“Change the world.” “Work hard, play hard.” “We’re passionate about our business.”
For those who have been in the workforce for a while, these phrases don’t necessarily generate excitement and interest — in fact, they are often red flags, code for “work 70 hours a week” and “make sure your phone is on at 2 a.m. on Sundays.”
While company founders often have a genuine passion driving them to work long hours to realize their vision, the expectation that employees will share this passion is not always realistic. The simple fact is that, more times than not, “work-life balance” is a myth. At best, it means different things to different people.
But “work as a lifestyle” is something different and a goal worth striving for — for companies and employees alike. Treating work as an extension of, rather than an obstacle to, your lifestyle can be very rewarding. This philosophy is gaining traction as the pandemic’s impact on the working world drives staggering numbers of individuals to think harder about how and where they spend their time. According to a July 2021 Washington Post-Schar School poll, nearly one in three people under 40 has thought about changing their occupation or field of work since the pandemic began. Another recent survey by Joblist revealed that just over 30% of workers would take a pay cut for a better work-life balance.
Continue Reading: https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbestechcouncil/2021/12/22/work-as-a-lifestyle-an-antidote-to-the-work-life-balance-myth/