Some of the billionaires that I have heard speak on podcasts like Deep Dive by Ali Abdaal usually mention something in particular about their work lives that often strikes me. It baffles me most times, and although I imagine it's real and possible, I wonder how and when I would actually get to say the same for myself, because it's not unreal and I desire it.
When I was on my second internship at the university, I was fortunate to work with an automation academy. It was a reputable one that only handed out very few slots at that time. On getting the spot, I was excited to resume. I was going to work for six days of the week, from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. It seemed like no problem to me at that time until a few weeks in.
The working hours were alright for me. The pay wasn't fantastic, but I was learning what people paid tons of money to get and was content. What I didn't factor in were the circumstances I would regularly find myself in, like dealing with road traffic every morning and evening, and the shift in my lifestyle.
Going to work on Saturdays and having only Sundays off wasn't convenient. It became a challenge to do the other things that were important to me. I had a great work relationship with my colleagues and boss, so I always looked forward to another day there at work, but I felt myself slowly drifting away from some things that truly mattered to me.
Eventually, I graduated from the academy, and after a series of enlightenments afterwards, I realized a few things about myself with time. A, I lean more towards remote jobs than being on the field or in the in the office. B, I shouldn't be working for every minute of my life, and most certainly not in unhealthy ways.
Fast forward to a few years later, and I began to teach physics at a secondary school for my national service year. Unlike how it should be, I really only went to work when I had to teach or perform my duty as the liaison officer for my colleagues. I should have been at work during the school hours every day, but the zero pay was discouraging.
Because I didn't have to be at work so much every day, I had a lot more time to do some of the other things that were also important to me. I think that in this sense, it applies to businesses as well.
"I have not worked a single Friday for many years now," one of the billionaires said on the Deep Dive podcast. That struck me. He had built something for himself that enabled him to be in more control of his time, earned him a truckload of money, and allowed him to do things like spend more time with his family.
How to get there, I am not sure. What I am certain about is that if I can reduce my work time and days, it would be splendid and allow me to find it easier to maintain work-life balance regularly.
Putting the community prompt into perspective, with only four days of work, including extended work hours, I could do alright as long as I get one more day without work. The weekends seem like they aren't enough these days anyway. And then I would spend time on more things that excited me as well. I mean, if the work isn't already laborious, you know...
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