h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

"Use your time" (J. Fugger - German Renaissance Zillionaire)

...write an article for h2g2.

There are many reasons why this could, in principle, prevent from those feelings of low self-esteem. First, one will probably be in contact with friendly people. Second, one will probably have to do some research and compose a piece of writing. This can absorb the whole 'excess time' which would otherwise be availiable for potential self-pity and self-criticism.

One of the worst things that can happen to a human being is 'excess of spare time' - Strange enough, since most people usually whine about 'having no time', most people don't know what to do with 'spare time', once they get some (I am not talking about week-ends, it's more like, when they get fired, or so). Few people really know how to motivate themselves by themselves, even fewer people find convincing reasons to do so. For that reason most people tend to become lazy, which is in most cases highly un-satifying. And here comes the tragic part: The thinking about this unhappiness will bring up all possible frustrations and deceptions along with a whole bunch of self-criticisms. This deteriorates self-esteem.

Doing *something* - anything, really - is essential to revert this vicious cycle. The important thing is that this 'something' has to be considered 'meaningful' (e.g. fun, useful, entertaining, of learning-value etc...) by the person in question. Writing an Entry for h2g2 could be a good start.