[psychosylocibin]

I am sure many of you can relate to this issue : The staleness and wasting-away feeling of working the 40 hour workweek.

Of course this only relates to those who feel like their current occupation requires them to do underwhelming work irrelavent to their core interests and aspirations. Sadly, it seems as though this is how it is for a great majority of people, especially deep thinkers and planners like ourselves that would rot away working in a mundane job.

The whole protestent traditional work-ethic really gets to me. Correct me if I am wrong, but it almost feels as if supporting a family and and any form of hard work comes way before relavance of said work to each individuals' true interests. It is like the mechanic who works 60hour work weeks for 40 years straight performing the same mundane tasks over and over again. Of course this may be enjoyable for some people, but I feel like for the most of us it would be akin to mental purgatory.

Just think about this, if you spent 40 hours (and for the typical hard working american, about 50 hours) each week doing something that you truly were passionate about and enjoyed, how proficient/happy would you be?

You always here about people who are extremely passionate and involved in a certain area or hobby. Typically their time invested in this interest is Nil compared to their 9-5 job. Take myself, for example: Writing and playing music is my passion, as it is with all the members in my band. However, each one of us works mundane 45 hour workweeks and only spends about 10-15 hours maximum on our respective musical passions.

[bayouboy]

Yeah, hard to find a job you like!

[themuzicman]

Most people like that whole "income" thing that enables individuals to purchase food, shelter, clothing, transportation, etc....

So, it's not a waste of time at all...

[psychosylocibin]

	Originally Posted by themuzicman To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	Most people like that whole "income" thing that enables individuals to purchase food, shelter, clothing, transportation, etc.... So, it's not a waste of time at all...

Of course, but I feel like the percentage of time spent on mundane activities required to obtain this "income" is a little lopsided. Obviously the key to this problem is find a job one enjoys and is at the same time realistic. (So it is a little unrealistic if your favorite passion is playing in the sandbox, obviously no one is going to hire you to do that at any rate).

[cannotseethe]

	Originally Posted by psychosylocibin To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	Of course, but I feel like the percentage of time spent on mundane activities required to obtain this "income" is a little lopsided.

Would you spend less time foraging for edible berries in the wilderness?

[Night Runner]

	Originally Posted by psychosylocibin To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	Of course, but I feel like the percentage of time spent on mundane activities required to obtain this "income" is a little lopsided.

It's not a bad deal when viewed in context: only 40 hours a week (or less than 25% of your time) in exchange for enjoying the comforts of civilization: hot showers, indoor plumbing, Internet, cheesecake...
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In the olden days, this would be a terrific bargain. Just a century ago the very concept of worker's rights, vacation time, paid overtime, etc. was more of a fantasy than reality.

Sure, it would be nice if the work just did itself and you could dedicate the rest of your life to sweet, sweet hedonism but that isn't really an option. (Reminds me of my unbelievably lazy roommate who constantly complains that "it's not fair" that teenagers are expected to graduate from high school in order to advance in life. He's 32...) If you want out of the rat race, start your own business, or save up/invest enough so that you won't have to work ever again.

[themuzicman]

	Originally Posted by psychosylocibin To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	Of course, but I feel like the percentage of time spent on mundane activities required to obtain this "income" is a little lopsided. Obviously the key to this problem is find a job one enjoys and is at the same time realistic. (So it is a little unrealistic if your favorite passion is playing in the sandbox, obviously no one is going to hire you to do that at any rate).

Even a job you enjoy is going to have mundane tasks and often be boring. That's part of being a team in a large organization. You have a very nice ideal view of employment. Unfortunately, reality is going to smack you in the face pretty soon.

[Booko]

It depends on the nature of the job. Some jobs require you to be there in order to do them. Anything that requires constant contact with customers, like cashiers, customer service, factory work, construction -- those things you have to be there to do the job at particular times of the day.

Much of office work doesn't seem to require such a fixed schedule. I had to do my 40 hours a week whether we had little or a lot to do. What that meant is I sat around with my finger up my butt for 40 hours a week, for weeks, until someone finished off a design. Then I'd be working my 40 hours a week. At some point I'd be working 60-80 hours a week trying to hit a final deadline, though I would only be paid for 40 hours a week.

