Choice as Happiness
Nov 5, 2009 General Nonsense |
Suppose a genie appeared and offered to give you regular access to all the things you desire. Let's say that in your case it includes golfing, exotic traveling, eating ice cream, and having a great career. The genie's only catch is that he gets to control your schedule.
Your first reaction might be to take the deal, since all of the activities on the menu are better than the things you do now. And maybe having a genie do all of your scheduling would be convenient.
But if you're smart, you'll decline the offer. No matter how fun or fulfilling are the activities on your list, you can only enjoy them if you have control over WHEN and HOW LONG you do each one. On day one of the genie's deal, you might find that he has allocated nine hours for eating ice cream, and twelve minutes for golf. And your tee time is midnight, after you work twelve hours.
I'm exaggerating the genie's cruelty, but in general it's true that doing the thing you want at the time when you are most in the mood for it makes a gigantic difference in your overall happiness. If you eat when you're hungry, nap when you're sleepy, and work when you're feeling productive, life can be pretty great.
So let's test this concept. Tell me in the comments how much flexibility you have over your own schedule then rate your own happiness. Use a scale of 1-10, as in:
Schedule Flexibility: 8
Happiness: 7
Your first reaction might be to take the deal, since all of the activities on the menu are better than the things you do now. And maybe having a genie do all of your scheduling would be convenient.
But if you're smart, you'll decline the offer. No matter how fun or fulfilling are the activities on your list, you can only enjoy them if you have control over WHEN and HOW LONG you do each one. On day one of the genie's deal, you might find that he has allocated nine hours for eating ice cream, and twelve minutes for golf. And your tee time is midnight, after you work twelve hours.
I'm exaggerating the genie's cruelty, but in general it's true that doing the thing you want at the time when you are most in the mood for it makes a gigantic difference in your overall happiness. If you eat when you're hungry, nap when you're sleepy, and work when you're feeling productive, life can be pretty great.
So let's test this concept. Tell me in the comments how much flexibility you have over your own schedule then rate your own happiness. Use a scale of 1-10, as in:
Schedule Flexibility: 8
Happiness: 7
Votes: +13
Comments
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Nov 22, 2009
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User Name: BryanK
Nov 12, 2009
0
Schedule flexibility (work): 9 - yes, I work from home and have tons of "free time" but after all is said and done, a deadline is a deadline.
Schedule flexibility ("free time"): 2 - when I factor in my wife's career as a scientist and my two-and-a-half year old daughter's needs my schedule gets full very quickly. If there wasn't a good ol' "grandma-and-grandpa service" involved, I wouldn't be able to catch time to write this comment.
Happiness: 10 - that's what happens when you have kids, I guess.
But I must say, I think the time before the Internet, TV and other adult entertainment was a lot easier because kids didn't have competition then... I love my daughter more than anything, but I haven't been to the movies in months. The only regular activity I love and can afford myself is basketball three times a week.
Schedule flexibility ("free time"): 2 - when I factor in my wife's career as a scientist and my two-and-a-half year old daughter's needs my schedule gets full very quickly. If there wasn't a good ol' "grandma-and-grandpa service" involved, I wouldn't be able to catch time to write this comment.
Happiness: 10 - that's what happens when you have kids, I guess.
But I must say, I think the time before the Internet, TV and other adult entertainment was a lot easier because kids didn't have competition then... I love my daughter more than anything, but I haven't been to the movies in months. The only regular activity I love and can afford myself is basketball three times a week.
User Name: jameshatt
Nov 12, 2009
0
I think people need to be tied to a schedule of some sort. Too much freedome does not lead to happiness. Meeting goals, accomplishing objectives, meeting deadlines, and taking care od the needs of others can make people happy as much as freedom.
User Name: jameshatt
Nov 12, 2009
0
It seems that schedule flexibility does relate to happiness as long as basic needs are getting met. When I was not working I had nothing but free time but was miserable.
People need time to do what they want but they need to be able to eat and pay the bills too. I think trying to find a good balance is the key.
