Working 40+ hours a week feels like the only thing human beings can do to survive, given the current economic situation.
In the current climate, people are expected to work harder, even if it comes at the cost of their mental health, personal relations, and sense of self.
Measures such as downsizing and furloughing have been a common theme in the post-pandemic world, and no one is immune to it. This raises the question: Should we dedicate our entire lives to work, or should we spend most of our time on other things, such as is hanging out with friends and family, or spending time outside?
How We Got to Working Our Lives Away
In my most recent article, I talked about designing a 9-5 exit strategy that you can use to escape your current job and start a business.
If you’re wondering how the world got to this place—where we have to work more than ever before—consider this:
From Hunter-Gatherers to Working Our Lives Away
Although we now have a lot of powerful tools at our disposal, the age before cell phones, social media and work emails was much simpler.
Humans were hunter-gatherers. They spent most of their time trying to find food for survival and then spend the rest of their day doing nothing but surviving. In their defence, there was not much else to do either.
Fast forward some time, and humans started farming, which gave them some control over how they could live as they were now relatively less concerned about surviving. However, even farming required them to spend long hours in the fields.
Life has since then evolved into people working fixed hours, committed to one cause of work or another.
We have lost much control over how we can spend our time, because many of us are stuck in jobs that require us to work more than 8 hours every day, which accounts for more than half of our waking hours Far too many of us are working our lives away. We don’t stop asking why we are doing something; We just do it.
Related: The Perfect 9-5 Exit Strategy: A Fail-Proof Guide to Escaping a Dull Job (7 min. read)
Working Your Life Away for Your Country’s Economic Growth
Economic growth is directly attributed to how many hours people work. When you look at countries like Japan, where over-working is the norm, you believe that it might be a normal aspect of your country’s economic health, too.
Recent studies, including those conducted by experienced therapists and psychological researchers, have shown that working longer hours does not necessarily equate to increased productivity and economic output, at least not directly. 1
A relevant case study was performed comparing the USA to countries in the European Union. For example, the average working hours in Denmark are restricted to 36 hours per week whereas in the United States, it is 40 hours plus overtime, which may or may not be paid. The Danes discourage long working hours and are much more lenient with paid vacation. In the USA, employees are not legally entitled to paid leave (contrary to popular belief).
According to Trading Economics, the average productivity in the USA is 62.61 points whereas in Denmark, it is at 99.91 and has never dipped below 82.3 points. The distinction is clear. As a result, a healthier work-life balance, a better home life, and a more relaxed personal life are available to those in Denmark and adjoining countries.
Furthermore, Microsoft Japan conducted an experiment where working days were reduce to four instead of five and saw an increase in productivity of almost 40% in just 3 months. Work dynamics are changing.
Related: 3 Powerful Benefits of Having Better Mental Clarity (3 min. read)
Some Great Books on Entrepreneurship
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The 4-Hour Workweek
by Tim Ferris
The $100 Startup
by Chris Guillebeleau
Related: “Why Even Try?” Might Be One of the Most Important Question in Life (5 min. read)
What to Do If You Feel Like You’re Working Your Life Away
Dedicating enough time to your own life and personal health, which includes getting enough sleep, setting aside time for adventures, and investing in other things that you enjoy, can go a long way toward creating a better balance. You don’t need to make these changes overnight; Sometimes small changes lead to big results.
Is Entrepreneurship the Way Out?
If you cannot find a fulfilling job in your field—one that allows you to balance your work and personal life—you might want to consider starting your own business that aligns with your passion (Check out this article, if you’re wondering “How do you know you are passionate about something?”) Many people have found this to be an effective alternative to breaking the monotony of a 9-5 job.
If you’re not sure what to do, consider becoming a digital entrepreneur. It brings a lot of creative freedom and with technology being widely available, there’s not much you can’t make money with on the internet.
The next thing is to learn how to commit to something, such as a goal. Avoid making common goal-setting mistakes like being overly ambitious or not being open to failure. Be fully aware of the benefits of goal-setting, and set some goals. Harsha Bhogle put it best, “The moment you put a deadline on your dream, it becomes a goal.”
References
- Pencavel, John. “The Productivity of Working Hours.” Stanford University and IZA: Discussion Paper No. 8129, docs.iza.org/dp8129.pdf.