work/life balance

lufties

Its probably something everyone wonders, but is it better to like your job and earn less or dislike it and earn more..I'm thinking the former but I do the latter

qo2cj1dsne8y4k

Earn more in the short time for a longer gain, it's important to have security behind you

lufties

LexieOnRale wrote: »

Earn more in the short time for a longer gain, it's important to have security behind you

You cant take it to the grave either.

halkar

lufties wrote: »

You cant take it to the grave either.

But it can take long time to go to grave also

qo2cj1dsne8y4k

No but it means you can kick back and enjoy your life a little bit more later on with some security. I see my friends parents, in their 50s, he's still bursting his balls trying to make ends meet and they have no surplus cash for anything nice. No weekends away, no meals out. Nothing. Must be a horrible feeling tbh.

supercosmicking

Do what you love because soon we will all be expected to work 60/70 hour weeks chasing endless economic growth. That's if you're not doing it already.

eviltwin

Once I earn enough to pay the bills I'm happy. I worked years in a well paid job but the hours were awful and my home life suffered. Now I earn a lot less, do less hours but I have a life, I have time to do stuff, see people, my mental health is much improved. But it's a personal choice. I can see the logic in what Lexie is saying. It just depends on what you want to prioritise.

lufties

eviltwin wrote: »

Once I earn enough to pay the bills I'm happy. I worked years in a well paid job but the hours were awful and my home life suffered. Now I earn a lot less, do less hours but I have a life, I have time to do stuff, see people, my mental health is much improved. But it's a personal choice. I can see the logic in what Lexie is saying. It just depends on what you want to prioritise.

Thats the million dollar question. My passion is surfing and holistic things like yoga, psychedelic music, eating healthy etc (I'm prob a bit of a so called hippy at heart). My job isn't stressful but its working with a big airline in London where I'm just a number, Its quite mundane to be fair as I work in quality assurance. I can put away about 800 pounds a month plus pension and voluntary contributions, so I'm not too badly off.

I'm half thinking of joining an airline in the southwest of england, the money is 15k less but its working on small jets with better career progression in a better working environment. I'd probably have a better quality of life in the shorter term but obviously the money is a sacrifice.

I do like my comforts like healthy food and a few posh beers , but I don't have any majorly expensive hobbies.

eviltwin

I worked in travel too, in tour operating. It's a thankless job. I never really switched off, even when I was home I was thinking about work. It wasn't great for my relationship either. I used to spend a lot, I worried about not having money to spend how I choose and I think that's what kept me in the job long after I'd burnt out. In the end the decision was made for me when the business went under. I live a simpler life now, I still can go on holidays and have nights out, it's just not every week. I have to budget a lot more but it's okay. I look back and its not the fancy holidays or designer handbags that make you happy, it's the stuff money can't buy.

eeguy

I love my job.

If I'm not busy with work projects them I'm at home doing my own projects.

Engineering FTW!

lufties

eviltwin wrote: »

I worked in travel too, in tour operating. It's a thankless job. I never really switched off, even when I was home I was thinking about work. It wasn't great for my relationship either. I used to spend a lot, I worried about not having money to spend how I choose and I think that's what kept me in the job long after I'd burnt out. In the end the decision was made for me when the business went under. I live a simpler life now, I still can go on holidays and have nights out, it's just not every week. I have to budget a lot more but it's okay. I look back and its not the fancy holidays or designer handbags that make you happy, it's the stuff money can't buy.

Thats so refreshing to hear eviltwin. I think its nice to have things like iphones and fancy cars etc, but does it make you happy? No I would say, if the trade off is a miserable working life.

qo2cj1dsne8y4k

I suppose it's different for me, I actually love my job but it's long hours, it's thankless, but the more hours you put in, the bigger the return. I'm petrified of ending up with absolutely no security. It's not even about buying expensive things, it's about being able to support yourself when you're older and you're not working yourself into the ground in your 50s, worrying about when the time comes that you can't work. When you can't even heat your house with a job, what would you do without it? It's that thought that makes me work as much as I can.

lufties

LexieOnRale wrote: »

I suppose it's different for me, I actually love my job but it's long hours, it's thankless, but the more hours you put in, the bigger the return. I'm petrified of ending up with absolutely no security. It's not even about buying expensive things, it's about being able to support yourself when you're older and you're not working yourself into the ground in your 50s, worrying about when the time comes that you can't work. When you can't even heat your house with a job, what would you do without it? It's that thought that makes me work as much as I can.

