EA can be hard: links for that

post by smallsilo · 2022-04-24T22:42:15.359Z · EA · GW · 6 comments

Contents

  The desire for impact:
  Reconciling EA and self care
  Beyond EA: On being a full human being
  Endnote
None
6 comments

I've struggled and am struggling with: feeling overwhelmed by the size of important problems, feeling alone in wanting to have an impact and also feeling like I don't want to take away time and resources from important people doing saving-the-world things, feeling guilty about being a net-negative for EA.

I don't have much original to say about this at the moment, but I don't think I'm alone, so this is my attempt to be a little bit helpful. You could also browse the Self-care [? · GW] tag.

The desire for impact:

• Nicole Ross, Desperation Hamster Wheels [EA · GW] - Things that might be contributing to the overwhelming feeling, things that might help
• AllAmericanBreakfast, Don't Be Bycatch [EA · GW] - On just doing helpful things
• G Gordon Worley III, Illegible impact is still impact [EA · GW]
• Kelsey Piper on 'shut up and multiply' - On how everyone matters
• Michelle Hutchinson Keeping Absolutes in Mind [EA · GW] - On keeping in touch with what we're doing

Reconciling EA and self care

• Nate Soares: Replacing Guilt [? · GW] - I don't know if anyone reading this post hasn't read it already, but I think it's important that it's here. If you haven't, also, caveat^[1]
• Tessa Alexanian: Aiming for the minimum of self-care is dangerous [EA · GW] - I really appreciate the honest and pragmatic approach to the question of self-care, since I've felt that EA-external discussions about self-care can be somewhat dishonest: for example, I sometimes see the claim that self-care inevitably makes you more productive. This isn't necessarily true, but self-care is still important.

Beyond EA: On being a full human being

• Julia Wise, You have more than one goal, and that's fine [EA · GW]
• Lucas Gloor, Room for Other Things: How to adjust if EA seems overwhelming [EA · GW]

Endnote

 

1. ^{^}

   Everyone is different, but if I were to try to give  advice to a version of myself who hasn't read it, I'd say: 

   If you're struggling, read the Half monkey, half god segment, especially Not yet gods [? · GW], but avoid The dark world, and the related articles On caring, and The value of a life. I've found those a little information hazard-y

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