To me, one of the sad truths about the world today is that most people look upon work as something to escape from. To them, this major part of life is a necessary evil, even an obstacle to the life they dream about.
Want proof?
- 67% of Americans are disengaged at their work.
- The 4-Hour Workweek is one of the top-selling books of the last decade.
- People are beginning to define early retirement as their dream.
- Given the option between “work a long time at a fulfilling job” or “retire early,” only 34% of Americans would choose to work a long time at a fulfilling job.
- At least half of the U.S. workforce is quiet quitting.
I could add, from plenty of personal conversations, that there are some people who choose simplicity as a means to escape work. I don’t think that’s what the simple life is for.
There’s not a doubt in my mind that some of the discontent we feel about work comes from our faulty thinking on the reason for it. In our desire to get out of work, we are missing the point of it.
Dorothy Sayers, in her famous essay Why Work? begs us to see work anew. She seeks nothing less than “a thoroughgoing revolution in our whole attitude to work.”
Sayers believes we should look upon work, “not as a necessary drudgery to be undergone for the purpose of making money, but as a way of life in which the nature of man should find its proper exercise and delight and so fulfill itself.”
Work, in this regard, is not something to be avoided. It is something to be pursued and enjoyed.
Your work contributes to the good of society and moves us ahead. We need your talents and abilities. We need you to work hard and do it well. It makes us better as people and it enriches our lives.
I enjoy hard work. I work 50 hours most weeks because I find happiness and joy in it. And I believe that those who feel the most fulfilled at the end of their lives are those who have chosen to work hard on the right things during it.
Now, just to be clear, I am not advocating to be busy just to be busy. And I am not advocating working hard for wrong, selfish reasons (i.e., getting rich). I am advocating for the importance of doing your work (whether paid or unpaid) in a focused and deliberate way and putting your whole self into it.
I am advocating for doing the best you can, to accomplish the most you can, with the one life you have to live.
Reasons for Work in the Simple Life
If one has chosen simplicity as a lifestyle, where do we find the motivation to learn how to work hard? If we are content to own less (even prefer it), what is the point of hard work and striving for success?
Let me offer a few reasons:
1. Work forces personal development.
Work, by its very nature, presents challenges and growth opportunities. It requires us to improve and develop and become better versions of ourselves. The more we grow, the better at work we get… and the greater the challenges become.
We learn important life lessons when we give ourselves over to hard work: determination, attentiveness, responsibility, problem solving, and self-control. These lessons, in turn, serve us in other areas (health, relationships, hobbies, etc.).
2. Our work brings benefit to society.
Like I mentioned earlier, our work contributes to the good of society. It serves others, it enriches people’s lives, and it moves everyone forward. Whether we are bagging groceries, delivering mail, analyzing stocks, curing cancer, or managing other workers, we can view our work as an act of love to the people we serve.
3. Hard work is an example to our kids.
When we strive to do our best work each day, our kids take notice. And among the greatest lessons I hope to pass on to my children is the importance of working hard on things that matter.
4. The hours will pass anyway. It makes sense to try to make the most of them.
Each new day brings with it an important choice: either we fill it with our best or we allow it to slip away. There is no other option—the hours are going to pass anyway. Choosing to work hard makes the most of them. (Please note: I am not discounting the importance of rest or balance. I have written about both extensively.)
5. Work is fulfilling in and of itself.
In my opinion, there are few joys in life more satisfying than lying down at night with tired legs attached to a tired body. To know I gave my full energy to something important is an amazing feeling and fulfilling in itself.
6. Working hard keeps our lives occupied with important matters.
Living an unoccupied life is a recipe for disaster. Choosing to fill our time and energy with things that bring value to others helps keep us from selfish and foolish decisions with idle time.
There is value in hard work—both for ourselves and others.
How to Enjoy Work More
I have known countless people who are happy with their work. They find meaning, significance, and joy in it. Additionally, I have met many people who are unhappy with their work and choose to spend an additional percentage of their life complaining about it.
Changing our attitude toward work isn’t always easy, but it’s possible. And I would argue, important. As I’ve stated above, there is joy and fulfillment to be found in it.
Sometimes, learning to love work can come from a simple change in our thinking—rather than the much more drastic change in jobs, which doesn’t usually solve the problem anyway.
