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Comment by middlechild9 | Hacker News Reader

Pick up python and start automating stuff at work. Use the tools as the basis for a SaaS. Profit.

I don't have anything to do at work that requires automation. Fair idea though.

Do you do anything with Microsoft Office, including Outlook? Virtually any routine task with it can be automated without additional software.

Find someone that looks like they do repetitive work a lot and sell them on reducing their workload through automation.

Why would I want to do that? I don't want to bother anyone. And I don't know how to automate shit, either. I just want normal, boring work to do.

You seem to be exhibiting signs of learned helplessness. You can absolutely learn how to automate something, if you try.

If you want normal, boring work to do why are you complaining about having nothing to do? The most normal, boring work of all.

Yes I am. I feel as though I have little to no control over my condition. I'm sure I could learn to automate something. I just have no direction as where to begin.

I am complaining about having nothing to do because I want work to do, to contribute to a team, to work with other people and befriend them, but it's hard when I feel so arbitrary.

Apparently the original experimenters who identified learned helplessness seem to now think they got it backwards: Learned helplessness is actually the default behavior of mammals, and we need to learn how to overcome the default state.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4920136/

> "I just want normal, boring work to do"

Such an odd statement. Automation (and programming in general) is probably not for you.

Perhaps look at other opportunities to help in the company? Surely they would be happy you have completed your duties...

You don't know what it's like to do nothing! I mean, I want some normal work to do so that I'm not wasting my time here. To learn stuff, build new skills.

I do know what it's like to do nothing. I don't know how you've lived your life until now, but I bet this situation is new to you. You'll have to learn how to fill up your time with meaningful things despite of negative thoughts overflowing your mind. You should one of this days sit down, put down the cellphone somewhere it doesn't distract you, grab some paper and a pen, and write down how you feel. You'll see that writing down your situation and feelings will help. Don't underestimate the time needed when doing this, and don't think it'll be easy to find something worth your time. And lastly, don't hesitate to try new things, unless they're drugs or alcohol.

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