The Existential Alien

Why do human beings feel compelled to "do something" with their lives? If "existence is an accident", the inference being that there is no God, meaning, or purpose, then why waste your limited life span on what others say you're supposed to do?

@americanbaron

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Text and brief comment (H/T Ann Althouse for the TikTok link):

Human: So on Earth you've got to do something with your life.

Space Alien: Why?

H: 'Cause if you do nothing with your life, there's no difference between that and not existing.

SA: So you've got to do something to prove you're alive.

H: Yeah, your will is kind of a receipt for your life.

SA: So, you've got to do something but what? Like make TikToks?

H: No, it's more like go to school, earn money, have family, stuff like that. Like, what do you do on your planet?

SA: Whatever we want. I mean literally everyone on my planet is doing something that makes them happy.

SA: It's because we know our existence is an accident.

SA: So, you know, the pressure's off. We don't have to distract ourselves with parties or jobs we hate because if it's all an accident you might as well just do what you want, but for you guys, you don't know if it's all an accident, so you have to keep asking.

H: So wait, on your planet is it okay to just chill, do nothing?

SA: Yeah, totally, yeah, yeah.

H: Huh.

Comment: Western peoples used to get their purpose from religion, i.e., live lives according to the precepts of Judeo-Christianity. Even if the purpose became less explicitly religious ("I want to help other people") that still can be traced back to the Second Great Commandment.

A non-religious answer to the question may be found in the movie Groundhog Day. The protagonist Phil Connors is stuck reliving the same day over and over, regardless whether he performs good or bad deeds or even kills himself. He lives a life completely trapped, yet totally free, without consequence.

Towards the end of the movie he starts helping others though his deeds have no lasting effect, and learns piano and French, which knowledge he retains through the endless loop. Phil accepts his hopeless condition, and this is how he chooses to spend his days.

Why do human beings feel compelled to "do something" with their lives? Maybe they don't need a reason. It could just be in their nature.