The Guilt of Not Working Enough | brokeGIRLrich
I was reading CNN.com the other day and came across an article talking about Jeb Bush’s comments that if American’s want to make more, they should work harder.
And by harder he meant longer hours.
After a public outcry, he amended that statement to say he meant people only working part time, but – the sound clip is already out there and has sparked quite the conversation.
This was timely to me because I am in the middle of my laziest summer in a long time.
This working part time (3 days a week) doesn’t suck, but it does come with a weird amount of guilt baggage that is illogical on all fronts – but there, none the less.
The CNN.com article went on to show that in the United States the average work week is 34.4 hours – for everyone – this average includes all the part time, seasonal, whatever else you want to factor into there workers.
For full time workers, the average work week is 47 hours, the equivalent of working 6 days a week.
Finally, nearly 4 in 10 work more than 50 hours a week on their job.
So clearly Jeb Bush thinks I should be working some more.
To be fair, even I do. Most of the year, when I tell people what I do, I’m just a stage manager. All summer I’ve noticed I throw in “I’m a freelance writer/blogger too” because my subconscious is telling me I’m not working enough. I feel guilty about having free time. That’s insane. I know it’s insane and yet…
The past week I’ve been trying to arrange a pretty complicated rehearsal schedule for work and have been harassing about 55 people to change what they can or rearrange as best they can to make some of those rehearsals while feeling like a tool, since my availability was pretty open.
New York City is full of hustlers. Most of my cast have half a dozen jobs they are balancing and I’ve been there myself.
The guilt of my laziness while I’m floating in a pool in my parents backyard is palpable at times.
BUT
And it’s a big but –
You miss out on a lot of life with our crazy American work schedules. That same CNN.com article pointed out that the average vacation time in America is 15 days and we don’t even use all of it. In Europe it’s 28 days and they use them!
I remember when I was working at my last job I always felt lazy when I used my vacation days or even leaving on time at the end of my shift, since my boss was a workaholic. That’s insane to feel guilty over.
On the flip side, when I use my vacation days or work a really light schedule like I am this summer I reconnect with my entire family, see friends I haven’t seen in ages, complete projects that build up when I’m working 50+ hours a week and actually relax.
I wind up *gasp* happy.
I suspect these are good things.
And this isn’t to say that I don’t work when there’s work to be done – hey, I even like my jobs, both this part time summer gig and my full time, break neck paced children’s theater job. But there are few things I accomplish at work that I hold with me like hanging out with my 79 year old aunt and hearing funny stories about my dad as a kid or catching up with best friends over burgers after not seeing them for 4 months.
I also wonder about our productivity as Americans. Honestly most of Europe doesn’t seem to be behind us and they are clearly ahead of us in many things. Extra hours of work doesn’t mean we’re more efficient or achieving that much more.
I’m not endorsing laziness here, I’m just wondering what we’re trying to achieve. If you’re making enough to pay the bills and save a little for the future… why kill yourself to get that done if you don’t have to?
It probably just means we need to get some more sun. Maybe the lack of Vitamin D is creating this “the number of hours you work is how proportionate to how lazy you are” delusion.
That being said, I’m going to go grab some rays. I hope you all have a terrific work-free (or at least minimized) weekend!
It is a shame that American culture really demonizes people who prioritize life outside of work. If you work hard, you shouldn’t have to feel guilt about taking some time off, or working a reduced schedule. But I know exactly what you mean and struggle with the same feelings of guilt.
Ali @ Anything You Want recently posted…Five Friday Favorites, 5th Edition
Hours worked is definitely not proportional to productivity. My dad is the single most productive person I know, and he never works more than 45 hours per week and always takes 1.5 hours for lunch. He’s very passionate about his business, but then he leaves it well enough alone in the evenings (he couldn’t always do this, but now he does).
In my career, a single hour can yield a week’s worth of work or nothing depending on how focused I am.
I feeling it too, being out of work so far this summer. It’s the first time for me in 20+ years and it’s strange. I’m not sure if I should embrace it or feel bad. My wife is schedule to work this coming Sunday, but we have an event to go to. She request the day off but was denied, she tried to swap days with someone but was unable too. So I told her to call out. She has sick and personal time, but she still feels guilty over it. I’m still not sure why.
Brian recently posted…Week End Round Up #90
Heck I’d totally join you if I could! Enjoy it!
Tonya@Budget and the Beach recently posted…15 Powerful Tools to Build Self-Confidence
I want this. Like permanently. I mean, I’m okay with working more than 3 days a week (but I’m more than with you on that this summer,) but all this time has been helping me get healthier. I was working so much for a while there that my health kind of got pushed down the priority list. I was not happy at all. I need to figure out a way to work smarter because lopping on extra hours in order to obtain happiness through money is counterproductive if I’m making myself miserable the entire time I’m doing it.
So agreed. Agreed, agreed, agreed.
femmefrugality recently posted…Who Does Free Community College Actually Help?
So true. It’s easy to lose sight of exactly how much money we need too – and then stop working. Or at least reduce your hustle. I mean… that works more for freelancers than just salaried folks, but yeah.