People need time to do what they want but they need to be able to eat and pay the bills too. I think trying to find a good balance is the key.
User Name: another
Nov 10, 2009
0
Schedule Flexibility: 10
Happiness: 10
I was describing a date I'd been on recently, with someone I have decided not to see again. One would expect that I had a bad evening, but Noooooooo. I had a fabulously delicious free meal, was complemented many times, got to look at a gorgeous face all evening and, in general, had a lovely evening. I told a friend that I wouldn't be seeing him again and that I had still had a good evening and she commented, "I have always admired your capacity for joy." I have heard that so many times. Happiness is about your attitude and general disposition.
Happiness: 10
I was describing a date I'd been on recently, with someone I have decided not to see again. One would expect that I had a bad evening, but Noooooooo. I had a fabulously delicious free meal, was complemented many times, got to look at a gorgeous face all evening and, in general, had a lovely evening. I told a friend that I wouldn't be seeing him again and that I had still had a good evening and she commented, "I have always admired your capacity for joy." I have heard that so many times. Happiness is about your attitude and general disposition.
User Name: FYDITM
Nov 10, 2009
0
Schedule flexibility = 10
Happiness = 2
Then again, being a victim of the current economy explains thst I suppose. I suppose I could be happier as I don't have to schedule work in there anywhere, save looking for it.
Happiness = 2
Then again, being a victim of the current economy explains thst I suppose. I suppose I could be happier as I don't have to schedule work in there anywhere, save looking for it.
User Name: golffan856
Nov 9, 2009
0
Very little flexibility as I have a wife and 3 kids and a job. There is no downtime - save for 1/2 hour before I go to bed.
So I would sign up for the genie's plan. it's not like I'd lose any control over my day. especially if I'd get access to the goddess at my local gym. even just a minute a day. heck, i'd probably have 30 seconds to spare!
yee haw!
So I would sign up for the genie's plan. it's not like I'd lose any control over my day. especially if I'd get access to the goddess at my local gym. even just a minute a day. heck, i'd probably have 30 seconds to spare!
yee haw!
User Name: kaladorn
Nov 9, 2009
0
Schedule Flexibility: 9.5
Happiness: 7.0
Really, being out of work, the only impediments to my schedule are family commitments to elder parents (usually somewhat flexible) and constraints applied by limited cashflow (and this will continue to get worse).
When working at a demanding cubeville job with somewhat flexible starting hours but that often ate weekends and weeknights, if I had answered that question, I would have said:
Schedule Flexibility: 4.0
Happiness: 6.5
I was too busy to be really unhappy most of the time (mind on work) and I was happy to have enough money to not worry exactly how it was spent. I had no ability to easily take holidays or to gaurantee my own availability for local weekly social activity, but I still managed to do some things.
I think for me, the ideal balance would be a decent paying job that capped hard at about 35 hours a week (9:30 - 5:30 with an hour off for lunch) and could afford to have me take several weeks consecutively off. Then I'd have the money to enjoy myself and do the things that bring me joy and the shedule flexibility for daily and weekend social events.
I do not think this job exists in the corporate computer programming world.
Happiness: 7.0
Really, being out of work, the only impediments to my schedule are family commitments to elder parents (usually somewhat flexible) and constraints applied by limited cashflow (and this will continue to get worse).
When working at a demanding cubeville job with somewhat flexible starting hours but that often ate weekends and weeknights, if I had answered that question, I would have said:
Schedule Flexibility: 4.0
Happiness: 6.5
I was too busy to be really unhappy most of the time (mind on work) and I was happy to have enough money to not worry exactly how it was spent. I had no ability to easily take holidays or to gaurantee my own availability for local weekly social activity, but I still managed to do some things.
I think for me, the ideal balance would be a decent paying job that capped hard at about 35 hours a week (9:30 - 5:30 with an hour off for lunch) and could afford to have me take several weeks consecutively off. Then I'd have the money to enjoy myself and do the things that bring me joy and the shedule flexibility for daily and weekend social events.