Exactly, my folks are in there late 50s, early 60s. Money is very tight for them as my dad is retired early due to illness with a small pension to look forward to.

I dread ending up like that, I guess its finding that balance.

Sunny Dayz

I think you don't appreciate a work life balance until you have left a crap job and find one that works for you. I worked in a job in which you were often given something to do late in the afternoon and assumed you would stay back to do it, there was bad moral in the company, the pay was good though and I was lucky I had started there in the Celtic tiger times.


The job I am in now, have been in it for a few years, salary hasn't increased much in the last few years and I would be on a lower salary that most people with my qualification and experience . But it's a much nicer place to work in, the clients are lovely, I often get praise and thanks (which I never got in my old job). I get to finish early on Fridays and rarely do overtime, except at important deadlines. If I suddenly had to take time off, or nip out somewhere for an hour, it's not a problem.


It's nice to be able to go into work each day and not have to worry or be stressed. In my old job I sometimes drove home in tears, and my back was in bits from being so tense on the drive in.

Manach

With mobile phones, always on access and follow the sun work patterns the boundries between work and non-work are becoming blurred. There is an expectation to have work done at home and be on-call to handle work items there as well. So, IMHO the balance is out of kilter.

Panda_Turtle

LexieOnRale wrote: »

I suppose it's different for me, I actually love my job but it's long hours, it's thankless, but the more hours you put in, the bigger the return. I'm petrified of ending up with absolutely no security. It's not even about buying expensive things, it's about being able to support yourself when you're older and you're not working yourself into the ground in your 50s, worrying about when the time comes that you can't work. When you can't even heat your house with a job, what would you do without it? It's that thought that makes me work as much as I can.

How many hours do you typically work and what is the job/industry?

the_syco

lufties wrote: »

Its probably something everyone wonders, but is it better to like your job and earn less or dislike it and earn more..I'm thinking the former but I do the latter

Like the job, and earn less, so you can stay in the sector and earn more.

If you hate the job, your health will suffer in the long term from stress.

qo2cj1dsne8y4k

Panda_Turtle wrote: »

How many hours do you typically work and what is the job/industry?

Between 43-48 hours a week for the company I'm with and then maybe another 12-15 hours myself freelance. Beauty industry

Monife

the_syco wrote: »

Like the job, and earn less, so you can stay in the sector and earn more.

If you hate the job, your health will suffer in the long term from stress.

This.

I worked in a very stressful, thankless job. I constantly stayed late and am also the type of person who brings the stress of my job home. 15 months into the job, I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis at 26. While I might have always had a genetic predisposition of getting it, I think the stress of that job brought it on earlier than it should of. The average age of diagnosis is well into the late 30s or 40s. Medical research has also confirmed stressful events can trigger the disease.

I then took a €4,000 pay drop and moved to a job with flexi time and a much better work life balance. I am 16 months into the new job now and while love is too strong a word (I work in pensions), I like my job and I don't fill with dread on Sunday afternoons/evenings anymore.

scarepanda

Life over work or money everyday of the week.

I was lucky to get a job in my chosen industry (construction) pretty much straight out of college during the recession. I love most parts of the job, loved working for my last company, well paid, but as a whole iv pretty much decided to leave the industry. Its just not worth it, long hours, working away from home, I was rarely able to switch off, even on holidays and my mental health eventually started to be affected.
I'm not working at the moment, taking some time for myself and working on some plans that will allow me to have a better work life balance, even though it will mean less money. Over time the sacrifices you make in your personal life are just not worth it.

moc moc a moc

lufties wrote: »

Its probably something everyone wonders, but is it better to like your job and earn less or dislike it and earn more..I'm thinking the former but I do the latter

If you have any intelligence you'll get a job you like and become good at it through natural course, thus earning a lot.

The choice then becomes whether to do this job you like for more hours, therefore building up a lot of reserve cash, or do it for fewer hours, therefore having more time to enjoy the cash you already make.

Personally, I have chosen the latter.

boobar

I really enjoy my job, on a very good salary as well.

