WORK TO LIVE or LIVE TO WORK

Wiseman_Vaughn

Wiseman_Vaughn

Well-known member
Is your attitude to work going to change when we get back to normality?

An interesting article in The Guardian got me thinking about how things will be in the future - All of my working life I've consistently worked 60+ hours a week, and for what????
I've done many 30+ hour shifts when deadlines were looming - madness really!!

I hope that the way we view work will change in the future but somehow doubt it. We'll still be making the few richer while we continue to tread water and stay afloat.

WORK IT OUT
 
I work in a job I generally enjoy, it can have its moments- however to make change and influence things for the better I think I need to move out of it into a more leadership role which would have far far more people management responsibility and far less of the job I enjoy.

I've always been torn whether to take this on, or whether to coast where I am and live with the frustrations that I can not influence as much in my current role.

I always wonder if I came into money would I continue this job, and I think I would be happy to work a few less days- but continue to work.
 
Try and find something you love or a reason for working behind money. It should help with motivation.
I have a ten year plan to expand my consultancy and if I can get it going it'll mean working a lot more but working for me so it's impossible to separate work from life then!
 
It's good to see Spain are looking at a 4 day week.

Spain

I think that there will be much less work for the majority in the future and we'll have to think about how we spend our time and live our lives.
 
everything used to revolve around work, including long hours, foreign travel, working away etc etc. I was driven to push my career forward

But not for the last couple of years. Whilst I feel valued by my current employer of 25 years, I am under no illusion that if business conditions dictated, they would cut me and other workers in a heartbeat. Thats not to say my employer isnt good, I wouldn't have stayed as long as i have if they weren't, but companies are there to make money for their shareholders, and most of the time its in their best interests to keep the employees on side, but they will not hesitate to cut jobs and close factories and outsource if it makes sense on a balance sheet. There is no loyalty at the end of the day.

I realised that I have a job and not a career.
 
I know Ive been lucky in that i do actually love my job & I've worked at the same place for just over 35 years
In all that time there have been moments when I've felt a tad different but that's very few really
 
In my youth I half killed myself working for companies that no longer exist.
Eventually I wised up and put the brakes on.
I've seen colleagues have full nervous breakdowns due to work stress and one never fully recovered.
Very sad to see and ultimately pointless.
 
Definitely changing attitudes towards work, thankfully my company is finally embracing home working and not planning on sending us all over for pointless meetings/conferences that can be done over the phone, but if they were still pressing ahead with this I would happily take a big cut to find something else, mentioned on another post about just how much more free time I have when travel is taken away, never going back to that.
 
El Guapo said:
I work to live. I learned a few years ago that a rival on the modelling circuit had injected me with a poison that will kill me if my heart rate drops below a certain level (130 bpm). It’s not ideal, but there you go.
Click to expand...
That is probably the most amazing thing I’ve ever read on here. Are you now an official Superhero?
Please tell us more
 
I burnt myself out chasing the perfect scenario of millions in the bank and early retirement.
For about 10 years 8 was loving every day (and night) at work, building a business and enjoying the trappings. About 4 years ago I hit the wall, had a breakdown and had to get out just to stay alive.
I’d say you should think very clearly about what balance you want. The harder you work, the more your return, but the more damage you do to yourself. I’m still recovering, but feel like I’m getting there finally
 
I spent 18 years in the RAF and never worked a day of it. By that, I mean it was my hobby. Working as an Aircraft Engineer, travelling the world and having the best workmates anyone could ask for. When i left in 2005, we had a new baby and i went into teaching. I refuse to do anything im not paid for and as soon as the bell rings at the end of the working day, then im a family man. However, ive never found a job that gives me the same satisfaction and only recently have been offered a lifeline back into Aircraft engineering, and ive everything crossed that i pass the interview next week. If so, i'll be taking a pay drop, and a hefty daily commute. But i'll be truly happy once again. Its like i,m 16 again leaving school and going to the RAF careers office on Borough Rd.
 
I do Contract work and one of the most important lessons I wish I'd learned long ago is don't be afraid to walk.
The second you walk out of that door, either by your own making or theirs, you are forgotten about. So if you're not happy, go.
Done it several times as a matter of principle and to maintain my integrity and reputation it's never done me any harm.
 
I enjoy my job and love getting stuck into a big project, but over the last 12 months or so WFH I've also been able to take a step back and realise that working extra hours and getting too involved was so detrimental to my health.

I'll go back into the office (if we do) with the same attitude of enjoying my job but no way will I be taking work home with me or getting worked up over small things like I used to.
 
Borotommo said:
I burnt myself out chasing the perfect scenario of millions in the bank and early retirement.
For about 10 years 8 was loving every day (and night) at work, building a business and enjoying the trappings. About 4 years ago I hit the wall, had a breakdown and had to get out just to stay alive.
I’d say you should think very clearly about what balance you want. The harder you work, the more your return, but the more damage you do to yourself. I’m still recovering, but feel like I’m getting there finally
Click to expand...
Sorry to hear that mate but i'm glad that you are on the mend.

Six years ago my first born almost died and that was my biggest life lesson at 30. Since then it's been an amazing blessing and we've been grateful to have had the benefit of learning what is important in life and had another little boy. I'm lucky enough to work at a senior level for a caring and supporting organisation and whilst my job requires bouts of working really hard; most of the time it's very manageable which means I'm not at all motivated to leave or look for 'more'!

It's sounds idyllic but after losing my best mate to suicide in the past year and with being locked down constantly, unable to take part in all the things I enjoy, I've had to try and remind myself how lucky I am. No matter what people have going on or how good it looks for them; there's always something they have to deal with.

Naively I hope we all don't forget the challenges we've faced over the last year
 
My attitude to work has not changed at all, only the location. I will be back to the office again at some point, but certainly not 5 days a week from 9-6 as before. It'll be a lot more flexible allowing for days WFH.

WFH suits me fine tbh, but I do want to go back to the office too and have a healthy mix of both, which is looking very likely.

I do appreciate how lucky I am though. I have a job I love for a good company who fully support it's staff in many ways, and i have been able to do my job at home as well as I could in the office.
 
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