So let me end with a few thoughts on how to think differently about work and find more fulfillment in it:
1. Realize that you were designed to work.
Whether by creation or evolution, humans are designed to work. This is an important part of our nature. It explains our drive to grow as individuals and as a society. It explains the internal satisfaction we experience when completing a task. It makes sense of the positive emotions we experience when resting after a hard day of work.
2. Understand that work always takes place in an imperfect world.
Our world is imperfect because we exist in a universe full of people who often fall short. Though we each have an ingrained desire to accomplish good for the sake of others, in reality, we often function with selfish desires and intentions. These imperfections always lead to less-than-ideal working conditions.
As a result, work includes overbearing bosses, deadlines, stress, under-resourced projects, tasks we do not enjoy, and often anxiety.
The realization that these imperfections are always going to be present in our workplace allows us to accept them and move forward.
3. Notice how your work contributes to the common good.
If the goal of our work is to contribute good to society in exchange for provision, then our work ought to benefit society. We should spend 40 or more hours per week producing a benefit for others—notice how your specific work accomplishes that.
Whether you grow healthy food, produce quality clothing, intentionally parent children, create beautiful art, build strong shelter, develop new life-enhancing technology, do taxes, research medicine to prolong life, educate others, govern society honestly, or operate in any other of countless opportunities, you contribute to the common good of our neighbors and our society.
4. Do your work ethically.
Work done ethically and honestly with proper balance will always result in more enjoyment than the alternative. Your motivation for work is also a part of your ethic.
These same principles of life hold true to every aspect, including the 20% we spent working.
5. Stop trying to get rich.
While fair compensation is always appropriate, the pursuit of riches and wealth as an end goal is a losing battle. Riches will never fully satisfy. We will always be left searching for more.
People who view their work as a means to get rich often fall into temptation, harmful behavior, and foolish desires.
When we replace the desire to get rich with a more life-fulfilling desire to receive honest compensation, we open our hearts to find peace in our paychecks and greater value in our work.
The Value of Work
Please don’t view your work as something only to be endured or avoided. Rethink the value of it—whether you are 18 or 80.
Regain focus and motivation to use your passions and abilities to contribute good to a society in need of them. Utilize your strengths. Develop your talents. Study your craft. And encourage others.
Work hard. Enjoy it. And at the end of the day, we will all be better because of it.
M. H. “Merry” Gordon says
I retired early and have been living on my social security benefits. I also own my own home. This article is so affirming and relatable to me. I have found myself wanting to be useful but don’t know how to go about it. I do miss having an office and friends to go to and interact with daily. My time is spent at home and alone. But one day I believe I will find my God given gift and can use it to make a difference in someone’s life.
Heather Hawkins says
No, I think that this is geared towards the comfortably middle class. Those not even making a living wage don’t have the leisure of time to contemplate such things. If Barbara Ehrenreich tried to replicate her book today, she would be working three jobs and still homeless maybe living out of her car or worse. I’m so grateful not to be in that position and I find that I agree with a lot of this article.
NANCY M DE FLON says
I’m an editor and was able to transition from full-time employment to freelance work from my former employer and other contacts. It keeps my brain healthy, allows me to learn new things, and the flexible schedule means I can fit in my other interests, above all, photography and writing. But when I watch my son’s health deteriorate from an overabundance of stress at his job and sitting at a computer for 9 or 10 hours a day, I can’t agree with you 100%. He hopes to change his situation. Then there’s my cousin, who retired 20 years ago and has done nothing but watch TV, gain a lot of weight, and let her mind go downhill. No way would I wish that for anyone.
Sara says
Would you give the same pep talk to the people profiled in Barbara Ehrenreich’s book Nickled and Dimed?
Frank says
100%!!! I like the sentiment of the article, but it is from a privileged perspective. Working for survival can really take the fun out of a job. Pride, meaning, satisfaction and joy are lacking at poverty wages. Lets not forget how society views the working class and in capitalism extremes (fascism), decent food, a roof over your head and even medical care are not withing reach.
Elizabeth Hester says
What a wonderful and well thought out piece! At age 60, I just started playing in my mind with the concept that maybe not being financially able to retire at my age and play during the day like my retired friends isn’t such a bad thing – it lends structure and purpose to my life, a built-in social network, financial security, and protection from mental decline. This article confirms what I was thinking and more. Thank you for writing this.
