Been there, done that. It's simply not sustainable in the long run. The damage it does not just to your body, but also your relationships, your emotions, and your overall sanity is just unreal.
It all comes down to risk and reward. If you're capable and willing, working 80hrs a week can put you financially in a very good position. If you value money or absolute financial stability it may be something that you'd pursue. However, if those are not as high on your list then working less hours may be more beneficial to your life goals. What is sad is complaining about how someone has something you don't but not being willing to do the work required for it. It's also sad to hold contempt for someone else's life goals if they don't conform to yours.
Everyone is individual. My dad works 12 hour days at minimum for 9 months. He loves it. Do what is healthy for you and what makes you happy. Don't let others opinions control your attitude.
Well.... yes and no. As garlog points out- saying you worked 20 hours in a single day doesn’t mean anything. I mean- if you tell me you worked 12 hours yesterday and your work looks like what everyone else did in 8: either you have poor time management or your skills need improvement. I’m more impressed with someone who turns out quality work in less time than more. But that said- if you are using those hours wisely to produce better quality and or quantity work- that is an accomplishment.
Exploitation is real in our system and something to address and be aware of. But it’s also sad to me that so many people only see work as exploitation and don’t have any pride or ownership in their own careers or development. I’ve worked more than a few 100+ hour weeks in my life. If I was making $6,000 on a check, my bosses were profiting 10x or more that- but every one of those hours was time that I was building myself. I was building skills and knowledge and contacts. I was building finances as well- all things that can serve as the foundations to build something for yourself, such as your own business. I take pride in my work, I appreciate it when other people do. I’m not into ice sculpting- but when someone spends 14 hours in a sculpture and creates something amazing, I respect that the same as I respect 14 hours spent proofing the perfect document or creating the perfect spreadsheet. It may not be my passion- but it’s a skill and it is creating something,
Likely something with meaning or value. I feel for the retail workers working days like Black Friday- when I was young I myself did so- but I didn’t really have a family so it wasn’t so bad for me. That said- I also appreciate it. I appreciate the associate that makes sure things are where they belong in the store and faced and such. They COULD skate by and do the bare minimum or put in as little time as possible- but they don’t, and people like you or me get to enjoy the fruits of their work. I think exploitation doesn’t just come from companies. I think most of us contribute to it. We don’t appreciate the work service people do for us. We take for granted all the systems behind the scenes of daily life, and the people who make that happen. That itself is exploitation because we happily benefit from their work, and at best pay lip service places like social media but never truly show or live the appreciation for them.
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