Live to work or work to live?

drewfromrisca

I hate my job, I've wasted the past 11 and half years in a career I stopped enjoying after 2 1/2 yrs. When I first started I couldn't wait to get up at 4am for a morning shift now I've been off work sick for past month waiting for an operation and I'm dreading the prospect of going back to work. It's lovely waking up (albeit in excrutiating agony) and knowing I don't have to go to work in a horrendous office filled with w@nkers, bogged down in bureaucracy and dealing with scum of the earth everyday.

Yeah so definitely work to live for me!

Stick8267

I used to work to live and virtually missed the first 5 years of my kids' lives, absolutely the first 6 months of my son's

Now I'm part time and do all of that on long days on Monday and Tuesday. The rest of the week I look after the kids, the dogs and the house as well as cycling. Even doing the shopping and washing is great because come the weekend there are no chores to do and we can spend 2 days as a family.

I am lucky that my wife loves her job and is the bigger earner but she says she's lucky because the house and kids get sorted and I've dropped the family knickname of 'Mr Grumpy'!

Warwickshire Whizzer

I wouldn't have ever gone as far to say live to work, but I've always enjoyed my job, until recently and would spring out of bed, get in early and stay late.

But in the last 6 months I've had a turn around and I'm firmly work to live. I'd walk out tomorrow if I could, but they get you don't they, the salary becomes really comfortable, the holidays become better, the house becomes more expensive and the shopping bill increases.

I look back to 5 years ago, earning half of my current and think how did I manage on that, but I know I was a damn sight happier.

Pross

It's amazing how many people are saying they used to like their job but don't any longer - a real sign of the times!! I used to like my job when busy and get bored easily when I wasn't but now I just dislike it all the time!

daviesee

As much as I still enjoy my work (as far as work goes) I particularly like my job when quiet. Gives me more time to browse around on here.

Stone Glider

Made redundant nearly three years ago, business in decline, nothing personal. But it was personal to me! No chance of a job that would pay the right numbers and at the wrong age. So now, nine months off the State pension, I am living on a limited income but enjoying life. I used to find my job engrossing but steadily the skill levels were diminished and the scope reduced to the point of almost repetition.

The decision was made for me but it did me a good turn, much longer and the stress would have told. My doctor told me that the life outcomes for those who retire around 60 are better than for those who slog on to the bitter end. He could be lying, of course

wicked

Pross wrote:

It's amazing how many people are saying they used to like their job but don't any longer - a real sign of the times!! I used to like my job when busy and get bored easily when I wasn't but now I just dislike it all the time!

Or it could be that any job gets boring if you have been doing it long enough?

My viewpoint has always been that no-one ever lies on their death bed and wished that had worked more

mac111051

Life is sold as seen if you didnot enjoy today you can,t take it back and get another one

daviesee

wicked wrote:

Or it could be that any job gets boring if you have been doing it long enough?
:

Good point! I am of the thinking that no-one should work in the same place for more than 4 years. Or department at least.
Either the worker gets complacent or the bosses take advantage of a willing worker. Look for a move while you are working and chances are you will get better salary and/or conditions.

P_Tucker

tebbit wrote:

I enjoy my job, but it still is work to live

+1

Squillinossett

I love my job, I enjoy ther challange, pressure and reward for doing well BUT I would not let my career dominate my life.

mr_goo

Really used to enjoy my job working for a major drainage company based in Peak District. But they got taken over by the dutch. The new MD and senior management have about as much idea of reality in the market as my cat. 3 years of effective pay cuts and over 600 people laid off. We have no direction, the middle management we report to are all spineless coz they are affraid to speak up for fear of losing their job. Keep being told 'we are where we are' So really hacked off. But got a job (for the moment) So to conclude Work to Live.

Glad I got that off my chest.

Stewie Griffin

6.40pm and Im only just about to leave. Damn flexitime that I have to make up :P Work to live everytime.

RDB66

I'm Deffo a "Work to Live" kinda guy. Always have been n always will be.

Its Not all about Work !!

richard205

did a 26 hour shift the other day due to some emergency with systems being down.....

Ive done some heavy number of ours over the past 6 months.

Think that means i live to work.

ademort

Up until last Summer i would have said work to live as i enjoy my job very much. However due to circumstances i managed to get 6 weeks off last Summer and on returning to work was involved in the installation of a new type of Gas rig offshore, (was featured on the BBC) as a result i had two weeks on and two weeks off pattern. I was on standby from the 25th November until the 7th January so had a further 6 weeks off and have only just started back at work again this week. Have to admit all that time off really made me realise just how nice it is to not have to go to work every week usually 6 days every week for me. Live to work does sound more like me though as i,m back in the old routine now Ademort

hells

At the moment work is my life, I get about 1-2 hours per day when on shift in which to eat and relax the rest are spent traveling to/from work, working or sleeping. The rest days are spent studying for upcoming exams or writing essays. If I fail the exams I may not be given a resit and lose my job. If all goes well this not very pleasant period of time will finish in September and then I will just be doing 3-5 12 hour shifts per week and enjoying the days off doing what I want, cycling and spending time with my bf and/or family. Hopefully I will be going on holiday for the first time in 4 years in October as well which I am really really looking forward to :-)