Not having kids, I feel like a family clears up the optimization problem of:

* what should I be doing with my time?

* what is important to think about?

As a software dev with a flexible schedule, my life feels arbitrary. I pick up hobbies because I need stuff to do, I try to eat better to take care of myself, I save money and live frugally for a rainy day. But there's no common thread to all these. It's just stuff I picked.

Yes. Also forces one to prioritize because both time and energy are precious resources.