Very little of this required me to be in the office, and being in the office was mostly an impediment to work.

Unfortunately, we don't seem to have figured out yet how to break out of the 40hour/wk mold where it isn't necessary. Managers still act like they have to be supervisors and can be very insecure about whether you're actually are working or not, especially if they don't understand your job well enough to know how long things actually should take.

Even if you do contract work it's still all about "billable hours." Well, suppose I'm so good and fast at my job that it takes me half the time another person takes? Why should I be paid less because I am more proficient?

[Imagineering]

I think the French have it better. Don't they work like 30 hours a week and have months off a year?

[psychosylocibin]

Originally Posted by Night Runner To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

It's not a bad deal when viewed in context: only 40 hours a week (or less than 25% of your time) in exchange for enjoying the comforts of civilization: hot showers, indoor plumbing, Internet, cheesecake... To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. In the olden days, this would be a terrific bargain. Just a century ago the very concept of worker's rights, vacation time, paid overtime, etc. was more of a fantasy than reality. Sure, it would be nice if the work just did itself and you could dedicate the rest of your life to sweet, sweet hedonism but that isn't really an option. (Reminds me of my unbelievably lazy roommate who constantly complains that "it's not fair" that teenagers are expected to graduate from high school in order to advance in life. He's 32...) If you want out of the rat race, start your own business, or save up/invest enough so that you won't have to work ever again.

In Context? you forgot to consider other necessary activities.

Total Hours a week = 7*24 = 168.
Sleep = 8*7 = 56
Chores (housecare/Errands/Meal prep ) 15
Travel to work 5

remaining hours 168-(56+15+5) = 92


So, considering a typical 40 hour work week for someone without kids it puts one at about 50% of their total free time, which is not bad.

---------- Post added 07-26-2010 at 02:52 PM ----------

	Originally Posted by Imagineering To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	I think the French have it better. Don't they work like 30 hours a week and have months off a year?

If you think the French have it nice, The Aussies laugh at us - I heard the typical vacation time is around 3 months per year

[Silverity]

I don't mind the 40 hours, but I don't like the 9-5, I'd rather work more on less days. I don't like commuting with everyone, and I don't like my morning to evening being taken up every week day. Fortunately there are careers and jobs of all types... I'm sure if you looked hard enough you could find something ideal.

[CycleBreaker]

	Originally Posted by psychosylocibin To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	Of course, but I feel like the percentage of time spent on mundane activities required to obtain this "income" is a little lopsided. Obviously the key to this problem is find a job one enjoys and is at the same time realistic. (So it is a little unrealistic if your favorite passion is playing in the sandbox, obviously no one is going to hire you to do that at any rate).

Indeed. Survival alone isn't what life is all about. The pursuit of money takes time from us now so that we may enjoy our time more fully in the future. Balance is key.

I too hated the 40 hour work weeks. It just seemed like too much. How do all the people with families do it? I wondered. I barely had enough time for myself. Eventually I got in the habit of turning down overtime. Lately I've been doing freelance work occasionally. I live frugal and save a lot of money so whenever I get burned out from the mundane, I take a break. This could mean quitting a job or just enjoying the time I have off in between jobs.

Eventually I may have to do the 9-5 shtick again for a while to boost the savings back up, but it's never a permanent thing. My trend is away from work and toward play as I get older. The best thing would be to combine work and play. I've been doing this for years, but my idea of fun changes with time so no solution (job) is a permanent one.

[Necrosis]

I work 9 hour days. Have off every other friday and the friday I do work is 8 hours. The every other friday off = amazing.

You should be lucky your not working in finance. They often work 10 - 12 hour days.

[Night Runner]

	Originally Posted by Imagineering To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	I think the French have it better. Don't they work like 30 hours a week and have months off a year?

	Originally Posted by psychosylocibin To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	If you think the French have it nice, The Aussies laugh at us - I heard the typical vacation time is around 3 months per year

Citations needed.

