I recently read a
blog
post that concluded with:
When I'm on my deathbed, I won't look back at my life and wish I had
worked harder. I'll look back and wish I spent more time with the
people I loved.
Setting aside that some people don't have the economic
breathing room to make this kind of tradeoff, what jumps out at me
is the implication that you're not working on something important that
you'll endorse in retrospect. I don't think the author is envisioning
directly valuable work (reducing risk from international conflict,
pandemics, or AI-supported totalitarianism; improving humanity's
treatment of animals; fighting global poverty) or the undervalued less
direct approach of earning money
and donating it to enable others to work on pressing
problems.
Definitely spend time with your friends, family, and those you
love. Don't work to the exclusion of everything else [...]
First published:
May 1st, 2025
Source:
https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/CHnA8LSzKsMKaG8td/prioritizing-work)
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Narrated by TYPE III AUDIO).
