Title: Here's the (relatively brief) story:<p>I went to university at a top 20 school in physics and mathematics, and paid my own way by working part-time doing web development. After being in a few research internship positions (CDF-FNAL and some biophysics work), I realized that, while I thoroughly enjoyed higher level physics, I had developed a passion for web application development. Consequently, when I was presented with a very enticing offer in July 2008, I decided to start working full time and do my last four classes (I only had non-science related electives remaining) over the next year or so.<p>As it turns out, the decision I made was a fortuitous one, due to the economic meltdown that occurred only a few months after I went from part-time work/full-time school to full-time work/part-time school. Moreover, I do enjoy my job, and the ego boost of knowing that every day my hard work is put to use by tens of thousands of people (which is, in all honesty, one of the reasons I became so passionate about web applications in the first place).<p>But I've started realizing that my mind isn't as sharp as it used to be. As someone who was consistently challenged and put to the test in academia, I'm finding that I don't actually have any day-to-day challenges to push me and keep my scientific mind exercised. With my day job, regular open source contributions, girlfriend and social life, I don't have too much free time either.<p>My question is then: How do my fellow HN'ers keep their minds sharp? Should I read more publications &#38; papers? Should I try and do more scientifically oriented open source work? Or is this just something I'm going to have to accept and deal with?<p>An insatiable appetite for learning sure is a hard thing to satisfy. Any advice would be highly appreciated.
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