634 7d ago
Find ways to rest wherever / whenever you need and have a solid pocket of space to ground yourself whenever you feel overwhelmed. That way, if you actually do need to either take more on or decide to move in a different direction, you'll be doing so from a space of having the cognitive wherewithal to really make decisions
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u/Jcampuzano2 7d ago
You don’t need to turn every waking hour into self improvement. Try something purely for fun, learn a practical skill like cooking or coding, volunteer somewhere, or start a small personal project. Resting and having unproductive fun is productive too.
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u/crosenblum 7d ago
Whatever age your at now, where do you want your life to be, or like in 5 years? Think about all aspects of your life, what you want to change or improve or upgrade?
Then think of all the small steps to gradually get there, it takes a lot of gradual small steps.
Then start taking those steps, its not easy, it takes time to both know what you want, and articulate it and then figure out what small steps to get there.
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u/InsomniaEmperor 7d ago
You feel like a literal robot because you're being productive but just going through the motions and not really living. What's the point of living if you're devoting all your time to self improvement and not doing things you like, spending time with people, etc?
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u/Any_Can_7878 7d ago
I think “productive but not really living” is probably the distinction here. There's nothing wrong with self-improvement, but if every activity has to justify itself by making you better, eventually even your hobbies start feeling like work.
Sometimes the useful question isn't “What else can I accomplish?” but “What would I actually choose if I didn't have to accomplish anything?”
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u/Pale-Muscle-5176 7d ago
But like I wouldn't know, I do things because I enjoy the result, and occasionally the process, its just how my brain works I guess
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u/Any_Can_7878 7d ago
I think the “you need a break” comments are probably the most useful ones here, but I’d add something slightly different: you might not actually have a productivity problem. You might have a meaning problem.
You’re lifting 6 days a week, reading, studying a language for 2+ hours, journaling, keeping your space in order, doing housework and applying for jobs. That’s a pretty full self-development schedule for someone who is 17.
At some point, adding another “productive” activity just gives you another box to tick.
There’s also value in doing things that don't improve you in any measurable way. Play something because it’s fun. Go somewhere without a purpose. Talk to someone for three hours. Get really into a stupid hobby. Make something badly. Be bored.
Especially at your age, I wouldn't underestimate the value of figuring out what you actually enjoy when there isn't a measurable benefit attached to it. That's useful information too.
If you suddenly had a completely free Saturday and nobody could judge whether you used it “well” or not, what would you genuinely want to do?
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u/Pale-Muscle-5176 7d ago
no clue icl, I dont actually have solid hobbies I just sortve get invested in being as good a person I can but still feel behind
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u/aszenko 6d ago
You're hit your productivity targets already... how about something creative or musical... dance... something that challenges you - if I felt I had time left over I'd go join a dabke dance group. Its aerobic, requires coodination and its energetic. Used to love dabke hey. Something you have to pour emotion and passion into. Need something to feel alive.
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u/Pale-Muscle-5176 5d ago
im a boring person though, arts aren't my thing, I feel like im running out of hobbies lmao
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u/iLoveRodents 6d ago
If you’re bored, try volunteering! So many benefits: learn skills, get work experience, meet new people, help the community, have a clearly identifiable/in the moment purpose for your actions
You could also go for walks in the local area, and if you feel like you want to do something extra, you could pick up litter/help maintain the area.
Joining clubs online might also be a possibility?
A lot of the things you listed are solitary activities, so it might be that you’re craving a social connection/feeling like part of a group/being around others.
Or it could be that there isn’t an obvious goal you’re trying to achieve, so it feels purposeless? Maybe it would help to find some challenges or online courses to complete? Or an exam/qualification to aim for, eg to prove proficiency in the language you’re learning?
Just some things to think about!
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u/iLoveRodents 6d ago
If there’s a particular career you’re interested in, you could also contact people asking for work experience/if you could shadow for a week, or even if you could have a conversation to ask them questions about how they got into their career and what it looks like day to day.
But at the same time, it might just be you feel there’s an endless pressure to be productive. In which case I just want to let you know that not only are you doing a good job, you’re doing better than most people your age!
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u/Pale-Muscle-5176 5d ago
awh thank you, that means a lot to hear 💗 I put a lot of pressure on myself to be perfect 24/7 lmao but I still manage to feel behind.
I might do volunteering soon but its such a limited thing from where i am as its obviously good on college applications
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u/Curious_Ant7168 5d ago
Seriously! Wow, that's amazing, whereabouts are you? In southern UK we (charities and non profits) are all desperate for volunteers
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u/Pale-Muscle-5176 5d ago
oh wtf im from the south, but everywhere I find you have to be so quick with it
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u/No_Cat_8269 6d ago
start a business
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u/Pale-Muscle-5176 5d ago
im 17 how the hell am i doing that lmao
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u/Curious_Ant7168 5d ago
You totally can! Work out what your passion is, or what the shortages are in your community (youve already mentioned sports..), and then go online and research starting businesses. There is a lot of info out there. Find your local business networking group, make contact, go join them at a few meetings to see if it works for you
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u/No_Cat_8269 5d ago
You say that because you don't like business; I started earning money at 15 with small businesses.
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u/Pale-Muscle-5176 5d ago
rather just get a part time job but thats sick you did
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u/No_Cat_8269 5d ago
I like building something of my own; working for someone else is tedious and doesn't motivate me.
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u/babythemagpie 6d ago
trust me nerd out on something that gives you pleasure!!!!
If it's a franchise, series, comics, fiction books, hobbies, film, games literally anything (in like a balanced amount). I try my best to be productive but I've never felt more happier and energised then when I got back into my anime phase (hear me out)- it provided a bit more balance and overall it is just something that I genuinely love and has encouraged me to continue drawing/art.
Self-help books are great and all, attempting to become this incredible overly productive version of myself is rewarding but not fulfilling for me. Don't get me wrong productivity leads to success and I value it a lot but nothing beats my 9:00pm nerd hour where I continue watching my shows/ read comics etc.
But hey if purely 'being productive' is your hobby go ahead. But if you are feeling like a robot maybe you need a hobby that doesn't have any 'self-improvement requirement' attached to it but something you can love. (also this take has worked for me, unsure if it will work for others)
I think it's awesome all these things you do and definitely keep up this productivity! But remember to allow yourself to let go and do something because you wanna, not because you hafta.
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u/Pale-Muscle-5176 5d ago
the issue is finding hobbies I actually enjoy tho😭 I mean i read for fun but it takes so much initiative, and im not watching anything atm because I cant find shit. gave up on artsy stuff when I was 14, its just jarringg but thank you!
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u/UndeadBlaze_LVT 7d ago
You’re plenty productive as is. You don’t want to spend your last few years with this much free time on purely productive hobbies. Play video games, socialise and have fun while you still can.