Mine is work and life balance. At least in this stage of my life, I prefer work and life balance. That’s why I’ve accepted a lenient schedule, I leave early when it’s acceptable to, I know that my hard work ultimately is accounting for nothing except to make people who’re not me richer than I’ll ever be.
So it’s like I don’t even see the point in working hard when I know a lot of the time, things will continue to be more or less the same, day in and day out. My position could change if I had a different life and in a different field of work where it would matter. But as it is, I prefer being home more and doing things at my leisure. Especially when I don’t have the commitment of children and currently, a relationship although being in one would kind of be nice though I don’t think there’s anyone out there who’d accept someone into this lifestyle.
But being at home more opens doors for me to pursue anything I want and indulge hobbies whereas if I was continuously doing hard work all of the time, I won’t have even an hour towards them as it would’ve been spent sleeping it away.
What about you?
If you find the right environment you can do both, but this is tricky and involves a bit of luck. In my current (underpaid, state university) job I leave every day at 3:30, don’t check my email when I leave, spend much of my day at the office doing work for my side gigs (making my effective salary much higher), and in a couple years I’ll be managing the department. Long ago I realized being sycophantic and a slave to others only made me a pathetic chump. But there’s genuine hustle in there too, it’s just for me, not them.
Life. Your kids are only young for so long, spend as much time as you possibly can in what they are interested in. The smile is your payment
The older I get the more I tilt towards life. I don’t have to prove anything to myself or anyone else anymore.
Agreed. I like my current job more than the previous one that I put 23 years into, but I have to remind myself to value my time more than I had been. I still put in a lot of hours when I’m knee deep into a project, but it’s almost always at my own leisure that I do so. It’s a crazy balance of respecting myself while also fighting off the imposter syndrome because the guys in my team are always really supportive because of my experience. It’s strange going from a job where I have to defend my actions and choices to a job where I’m inherently trusted.
But yes, if I could go back, I would tell my younger self that my job pays the bills but it’s not who I am. Leave the job behind me after hours while doing what I can to do a good job while on the clock.
less work, more life.
To most, due to lack of opportunity, hard work is just elitist propaganda these days.
I did the whole work work work thing, and the only reward i got was more work and more responsibility. There may be some time where the responsibility eases off and you can actually take time off, but i never saw it. Now I’m very much life-oriented. I don’t make as much money, but I have the time to actually do things, which is more important for me.
I need to work enough to ensure that my personal life is comfortable, and that I’m saving enough for retirement.
I changed careers specifically for a better work life balance.
No more weekend work
Flexible hours
Working from home
Etc
Also higher salary
The most important thing I have learned is working hard when you see directly benefits. Working hard on your own school work or education is a great lesson because it’s all tied to you. Use that same work ethic at a large company you burn yourself for nothing. Own your own business where additional work directly benefits you is a great idea.
The latter, no contest. I work to live, not the other way around. Back in the day when I was cash strapped, I’d happily take on as many hours, but now I’m at the stage where I earn “enough” so the monetary threshold for me to get off my ass gets exponentially higher for each extra ounce of effort.
It’s life/work balance. My life comes first, always.
Balance.
Taking seven medications a day so I don’t have to struggle to not think about suicide or worse. Best I can do.
Sorry to hear that. I’m not going to pretend to be a mental health expert because I’m not. But have you ever considered a change of scenery? Like if you live in a city move to a rural area. more personal space, more quietness? Spend more time outdoors? Focus on hobbies or find a hobby. Fishing is my personal getaway.
What about travel? I’m not talking about a big vacation or traveling cross country, but just going for a drive with a friend somewhere down roads you haven’t been, backroads, gravel, etc. once or twice a week
I try to work as little as possible. I value happiness and spending time with loved ones and friends.
I spent many years working 110% and getting taken advantage of at several jobs. It wasn’t worth it and didn’t make me happy.
I may live frugally and near the poverty line, but I’m happy as can be.
I tried the climbing the ladder thing for a while. I just ended up in shitty job after shitty job to then be let go because I wasn’t perfect and the company hired underneath me. I’m done. I’m more concerned about my well being now and know I won’t be able to do that in higher positions where you’re expected to just tank stress on the daily.
Work life balance, for sure. I worked my ass off and got blindsided and screwed by two different employers last year. Companies don’t give a shit about technical/support staff, there’s no reason to work hard unless you’re going to get paid for that extra effort.
