I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately. We spend so much of our lives immersed in our professions that in many ways our work has become our life. We may not like that fact; we may do what we can to convince ourselves that “real life” is what we do outside of work; but the reality is that the number of hours spent earning a living does, in fact, add up to that living itself.

So it makes sense that at some point, most people need to examine what their work entails, and if it is, indeed, how they want to spend their time, energy, and creativity.

Does this mean that you should quit your job, go volunteer to work in a shelter kitchen or start a new company? Of course not. We all have obligations. My husband, for example, cannot currently leave a well-paying job that is becoming more and more frustrating to him – his child support payments are based on that salary, and the way family courts work, should he take a lower-paying but more fulfilling job, his support payments would not be reduced: they're based on potential rather than real earnings. Other people have education debts, mortgage or rent payments, financial obligations that require a certain level of income. So changing jobs, finding fulfilling work, is never as simple as it seems.

But it's still a topic that merits thought, even if it means starting planning now for something that might not happen for a few (or quite a few!) years.

What would make your work-life more meaningful?

Is there something that you can do now that would take it in a more meaningful direction? What about going back to school to study something you've always wanted to do? What about using the education that you have now to try something different – what if you were to think creatively about the different things that you could do with your present education and experience?

How does your work reflect your values? Is there something that you could do differently so that it is more aligned with who you feel yourself to be? Does that mean starting your own company, or joining one that is already doing what you think you should be doing?

There are no easy answers to any of these questions. But life without change and growth will eventually stagnate, and your work-life is no different from any other part of your life. Start taking some small steps now to feel better about how you spend your time, your training, and your energy, and you may find when it's time to retire that you don't really want to, after all!

And then you'll be beyond the elements of style!



Jeannette Cézanne
Customline Wordware, Inc.