I don't know about you, but this week absolutely flew by for me.

We're already back in the weekend, so welcome back to another edition of the Reddit Roundup, where I answer the top Reddit questions on mental health, physical health, and productivity.

In today's Roundup, we're covering:

1. How does a person concentrate all day on a video game, which may not even be that fun, but can't concentrate on work?
2. What keeps you going, knowing that life gets 100x harder as you age?
3. What are the most important exercises to do to avoid being decrepit in old age?

How does a person concentrate all day on a video game, which may not even be that fun, but can't concentrate on work?

Video games give you a clear sense of purpose—goals, missions, side quests—all which give you something to look forward to.

Biologically, they’re designed to give quick dopamine hits that feel good and keep you coming back for more.

Now, it would be amazing if we could replicate that in our daily live, but that's not realistic. Constant dopamine hits would eventually leave you feeling numb.

The first step is accepting that work isn’t meant to feel like a video game. Coming to terms with that can help shift your perspective and make work feel a bit easier.

But then there’s the deeper question: if you’re struggling to focus on work, is it possible that your work just isn’t engaging enough?

If that’s the case, you're going to have to do the hard thing of figuring out what kind of work would engage you—what would hold your concentration and make you feel more fulfilled.

That’s not an easy process, and it takes time to figure out. And while there’s a lot of romanticising around building a career you love—and it is worth aiming for—it’s also a lot of hard work. Speaking from my own experience, it’s definitely easier said than done.

What keeps you going, knowing that life gets 100x harder as you age?

I don’t think life necessarily gets harder as we age - let alone a hundred times harder.

But I'm sure that life does come with more responsibilities as we grow older.

Whether or not those responsibilities make life feel “hard” really depends on how you choose to see them.

Here’s how I see it: you need to set goals and give yourself a sense of purpose that goes beyond just yourself.

Your purpose needs to extend beyond your own pleasures, needs, or wants. The things you pursue have to feel meaningful enough to make the 'hardness' of life worth going through. There's no right answer ultimately, because your purpose will look different from mine.

Until you figure out what drives you—what fulfils you beyond the basics—life may continue to feel hard. But once you find something purposeful to strive toward, whatever difficulties you face will feel worth it.

What are the most important exercises to do to avoid being decrepit in old age?

From my experience, the lower body tends to break down first as you age. It’s been bearing your weight since you were born, so naturally, the wear and tear start there.

If I had to pick just one exercise for this, it’d be walking lunges.

They keep your thighs strong, engage your glutes, include elements of a squat, and give you a solid burn.

Beyond that, I’d recommend any variation of squats that’s safe and healthy for you. Sitting and standing are fundamental skills you need to preserve as you age.

Think about it—you squat every time you sit down on the toilet! Practicing squats now helps maintain that mobility.

Having strong legs also help prevent falls, which can lead to serious injuries and complications as you get older.

Most exercises are free and don’t require a gym membership. The real cost is your time and effort to actually do them.

Injuries, loss of mobility, and dependence on others aren’t worth the gamble for me. I'd rather invest in consistent prevention now and not have to face the much higher cost (financially and physically) later.

And that's a wrap today folks, I'll catch you again tomorrow.

Nicholas Ng