I do not think this job exists in the corporate computer programming world.
User Name: Zowie
Nov 8, 2009
+1
Schedule flexibility: 7 (working from home a couple of days a week)
Happiness: 4 (due to issues unrelated to work)
Early retirement is only a couple of years away, then flexibility will be 10 and I expect happiness to drop and then rise higher and higher while I get used to 100% autonomy.
Happiness: 4 (due to issues unrelated to work)
Early retirement is only a couple of years away, then flexibility will be 10 and I expect happiness to drop and then rise higher and higher while I get used to 100% autonomy.
User Name: adorita
Nov 7, 2009
0
User Name: cgmE
Nov 6, 2009
0
How about real life. Doesn't that work as a Genie-scheduling-personality as well? There are few things you get to do the exact moment you think about them and, when you actually get to do them, your past-self together with other involved people compose the Genie. So doing business with a Genie that actually offers 100% things you decide you like can only be a plus.
My case: freelancing on an imposed fixed program, which, when disturbed, brings the greatest of sorrows. I would like to work in a serious, large-scale organization, but i can't get the perfect job since being a freelancer suggests that I actually do not like having fixed schedules and taking responsibility.
happiness - 6
flexibility - 9 (i can't control the rising and setting of the sun)
My case: freelancing on an imposed fixed program, which, when disturbed, brings the greatest of sorrows. I would like to work in a serious, large-scale organization, but i can't get the perfect job since being a freelancer suggests that I actually do not like having fixed schedules and taking responsibility.
happiness - 6
flexibility - 9 (i can't control the rising and setting of the sun)
User Name: hatchm
Nov 6, 2009
+2
I'm at what should be a life-time low-point for Schedule Flexibility. I work a normal 40hr week with little or no flex time, then off-duty hours are mostly spent relieving the ball-and chain from parentling 2 toddlers who need constant attention and supervision to keep them from juggling steak-knives or re-decorating the bottom 3 feet of the house in crayola colors. Schedule Flexibility shouldn't get any lower for me unlessI go to Prison or get deployed to Azzkrackistan ot someplace.
Schedule Flexibility: 4
Happiness: 8.769032
As the Hatchlings get older and go to school and stop monopolizing my off-duty hours because they want less and less to do with their parents, my Schedule Flexibilty will increase signifcantly but my Happiness will probably Decrease even more. ...Wierd.
Schedule Flexibility: 4
Happiness: 8.769032
As the Hatchlings get older and go to school and stop monopolizing my off-duty hours because they want less and less to do with their parents, my Schedule Flexibilty will increase signifcantly but my Happiness will probably Decrease even more. ...Wierd.
User Name: hatchm
Nov 6, 2009
0
I'm at what is probably my lifetime's low point of Schedule Flexibility. I work a normal 40 hr work week with little to no flex time so I guess that's a Scehdule Flexibility of 2. Combined with off duty hours mostly relieving the wife of parenting 2 toddlers (but with a little more flexibility than work so I'll give off-work hours a 5) for an overall average of 4. It shouldn't really get any lower unless I go to prison or get deployed to Azzkrackistan or someplace.
Schedule Flexibility: 4.23417
Happiness: 8.77689003
As my toddlers grow older and stop monoploizing my off-duty hours because they want less and less to do with their parents, my Scheduling Flexibility will most likely increase significantly but my Happiness rating will probably decrease. ...Weird.
Schedule Flexibility: 4.23417
Happiness: 8.77689003
As my toddlers grow older and stop monoploizing my off-duty hours because they want less and less to do with their parents, my Scheduling Flexibility will most likely increase significantly but my Happiness rating will probably decrease. ...Weird.
User Name: leisure20
Nov 6, 2009
0
Sorry to seem pedantic and semantic, but it seems to me that happiness is a transient feeling, brought about by some form of gratification, a greater degree of gratification being required for each succeeding bout of happiness. What most people mean when they talk of living a happy life is not happiness, but contentment, a more general feeling of satisfaction with their life, which may be enriched by occasional gratifications, but is not necessarily dependent on them.
