How to decide which of your many interests to spend time on?
I have deep interest in many different things, and have spent enough time with stuff like programming, painting, jazz piano, writing to find that I equally love them all and could easily spend a lifetime focusing deeply on each one. But life is short and it is not possible to commit to all of them and test my limits in each area, so I really need to do better and find a way to focus. I just don't know how to do so. Anyone else been through this?
You don’t have to consciously decide things like this.
You just go on with your life and your instincts, preferences + circumstances will work this out for you.
Maybe try to make enough money programming, which is a well-paying reliable career, whilst leaving enough energy and time for the others? Being a musician sounds wonderful, and certainly seems to work out for some people, but for others that I know, despite being very talented, its a horrendous slog, constant travelling, anti-social hours, not compatible with having a family, struggling financially. One can be an amateur musician and have a lot of fun. Writing and painting I'd think you could slot around other stuff, neither of those exactly a way to make a living nowadays, unless you're truly amazing and get the right break. But programming jobs can suck all your energy, so be careful where you work. Public sector e:g gov't, academia, can be the answer here. Less well-paying , but still allows you to be a rounded person. Or work in private sector but take sabbaticals. I think your "problem" is a good one to have ;). Much better to be a well-rounded interesting person with a dilemmna what to spend time on, than just being money-driven. (This all assumes you're not independently wealthy / trust fund etc ;). If you have that, well ditch the programming and enjoy the others ;). )
The only answer is to look within and determine which things you value most, using your own subjective values.
FWIW, I try to emphasize things involving skills that are applicable in different areas of my life. I have a foundation of things I build my discretionary day around (exercise being one).
Also, I only do those things that I will commit myself to doing every single day (using this as a filter to determine how interested I really am). I believe I can learn anything but only if I do it every day, so rather than dabble in a lot of things I try to have 2-3 things I will commit to doing daily, 7 days a week. There is a quote that I think of often: “people overestimate what they can do in a year but dramatically underestimate what they can do in a decade”. So rather than dabble, what do you want to be great at in a decade?
long answer : Read "Four Thousand Weeks".
Short answer: You have to chose a few and eschew the others. Tomorrow isn't guaranteed. There doesn't exist a reality in which you can "test your limits" in all of the areas. Because by its very definition - testing your limits means giving your -all-.
>so I really need to do better and find a way to focus. I just don't know how to do so
Makes it seem like you've bought into a fantasy that there exists a way to focus and do all of these things. It is tempting to think that, especially with all the so-called gurus and their productivity methods. Each technological feat and progress makes it seem like this timeless future is right around the corner. But the reality is that you will die. It could be tomorrow, it could be twenty years from now. But your time here is finite. So you must choose.
If you don't choose, you'll fall prey to the curse of middling interests. You'll hang around all of these interests and never really commit to any.
One practice that helped me with all my interests is to list them all in a spreadsheet and weigh the time investments I'm willing to make (they have to equal 1, and two hobbies can't have the same value).
When you think with that kind of urgency, it's easier to pick one thing to do. And really commit to it. E.g I sold/donated/gave away the tools for my other hobbies. Nothing says I can't get those back if (in the future) I decide not to continue with my current choices.
That second day is important
You’re mistaken on there not being enough time. Just don’t waste it. A decade here, a decade there, if you keep applying yourself you will have time for much (though unlikely all.)
I feel your pain. Worst is when you accidnetally end up watching shite on youtube thru nothing but inertia, and then realise it was a sizable chunk of time!
I don't, that's why I dropped out of a PhD :-)
(Breadth > Depth when you're deepen on many subjects than so called experts, hack the planet!)
Produce music? That basically involves all of those things to one degree or another... (don't do it for the money though)
You have to choose. Or don't choose. Don't overcomplicate a simple question.