How to Live a Good Life

Some tips for making the most of your short time here

Mar 25, 2025

Welcome to your Wednesday Fix at The Drip Tray: a weekly dose of inspiration and reflection to keep you focused, like a philosophical espresso.

Now that I’ve got more time to myself after cutting back my hours at work and closing the curtains on my podcast, I’m thinking about how I can make the most of this newfound freedom. At first, I didn’t really know what to do with it. I had all these grand plans to Write! then realised that I can only stare at a screen for so long. After a few weeks of adjusting my routine and settling into a new house, I’ve finally found a way of living that works for me.

I’ve always struggled with boredom. That might seem stupid to say, because everybody does, but allow me to explain.

I’m an only child and grew up between two houses with divorced parents who both worked full-time, so I developed a wild imagination to entertain myself and learned to enjoy my own company at a young age. I read a lot, wrote even more, watched TV, played games, explored the outdoors. You know, things that most kids do when left to their own devices. I was content with my life, although I began to wonder if my creativity stemmed from wanting something more.

As an adult with a job and other responsibilities, these activities that made me happy as a boy had fallen to the wayside. Of course, it was a simpler time back then. My biggest concerns were which Yu-Gi-Oh! packs to buy and when I would need to be home to catch The Simpsons. But that inexplicable yearning never went away, it only got quieter with each new distraction. Next thing I know I’m 27 and single, living in a friend’s spare room and worrying about money instead of happiness.

Clearly, something went wrong along the way: I “grew up.”

I even went so far as playing Connect Four against myself. But look how happy I am!

I still read and write every day, because it makes me happy. I know that I want to work with words and create in some capacity for the rest of my life. As dramatic as it sounds, it’s the kind of suffering I can endure that some people can’t, which can be used for our mutual benefit. I’ve also come to recognise the importance of good friendships, though I greatly value solitude in moderation, while choosing carefully where to direct my limited attention.

So, I’ve prepared some (very) loose instructions on how to live a good life and make the most of your short time here, inspired by these ruminations and reminiscences of yesteryear. It’s by no means a stringent set of rules to follow, but rather general advice that gave me a sense of direction and purpose when I needed it most. Hopefully they offer some guidance when you’re feeling a little lost yourself and help you to remember what sets your heart ablaze.

Know what you want

What gets you out of bed in the morning on a day off? What gets your brain working when you’re tired or alone? What makes you smile at the very thought of it that you can’t imagine your life without? The answers to these questions should be your highest priorities in life, everything else should come second – yes, even money. Time is your currency now. It can’t buy you a house or a car, but it can get you closer to where you want to be, with who you love, doing what you enjoy.

Find the pain that you enjoy

This is your edge. The thing that you are willing to suffer for is usually a source of great pride, which means that you likely have a solid work ethic and can outperform others in this area. I don’t like having to stand at the door to my work and greet people as they enter for half an hour of my day, but there are people who do it for a living. Whatever it is, give it your all – not at your own detriment, of course – and, where you can, get paid for your services.

Do what makes you happy every day

This is a simple one that ties in with the first two. Life’s too short to put off what brings you joy and peace. It’s one of those cliché sayings that sounds dumb until you try it, then you realise that it’s a key to happiness. You may need to create more time for yourself in order to achieve this, but take it from me when I say that it does wonders for your mental (and physical) health. Even if it’s just one small activity that takes up an hour of your day at most, it’s always worth it.

Give people what you want in return

I’ve spoken before about nurturing reciprocal relationships and how friendships are more valuable than, and should form the basis of, romantic relationships. One of my goals this year is to hang out more often with different people whose company I enjoy, and I’m already off to a solid start. When you show up for somebody, they will usually do the same for you. The exciting possibilities that arise from these interactions contribute to your mutual fulfilment and form stronger emotional connections.

Care more about less

Or, in Mark Manson’s words, give fewer fucks. When your area of concern shrinks, so do your anxieties and distractions. I’m not saying that you should only care about yourself and disregard anything beyond your immediate control. But limiting the number of things that you are emotionally invested in allows you to give them more attention without sacrificing your time and energy. Think of it as “quality over quantity” for your heart and brain. Done right, this will add years to your life.

I often look back at this photo of me drinking coffee on the beach in Byron Bay to remind myself how at peace I was.

There you have it! My suggestions for finding happiness in a brief, busy and otherwise boring life. Obviously, I understand that making money is necessary, to a degree, and we all have to do things that we don’t want to. There are people in our lives who depend on us and certain expectations that we must meet in order to be contributing members of society. What I’m trying to say is that there can be more to it than this. You owe it to yourself to pursue your passions and concede to curiosity.

Last Sunday I caught up with some dear old friends in the hills for a barbecue. I raced RC monster trucks with their nieces and nephew, they cooked lunch for everybody and we swam in the pool before a game of Catan to see out the day. There were warm hugs and belly laughs and they even gave me a carton of their own eggs as a parting gift. It’s those kinds of days that I’ll remember years from now, not getting a monthly bonus or hitting a hundred subscribers.

Here’s to many more like that one.