Action #2:
Limit your work time
Have you ever noticed that when you meet someone almost the first question out of your mouth is, "What do you do?" This is a very open ended question; your new acquaintance could answer, "I garden," "I write poetry," or "I try to be the best parent I can be." The answer, however, is always the person's work.
In our culture, work defines who we are, driving us to be career-focused. Our status and identity often come from our job's prestige and salary rather than the quality of our relationships and the overall quality of our lives. Consequently, when we're offered a promotion that will increase our status and salary we accept it without hesitation--despite the additional hours, stress, and responsibility.
Even with the best of intentions, if you don't consciously limit your work time, work will creep in and take over all of your other priorities. How do extra meetings at work or overtime pay compare to your daughter's first soccer game or a special dinner with your significant other? We need to realize that the time we give our friends and family is more valuable than the things you give them.
??Did you know??
The average American works 1,966 hours each year. That's 235 more than the United Kingdom, 310 more than France, 392 more than Germany, and 414 more hours than Sweden! Men are working on average 100 hours more and women 233 hours more per year in 1993 than in 1976. Almost 20% of Americans worked 49 hours or more each week. That's a full extra 8 hour day!
We realize that many of you may not have the luxury of working less. Rising housing costs and stagnating wages restrict our opportunities to limit work time. However, simpler lifestyles create possibilities for many of us to limit work time and achieve balance between work aspirations and the rest of our lives. Working less will help you to: lower your stress, improve your health and sleep patterns, improve your relationships, provide time for civic and creative pursuits, and make your life more fulfilling. Consider asking for more vacation time instead of a raise next time around!
Are you a workaholic?
Do you regularly work through lunch?
Have your long hours caused strain in your relationships?
Does work interfere with your planned time off?
Do you often think about work outside the office?
Do you work more than 45 hours a week?
Have you given up on your hobbies?
Do you think about work while driving, falling asleep or when others are talking?
If you answered yes to a majority of these questions, you may want to consider if you work too much and how you might reconsider your focus on work.
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