For me and me only….I’m gonna endorse sporadic laziness. After working 22 years for the military, when I retire from the Navy I am planning on scheduling laziness and make it mandatory time for me a few days out of each week.. I have done the leg work and have a career so I feel that I have earned it and will be able to afford sporadic laziness once in awhile.
Petrish @ Debt Free Martini recently posted…In Pursuit of Home Base….The Bad Credit Score Life
I think working for a cruise line for so long helped me with the sporadic laziness a lot because you’d work for 6 months without a day off. If I got any crap from anyone on my 6 weeks off, I’d point out that even with all that downtime, I still had considerably less days off throughout the year than someone who only has weekends off – forget about holidays, vacation or sick time – none of which existed on cruise ships. But it certainly added to my mindset that free time needs to be defended, which isn’t particularly healthy.
I am always saddened by how it is so difficult to get on a vacation without begging for the days, wondering (dreading) what’s waiting for you when you get back! And as a salaried worker, you never are “off the clock!” That’s why I’m trying to step up my debt paying and saving efforts in order to step back from work in the near(ish) future and go part time!
Saving Sanely recently posted…Downsizing- Why Buying a Smaller Home was a Great Decision
I know – it’s ridiculous. A week ago I was going over a spreadsheet with my Tour Manager for the show that doesn’t go out until this fall that I am not getting paid in any way for yet and thought… WTF? But I totally let it happen because A. It’s easier to deal with it now when we’re not crazy rushed and B. I’d feel bad saying no.
Enjoy your down time! There is too much pressure to work, work, work.
Tre recently posted…Net Worth Update – Q2 2015
Definitely!
My goal right now is to actually work LESS because I just can’t keep working as much as I have been the past year. This is a pretty controversial topic that Jeb brought up and honestly I’d like to say everyone should work as much as they need to work to support themeselves – but we all know there are slackers out there who wont do that and will instead rely on hard working individuals to support them thru government aid programs. I also know not everyone on aid is a slacker, but some of them really are. Just my 2 cents! 🙂
Kayla @ Shoeaholicnomore recently posted…Financially Savvy Saturdays Ninety Ninth Edition
Yeah, the slackers do give all the people genuinely just going through a rough patch a bad name.
Since I teach, I am off for the summer. I am still managing to work myself crazy by babysitting and tutoring, yet when I get a free day to enjoy playing video games, or when I spend the whole day reading, I pack on such a self-inflicted guilt trip it isn’t even funny. So I’m right there with you — we have to stop with the “work all the time or you’re lazy” attitude and just enjoy some of life. 🙂
Alexandra @ Real Simple Finances recently posted…Financial Success Requires a Network
No kidding. People from other countries think we’re insane – especially because we’re not really all that happy while we’re working!
I think you’re smart for working part-time this summer, Mel. You’ll be happy you conserved your energy when you hit the road in the fall. I’m sure you’ll come back to your gig totally refreshed.
Kate @ Cashville Skyline recently posted…Discovering Something When It’s Too Late
That’s the hope!
What I hate are the days when there is nothing important to do at the office; in fact not much at all to do and I’m stuck there at my desk piddling with something just to get paid (and getting paid is a good thing).
RAnn recently posted…New Financial Products: Loyal3
I actually started my blog back when I had a job like that.
I’m self employed working from home and I do feel the need to work… well, a lot. But lately I’ve been trying to focus on working smarter rather than harder (or longer), so I’m trying to manage my time more effectively – I want to make sure I spend enough time with my daughter while she’s young.
Hayley @ Disease Called Debt recently posted…Financially Savvy Saturdays #99
I definitely don’t think that Jeb Bush was talking about you when he made that statement. 🙂 I understand your guilt, but you also have a unique job situation that dictates erratic working hours but that doesn’t mean you don’t work hard. For me, I think I could stand to work less but it’s tough with all of the things I have on my plate right now.
Shannon @ Financially Blonde recently posted…20 Questions to Ask Your Financial Advisor
Now in early retirement #2 I am not working at all now and have no guilt about it. As to those who choose to work less regardless of FI status, I say more power to them if they can make it work financially. I always admired the successful Threshold-Earner who worked at what they wanted for only as much as they needed and then did the things that really mattered to them.
My Nephew currently works at a T-Shirt shop in Venice Beach so he can be there to surf all he wants to. Some say slacker, I say he has his priorities where his should be, it is his life. A guy I met here in CO works as a ranch hand when needed. He is super educated and smart and loves animals, the ranching/farming lifestyle/culture, and spends his free time Mountain Biking and training for Mountain Bike races.
Who is to lay out any guilt on living a free life except those who benefit from a persons full 40+ workweek of employment slavery. I am actually proud to be what some politicians think of me and my frugal early retired ways, a drag on the economy.
LeisureFreak Tommy recently posted…Retirees Regret Not Doing It Earlier
Your nephew sounds awesome. In theory, I 100% embrace making enough to get by doing what you love, in reality, I sometimes have trouble realizing I do have enough and calm the heck down and just enjoy the sun or something.
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