Plus, I was very lucky this Summer to take the whole month of August as holidays to spend time with my 7 year old daughter. She won't be small for long as they say.

I gave up on the prospect of the dream job as it would mean having to sacrifice too much for the whole family. I'm ok with this, not saying I've given up on it for good, but definitely until my kid finishes national school.

Thepoet85

I run my own physical therapy clinic, so although it's a lot of work, I get plenty of time of time to myself. I feel I get the best work/life balance. I work as hard as I possibly can, knowing that I'll be the main benefactor from my hard work. In addition to that, it's a well paid job so I don't need to put in 40 or 50 hours a week to make nice wage. I'll never be a millionaire, but I wouldn't swap my job for anything else right now

Wanderer78

moc moc a moc wrote: »

If you have any intelligence you'll get a job you like

now theres a strange statement!

Wanderer2010

I learnt a long time ago you dont ever really get thanks for doing extra hours at work, despite what might seem like sincere thanks. I used to do x number of extra hours every week and although my boss said thanks and i would get the occasional email from management saying how appreciative they were. But i was always tired at the weekends, I literally spent Saturday and Sunday on the couch trying to recharge before another 55 hour week (or longer). I stopped seeing friends, my life gradually just became a blur of bed and office and only a few minutes of fresh air every day.

One evening I stayed until after 9pm to implement a new design that I thought would assist the office and was so proud of myself as I left for home that evening. I came to work the next day and my boss "wanted a word", and he proceeded to tell me off, telling me I was supposed to inform him of ANY changes or possible changes to methods and that I was blatanty disregarding protocol", I was so shocked I didnt even mention how many hours I put into the project. I was very close to telling him to go fcuk himself and that he wouldnt have his costs down if it wasnt for my effort and my extra hours" but thankfully I pulled back and that day In learnt a very hard lesson: Do your 8 hours and come home because nobody likes a hero.

I suspect my boss (who despite events is a decent enough guy) had a roasting from above and he had just split with his wife so I was the unfortunate punching bag, but the damage was done. From that day on, I only ever did 8 hours a day and although he was really annoyed about it at first, what can they do-sack you? I quickly had more energy for hobbies and friends etc and now I wouldnt do a second of extra time. Some people live for the "company" and have nothing else in their lives but I now will keep my work/life balance as it is.

Panda_Turtle

LexieOnRale wrote: »

Between 43-48 hours a week for the company I'm with and then maybe another 12-15 hours myself freelance. Beauty industry

Do you spend most of your time sitting or standing? That many hours sitting I find difficult. Of course that many hours on your feet would also be hard but a balance would be nice.

Wanderer78

Panda_Turtle wrote: »

Do you spend most of your time sitting or standing? That many hours sitting I find difficult. Of course that many hours on your feet would also be hard but a balance would be nice.

http://www.bbc.com/news/health-32069698

us humans just aint made for it

qo2cj1dsne8y4k

Panda_Turtle wrote: »

Do you spend most of your time sitting or standing? That many hours sitting I find difficult. Of course that many hours on your feet would also be hard but a balance would be nice.

Mostly standing but can find myself sitting for long periods of time, depending on what I'm doing

Wanderer78

Wanderer2010 wrote: »

I learnt a long time ago you dont ever really get thanks for doing extra hours at work, despite what might seem like sincere thanks. I used to do x number of extra hours every week and although my boss said thanks and i would get the occasional email from management saying how appreciative they were. But i was always tired at the weekends, I literally spent Saturday and Sunday on the couch trying to recharge before another 55 hour week (or longer). I stopped seeing friends, my life gradually just became a blur of bed and office and only a few minutes of fresh air every day.

One evening I stayed until after 9pm to implement a new design that I thought would assist the office and was so proud of myself as I left for home that evening. I came to work the next day and my boss "wanted a word", and he proceeded to tell me off, telling me I was supposed to inform him of ANY changes or possible changes to methods and that I was blatanty disregarding protocol", I was so shocked I didnt even mention how many hours I put into the project. I was very close to telling him to go fcuk himself and that he wouldnt have his costs down if it wasnt for my effort and my extra hours" but thankfully I pulled back and that day In learnt a very hard lesson: Do your 8 hours and come home because nobody likes a hero.