	Originally Posted by psychosylocibin To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	In Context? you forgot to consider other necessary activities. Total Hours a week = 7*24 = 168. Sleep = 8*7 = 56 Chores (housecare/Errands/Meal prep ) 15 Travel to work 5 remaining hours 168-(56+15+5) = 92 So, considering a typical 40 hour work week for someone without kids it puts one at about 50% of their total free time, which is not bad.

Then why do you complain?
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All your "other necessary activities" are irrelevant. The point is that a full-time work week takes only 40 hours out of your week - the other 128 are wide open, to do with as you wish. In the end, it all comes down to time management. For example, I work anywhere from 50 to 75 hours a week, depending on what the backlog at work is. I still manage to find more than enough time to keep myself intellectually stimulated, fit and healthy - and post on this forum.

[saberu]

The best way to avoid this problem is to stop selling your labor by the hour. Easier said than done.

	I feel like the percentage of time spent on mundane activities required to obtain this "income" is a little lopsided

This is because we have retarded liberals who vote for communists. Yes you are working extra hard because the country is so mismanaged.

[Silverity]

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the scoop on the work week and holidays in France.

[Night Runner]

	Originally Posted by saberu To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	This is because we have retarded liberals who vote for communists. Yes you are working extra hard because the country is so mismanaged.

Are you saying that once Republicans control all three branches of the government, everything will be a-okay, each of us will get a mansion, and a typical work week will be reduced to just 10 hours? Oh boy!
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...wait - didn't they control all three branches from 2000 through 2006? Something isn't right here.

[Warrior]

	Originally Posted by psychosylocibin To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	The whole protestent traditional work-ethic really gets to me.

Can you clarify your view of the protestant work ethic?

	Correct me if I am wrong, but it almost feels as if supporting a family and and any form of hard work comes way before relavance of said work to each individuals' true interests

If you have taken on the reponsibility of supporting a family or similar situation where others may not be capable of supporting themselves, then yes, that obligation comes before your interests. It may or not be possible to have both your obligation and your interests met. If if it, that's great. if it isn't, the obligation comes first.

[LifesEcstasy]

And yet it's possible to have a job that pays the bills and satisfies your interests as well. I have one of those. I love the hours I spend in my job and never feel like it's time wasted. The reality is for a lot of people being stuck in a job that is uninspiring isn't circumstance it's their choice. They are too scared or too limited in their self-belief to seek out the positions that really would fulfill them.

One also needs to consider that a position that fulfills you may not be in the industry, or the type of work you would assume. You have to think outside the box and be prepared to experiment to find it. I would never have found my current job by reading MBTI types and finding an industry amenable to my introversion. I work in an E and F industry, dominated by E & F types. I shouldn't technically love this work nor be any good at it. Yet it's the most fulfilling career I have had to date and I excel at it.

If there is no real reason why you are stuck in your current line of work then you really need to be asking yourself why you are there and be prepared to take the risk of leaving it. You will never be fulfilled by taking what life dishes out to you then whinging about it.

[Fox]

And what is the other option?

[BFrost1]

I work 24-hr shifts, 10 days a month. It's the best.

[True Rune]

Wasting the best hours of the day of the best years of your life, yeah. They say 25% (well, it's a little less than that) but it's not like you pay your 25% and you do w/e you want. You have to sleep still, which is roughly 1/5th to 1/3rd of your time. Then there often are other responsibilities. The world isn't really out to help you. I can see the necessity of work, but the veneration is ridiculous. Like, you're a better person or a better citizen because you do more work. Pfft.

[Quiet Riot]

not to mention all the time it takes to get ready each morning and then drive to and from work. Unpaid time.

---------- Post added 07-26-2010 at 09:07 PM ----------

	Originally Posted by BFrost1 To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	I work 24-hr shifts, 10 days a month. It's the best.

are you a firefighter or something? how can you work for 24 hours straight?

[Warrior]

	Originally Posted by Quiet Riot To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	are you a firefighter or something? how can you work for 24 hours straight?

My wife is a nurse. Before we had kids, she used to pull two twelve hour shifts back to back all the time. She said that once she got going there was always something to do and the time went by very quickly. Since full time was just three twelve hour shifts a week, she only had one more shift to do for the entire week.

[BuShinJu]

graph of working hours


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