User Name: larryh77
Nov 6, 2009
0
Flexibility: 9
Happiness: 9
I work from home and as long as I keep the project going smoothly and put in the necessary time to fix bugs for clients and program new enhancements everything is cool. Most days are busy but if I need to take a few hours off, or even a day, I just do it. There will always be more work tomorrow, so I just do what I can today and don't worry about it.
Happiness: 9
I work from home and as long as I keep the project going smoothly and put in the necessary time to fix bugs for clients and program new enhancements everything is cool. Most days are busy but if I need to take a few hours off, or even a day, I just do it. There will always be more work tomorrow, so I just do what I can today and don't worry about it.
User Name: Donizen
Nov 6, 2009
0
Schedule flexibility: 8
Happiness: 9
When I was an employee I think the situation was
Schedule flexibility: 3
Happiness: 9
But I would still rather choose what I want to do when I want to.
Happiness: 9
When I was an employee I think the situation was
Schedule flexibility: 3
Happiness: 9
But I would still rather choose what I want to do when I want to.
User Name: hbmindia
Nov 5, 2009
0
Actually it works slightly confusingly for me:
In many ways I am a creature of habit. I go to work everyday at South Bombay, do pretty much the same sort of stuff daily (read this blog etc), return home at roughly the same time, go to bed at roughly the same time etc. Every weekend is also pretty much routine week every week. I also eat the same breakfast everyday since years. I have no complaints and am quite happy being in this sort of a rut.
In fact, I get uncomfortable if the routine changes somewhat. I do not take jobs even at substantially higher salary if the office is not in South Bombay; I have been travelling between my house and South Bombay since almost 25 years now and I just become uncomfortable if I have to travel to some other place. I avoid going out for parties, dinners etc as it will mean I will go to bed later than usual. A creature of habit as I said.
But if you want to make me really unhappy just force me to leave house in the morning at a fixed time everyday. Force me to have lunch at a fixed time everyday. Force me to remain inside the office from 9 to 5. These small flexibilities I just can't do without.
In short, I do not need flexibility in the broad routine of life, but I become very unhappy if I do not have flexibility within a single day's time frame.
Can't really understand it.
In many ways I am a creature of habit. I go to work everyday at South Bombay, do pretty much the same sort of stuff daily (read this blog etc), return home at roughly the same time, go to bed at roughly the same time etc. Every weekend is also pretty much routine week every week. I also eat the same breakfast everyday since years. I have no complaints and am quite happy being in this sort of a rut.
In fact, I get uncomfortable if the routine changes somewhat. I do not take jobs even at substantially higher salary if the office is not in South Bombay; I have been travelling between my house and South Bombay since almost 25 years now and I just become uncomfortable if I have to travel to some other place. I avoid going out for parties, dinners etc as it will mean I will go to bed later than usual. A creature of habit as I said.
But if you want to make me really unhappy just force me to leave house in the morning at a fixed time everyday. Force me to have lunch at a fixed time everyday. Force me to remain inside the office from 9 to 5. These small flexibilities I just can't do without.
In short, I do not need flexibility in the broad routine of life, but I become very unhappy if I do not have flexibility within a single day's time frame.
Can't really understand it.
User Name: Darren
Nov 5, 2009
0
I have zero control over my leisure schedule, and I seldom get home before 11pm because of it. It's still leisure, and still fun.
User Name: chubbygirlcomics
Nov 5, 2009
0
You could not be more right about this concept, Scott. I recently gave up a dance class that I enjoyed at first, but gradually came to loathe because of the scheduling. I want to dance when I fell like dancing, not for three hours on Tuesday night after I've spent 10 hours working and 45 minutes to get there. So, I have pretty much given up all "extra" scheduled activities and spend my evenings at home working on things I enjoy at my own pace. I also have certain amount of control over my schedule at work, which I didn't have in the past. I'd say overall, my happiness level is around 8 or 9 since these changes.