I suspect my boss (who despite events is a decent enough guy) had a roasting from above and he had just split with his wife so I was the unfortunate punching bag, but the damage was done. From that day on, I only ever did 8 hours a day and although he was really annoyed about it at first, what can they do-sack you? I quickly had more energy for hobbies and friends etc and now I wouldnt do a second of extra time. Some people live for the "company" and have nothing else in their lives but I now will keep my work/life balance as it is.

we all learn the hard way im afraid. im sure most have similar stories as do i. just do enough folks and reserve most of your energy for the most important things in life, i.e. family, friends and of course yourself

j80ezgvc3p92xu

lufties wrote: »

Its probably something everyone wonders, but is it better to like your job and earn less or dislike it and earn more..I'm thinking the former but I do the latter

I would say its better to prioritise life outside of work, unless, which for around 90% of people is highly unlikely, you have a passion for what you do in work. When you are 80 or so, how many hours you have slaved away in a corporate cubicle is not going to matter. Chances are you will want to have a nice big family around you, plenty of friends and the knowledge that you have made a positive difference in the life of at least some people.

Having said that, it looks likely that I will be spending a lot of my time in said corporate cubicle in the next few years. I am a young man so I have to "pay my dues" or establish myself in the proffession of my choice. There is no free lunch. But I will definitely be cutting down on the hours I need to put in at work to a minimum after that. I see work as a means and not as an end. We were created for greater things.

lufties wrote: »

My passion is (...) holistic things like yoga, psychedelic music,

PS New Age is bad mojo mate. All the best.

lufties

Armani Victorious Insect wrote: »

I would say its better to prioritise life outside of work, unless, which for around 90% of people is highly unlikely, you have a passion for what you do in work. When you are 80 or so, how many hours you have slaved away in a corporate cubicle is not going to matter. Chances are you will want to have a nice big family around you, plenty of friends and the knowledge that you have made a positive difference in the life of at least some people.

Having said that, it looks likely that I will be spending a lot of my time in said corporate cubicle in the next few years. I am a young man so I have to "pay my dues" or establish myself in the proffession of my choice. There is no free lunch. But I will definitely be cutting down on the hours I need to put in at work to a minimum after that. I see work as a means and not as an end. We were created for greater things.



PS New Age is bad mojo mate. All the best.

In my job I get travel perks, flying biz class free once year..it STILL doesn't compensate the miserable feeling of going into a building that looks like something out of an Orwellian dystopia.

Zipppy

Interesting thread....
Stress, and specifically work related stress, will make you ill...even kill you eventually. Maybe it's ok when you're 25 or 35 but when you hit 45 you need to start thinking ' my health is my wealth'...
I'm lucky enough to be able to walk to work in about 25 mins...no hassle, no traffic jams, no petrol stations zero commuting costs and I get lots of exercise and no commute stress...wouldn't give it up to move to a job where I needed to commute across town for any money.
So by all means work hard and long when you're young but slow down when older and learn to enjoy life .. Just as it is

eet fuk

I cannot for the life of me understand why anyone would sacrifice the best years of their lives (20's, 30's in terms of energy and freedom imo) to earn as much as possible and be 'comfortable' in their old age. Fair enough if you have kids or whatever, but for anyone who is single/childless - earn your money and enjoy your life! Get a job that gives you personal satisfaction and that you take pride in! Go on holidays and pursue your hobbies!
If you spend your time becoming skilled and mentally/socially adjusted then you will likely be able to earn money until a ripe old age anyway. I would hate myself if I was wasting my time at 27, in an office I hate with people I'm indifferent to, just so I can sit on my hole at 70 and watch the clouds go by until death (bit dramatic but you get my point!).

I work in engineering and I honestly don't count the hours I work. I might leave at 5 some days, 7 or 8 on others. I stay because I'm enjoying what I'm working on and I'm doing it for myself! I went to college to study something that I find interesting, so that I could get a job doing something that I find interesting. All the while improving my skills and increasing my experience with no mental anguish.

commonsense.

