Work are the real-time, day-to-day activities, the “doing” in our lives. It determines how we live in time and space. It has very real consequences on our physical health and well-being. Work demands that we pay attention to both the costs of and benefits we gain in our long-term and short-term daily lives. And yet, we seldom connect the dots between our employment and our physical health. In short, we overwork ourselves to death.
A former church member worked at a plant where he was exposed to asbestos for over 30 years. When I knew him, he was dying from mesothelioma, a lung disease traced to asbestos. He spoke openly about his disease and understood that it was caused by his work. But he also said that it was worth it. His employers enabled him to take care of his family. His disease was just part of the price he paid. He both saw and chose to continue along that path. He counted the cost and made his choice. Unfortunately, few of us are aware of the real costs of our work life. We likely ignore the consequences they are having on our present or future lives. And so, we labor on and leave the dots unconnected.
In addition, many employers have changed the workplace in ways that encourages us to “overwork.” They demand greater employee efficiency by forcing us to do more with less. Many have reshaped the pay systems to support this efficiency. They make it more profitable to overwork. There is a greater reliance on performance-based pay (commission and bonuses) and no longer consider cost of living to be a reason to increase a worker’s pay. Further, they “add value” to our positions by increasing our responsibilities. They cultivate increased competition for jobs and promotions. Many people work in order to building a resume without regard to pay or benefits. This is especially true of the increasing use of unpaid internships in both the public and private sector. Lastly, our culture is now focusing on developing a work ethic around the entrepreneurial spirit that requires that someone do whatever it takes to succeed. How badly do you want to be a millionaire?
The result is that jobs are demanding greater costs and deferring benefits. Labor has become more of a cipher on the balance sheet than a human resource. We have come to see our working life as selling our time and bodies to the highest bidder until we can buy them back in retirement.
The pressures to overwork, over-invest in our jobs can be overwhelming. But it is not inevitable. The worker still has the choice. They do not have to accept overwork. They can cut the costs of working but they will also have to be realistic about the benefits. It is the workers responsibility to find the balance, not the employers. Overwork, overinvestment is a choice, but it is not the only choice to those who are willing to accept responsibility for their working lives.
If you find yourself in a situation where overwork is hurting your health, you may want to change jobs or find a way to work smarter.
A former church member worked at a plant where he was exposed to asbestos for over 30 years. When I knew him, he was dying from mesothelioma, a lung disease traced to asbestos. He spoke openly about his disease and understood that it was caused by his work. But he also said that it was worth it. His employers enabled him to take care of his family. His disease was just part of the price he paid. He both saw and chose to continue along that path. He counted the cost and made his choice. Unfortunately, few of us are aware of the real costs of our work life. We likely ignore the consequences they are having on our present or future lives. And so, we labor on and leave the dots unconnected.
In addition, many employers have changed the workplace in ways that encourages us to “overwork.” They demand greater employee efficiency by forcing us to do more with less. Many have reshaped the pay systems to support this efficiency. They make it more profitable to overwork. There is a greater reliance on performance-based pay (commission and bonuses) and no longer consider cost of living to be a reason to increase a worker’s pay. Further, they “add value” to our positions by increasing our responsibilities. They cultivate increased competition for jobs and promotions. Many people work in order to building a resume without regard to pay or benefits. This is especially true of the increasing use of unpaid internships in both the public and private sector. Lastly, our culture is now focusing on developing a work ethic around the entrepreneurial spirit that requires that someone do whatever it takes to succeed. How badly do you want to be a millionaire?
The result is that jobs are demanding greater costs and deferring benefits. Labor has become more of a cipher on the balance sheet than a human resource. We have come to see our working life as selling our time and bodies to the highest bidder until we can buy them back in retirement.
The pressures to overwork, over-invest in our jobs can be overwhelming. But it is not inevitable. The worker still has the choice. They do not have to accept overwork. They can cut the costs of working but they will also have to be realistic about the benefits. It is the workers responsibility to find the balance, not the employers. Overwork, overinvestment is a choice, but it is not the only choice to those who are willing to accept responsibility for their working lives.
If you find yourself in a situation where overwork is hurting your health, you may want to change jobs or find a way to work smarter.
TIP - Working Smarter
The old adage “Don’t work harder, work smarter!” is very true. Smarter means being aware of what and how you are doing your job, counting the costs, and weighing the benefits. If you can get greater efficiency by learning new ways of doing things, will it bring a greater benefit to you? Wil employing technology reduce your costs in time and energy while holding or increasing your benefits? Will stepping down the corporate ladder and related responsibilities still yield the benefits you need? These are among a myriad of choices that each of us has in taking care of our body during our working life.
I encourage you to look back at why you work and compare the costs and benefits. What changes will allow you to make the best of the time you spend at work? If you choose to overwork then you will need to accept the consequences. If you choose to make changes you will need to accept the consequences of that choice as well. There are no magic bullets. We know what we could and possibly should do. We need to give ourselves permission to do it, to make the smarter choice for a healthier work life. And then, we need to be willing to accept the results of our choices, recognizing that they are our choices.
How important is time with your family? How important is your current level of pay? How important are the various benefits? How important is your present and future health? How important is your current lifestyle? Weigh each of these and many others to make your choice. And then get on with living, letting go of blaming others and enjoying your life, work and all.
Blessings,
Bob
I encourage you to look back at why you work and compare the costs and benefits. What changes will allow you to make the best of the time you spend at work? If you choose to overwork then you will need to accept the consequences. If you choose to make changes you will need to accept the consequences of that choice as well. There are no magic bullets. We know what we could and possibly should do. We need to give ourselves permission to do it, to make the smarter choice for a healthier work life. And then, we need to be willing to accept the results of our choices, recognizing that they are our choices.
How important is time with your family? How important is your current level of pay? How important are the various benefits? How important is your present and future health? How important is your current lifestyle? Weigh each of these and many others to make your choice. And then get on with living, letting go of blaming others and enjoying your life, work and all.
Blessings,
Bob
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