Always remember, it's not the hours you put in, it's what you put into the hours.

qo2cj1dsne8y4k

eet fuk wrote: »

I cannot for the life of me understand why anyone would sacrifice the best years of their lives (20's, 30's in terms of energy and freedom imo) to earn as much as possible and be 'comfortable' in their old age. Fair enough if you have kids or whatever, but for anyone who is single/childless - earn your money and enjoy your life! Get a job that gives you personal satisfaction and that you take pride in! Go on holidays and pursue your hobbies!
If you spend your time becoming skilled and mentally/socially adjusted then you will likely be able to earn money until a ripe old age anyway. I would hate myself if I was wasting my time at 27, in an office I hate with people I'm indifferent to, just so I can sit on my hole at 70 and watch the clouds go by until death (bit dramatic but you get my point!).

I work in engineering and I honestly don't count the hours I work. I might leave at 5 some days, 7 or 8 on others. I stay because I'm enjoying what I'm working on and I'm doing it for myself! I went to college to study something that I find interesting, so that I could get a job doing something that I find interesting. All the while improving my skills and increasing my experience with no mental anguish.

I don't have parents anymore to bail me out. From when I got my first job at 16, anything I earned was mine, for online shopping, shoes, drinking - whatever I wanted to do really. Then if I needed to go to the doctor, or the dentist, or get new glasses, my dad would dig deep and fund the nessessities. As a result, I never saved, and never found myself in a position that I wasn't comfortable.

When my dad got sick, I left my job to mind him. I didn't sign on social welfare, and my dad kept me in money, so it was fine. Until he was dying, the cash ran out at home, and the bank/credit union wouldn't release any more cash because he wasn't able to go in and sign for the withdrawal.

That left me with NOTHING. No money, lead up to Christmas (like three weeks to go). I had 2 of my own dogs to feed, a stray dog who had given birth and was feeding 6 puppies, not a cent to my name. I was having some pretty personal things going on with myself too which meant I needed to see my doctor a bit, and was being referred to a clinic 40 mins away from where I was from. Had to keep my dads clothes washed and dried, And my brother was giving me 50 euro a week to try keep myself fed, esb paid, dogs fed, washing stuff bought. By the time the bills were paid and dogs were fed, there was between 8-12 euro left for food for me.

When my dad died - I had no money for flowers, no money for the food/drinks afterwards. My brother had to pay all that. I was literally never as destitute in my life, and I had a roof over my head and didn't have to worry about a mortgage. And still, it was horrific. Not even being able to go to the doctor when something quite serious happened.

Now that I'm 100% on my own, I don't want ever to be in that position again. I save now because if my dog needs the vet, I can bring him. If I need to spend 400 euro getting my wisdom teeth out, I can do it. If I need a doctor, I can just go. When my friends kids birthdays come around, I can get them a birthday present. When the unforeseen happens, i am prepared.

I can work long hours. I can put in the effort to get the return. I might not be able to do that in 25 years time, and I don't want to be stuck at 52, wondering where the mortgage is going to come from, wearing a coat to bed because I can't afford to hear the house. Taking cold showers, every 2 days. Having absolutely no security.

That's terrifying. Being caught like that with no way out. I grew up taking a warm house, full fridge, designer glasses/clothes/shoes, cars taxed and insured for me, for granted. I'm still fond of maintaining that lifestyle, and want to do the same for my family, having them grow up not worried about money or constant penny pinching for essential things. And that takes me sacrificing just a little bit, for an even better return.

eet fuk

LexieOnRale wrote: »

I don't have parents anymore to bail .......

I totally appreciate that, 100%. Bad things can and will happen unfortunately. I am not for one second saying that nobody should save money to have a safety net, as I think everyone should live within their means. This thread is not about that however. When it comes down to it, I think that everyone should try to find a job that makes them happy over one that makes them miserable for a few extra euro. If that means that all you have to your name is a studio apartment and a used frying pan, so be it. Better than having designer handbags and crippling anxiety due to work. If you earn less - spend less. If you're worried about the future then avoid the holidays and hobbies, just do what makes you happy. Save your money instead and work a job you like.

qo2cj1dsne8y4k

But you need to do what you need to do for short term, means to an end. Obviously if you're in a situation whereby your job is causing you health problems/really really unhappy and miserable, then get out, for sure. No jobs worth your sanity. However, if it's just a job you don't enjoy, but pays good - I'd be enclined to say stick it out as long as you can, milk as much as you can from it, and move on then when it gets too much or you find your dream job.

I guess everyone will have different priorities. Mine personally would to have my own savings, a beautiful house that I'm really proud of, nice things, being warm and having somewhere I'm comfortable happy and safe in, after a long day of work.

Again I'm lucky because I do actually enjoy my job. And I got this job after spending 4 years working else where in jobs that I couldn't even begin to tell you how much I despised them, built my knowledge and experience and landed the job of my dreams.

eet fuk

Ah yeah, like I agree with you on everything there. It is worth spending a few years in a sh*t job if you have ambitions to do something that suits you better. I guess I'm talking about the situation whereby someone works a crappy job from 18-60 just because it pays the bills and they are "comfortable".
As I'm sure you know, working a job that you enjoys gives you a totally different outlook on life. There can be an argument made for spending a few years on a low salary but developing your skills so that you can earn big in the future, as opposed to the other way around.
Like you say though, different approaches suit different people - such is life!

the_syco

LexieOnRale wrote: »

I guess everyone will have different priorities. Mine personally would to have my own savings, a beautiful house that I'm really proud of, nice things, being warm and having somewhere I'm comfortable happy and safe in, after a long day of work.

You need an end goal in life. For you, it's a house. And to get that house, you can prioritise differently, as once you get that house, you can slow down a bit, unlike those with no end goal, and will plough forward at top speed come what may.

JPWOctane

lufties wrote: »

Thats the million dollar question. My passion is surfing and holistic things like yoga, psychedelic music, eating healthy etc (I'm prob a bit of a so called hippy at heart). My job isn't stressful but its working with a big airline in London where I'm just a number, Its quite mundane to be fair as I work in quality assurance. I can put away about 800 pounds a month plus pension and voluntary contributions, so I'm not too badly off.

I'm half thinking of joining an airline in the southwest of england, the money is 15k less but its working on small jets with better career progression in a better working environment. I'd probably have a better quality of life in the shorter term but obviously the money is a sacrifice.

I do like my comforts like healthy food and a few posh beers , but I don't have any majorly expensive hobbies.

It's a hell of a long time since I moved from Bristol to Reading (commuting to near Heathrow) but having lived in the Southwest and the London commuter belt, I'd recommend the former. No idea what relative property prices etc. are these days but i imagine your money will go a lot further in the Southwest.

Do you have many family/friends in or around London that the move would take you away from?

VulcanRaving

Stress and sitting at a desk for 8 hours a day does nothing for your health or most people's happiness. If you still don't want to be doing what you are doing now til 65, get out of it but at least think of what resources you will need to do what you really want and work towards it.

lufties

JPWOctane wrote: »

It's a hell of a long time since I moved from Bristol to Reading (commuting to near Heathrow) but having lived in the Southwest and the London commuter belt, I'd recommend the former. No idea what relative property prices etc. are these days but i imagine your money will go a lot further in the Southwest.

Do you have many family/friends in or around London that the move would take you away from?

My girlfriend lives here in her own gaff. It's actually Exeter, probably not a patch on Bristol I'm thinking.

Antarctica

eet fuk wrote: »

I work in engineering and I honestly don't count the hours I work. I might leave at 5 some days, 7 or 8 on others. I stay because I'm enjoying what I'm working on and I'm doing it for myself!

What time do you start at? Some jobs e.g. construction will have you starting at 7am rather than the typical 9am. And still expect you to stay till at least five.

eet fuk

Antarctica wrote: »

What time do you start at? Some jobs e.g. construction will have you starting at 7am rather than the typical 9am. And still expect you to stay till at least five.

Depends, between 8 and 9 typically.

Streetwalker

I get paid an embarrassing wage but I could care less as im happy out. No work stress to speak of start at 9 and im home at 4:30 most days. Im not a material type of person so it doesn't bother me in the slightest. Do a lot of clothes shopping in the charity shops don't think ive ever spent over 30 euro on a piece of clothing wedding suit aside lol. Once we have enough for food and the kids education im happy out.

Its not so much the job as what goes on in the rest of you life, for example being able to walk to work and having a stress free commute verses a hellish hour and a half commute, what sort of home life do you have, what sort of hobbies and interests do you have outside work all affect how you feel about your job so sometime its not so much the actual job but what going on outside you job.