Deone says
I can so relate to this comment from Chris. I am a social worker and spent 25+ years working in hospice care with patients nearing end of life and also helping elderly get needed services to remain safely in their own homes. It was very demanding work with unpredictable hours (never knew when I left home in the morning when I would return). It was extremely low pay for my required degree, license and years of experience, and mentally and emotionally exhausting much of the time, but I also found it to be very enjoyable and fulfilling. It is because as Joshua pointed out, I knew I was making a positive difference in many people’s lives.
I retired two years ago at a near point of exhaustion. Many people assume it was burnout from dealing with death and dying all the time, but it truly was not that. That part of my work is what kept me going over the years. It was the stress of unrealistic corporate demands attempting to meet constantly changing government regulations and the insane amount of meetings and documentation that resulted. I think it has been very difficult for the baby boomer generation to experience over time how all of these things meant to “improve” things have actually lowered the quality in nearly every field from healthcare and education to many others. This has very much contributed to people of all ages being very frustrated and detached in their jobs and needs to be seriously addressed at the highest levels of government and management.
Exhausted says
I so relate. I love the work I do, ensuring the civil rights of the folks who attend the university where I work. It’s difficult work, but it’s also fulfilling, challenging, and interesting. I’m also lucky that my boss and immediate coworkers are wonderful, dedicated, and funny people who I genuinely enjoy.
What is burning me out – day after day – are the constant demands made by the state and federal governments, with no avenues for support or added resources. What’s burning me out is the unwillingness of leadership in my university to recognize and address problems when we beg them to pay attention. When something inevitably blows up (as predicted and forewarned), my office is immediately thrown under the bus.
“Go somewhere else, do something else,” I constantly hear. Where? Where am I going to go in this country where I don’t face the same story over and over? My job is politicized and scrutinized even though the vast majority of the population and sadly, elected officials, don’t even have a basic understanding of what I do. It’s disheartening, it’s infuriating, and it’s isolating.
Amanda Dube says
I agree the detachment issues comes from how management treat workers. Especially in Health Care, I have been a Longterm care Nurse for 19 years, the worst I have been treated is in the last 3years, I work for my family and my community.
Jessalynn Jones says
I totally agree with you Joshua. I have several different “jobs”. Some pay and some don’t. I clean houses and write and those both pay but I get my joy from knowing I did my best and helping people. I do a volunteer work and I work at home. Those “jobs” don’t pay but again my joy comes from knowing I am pouring love into the world and helping others in the most meaningful way I can. We are supposed to work hard and enjoy the benefits of it. We are designed to fill our days with meaning and work that benefits ourselves and others. Money is the least of the benefits of work. It’s important but it is not the most rewarding part.
Lisa Coons says
Hi Joshua, I love this! I read your book In 2016 and then retired and 62 and went to Ecuador. I couldn’t afford to retire, I just did it because I was stressed out from life and felt overworked. I sold my home and things I had in FL, stayed with family in KY for a month and moved in October 2017. I live on the ocean, in my condo purchased and love the freedom.
It was great for about 4 months. I played golf, read, blogged, and life was good. But I did find something missing. The lack of something, but wasn’t sure what it was. I did come up with three things that I wanted to do thoughin the remaining years of my life. And it was this.
1. Be present.
2. How can I help?
3. Pay it forward.
After my first 6 months in Manta, Ecuador, in April of 2018, I took a seasonal position working April and October in my beautiful birthplace of Kentucky. I found it fun and fulfilling being around horses and the horse culture in Lexington, Kentucky. And I was near family.
Then I began to AirBnB my condo in Ecuador when I was in KY those months with the horse gig. It was fun and challenging. I was also writing a blog and creating a journey of sorts to share with others about getting away and being engaged with another culture in a different country. I loved it.
Then COVID hit. I was in the states more and Ecuador less but I had the AirbnB. Then when I was looking on LinkedIn a start up company was looking for people to work in their company remotely. It was doing Zoom calls and coaching people for marketing and sales. That had been my career for 30+ years. I had a sales and marketing company where I trained salespeople on the road how to sell their services and products their companies offered. I also had a teaching background for 3 years after college, and in sales coaching and training was perfect for me I found. I really enjoyed the business culture.
I’m still with the start up beginning my 3rd year. It’s software for real estate conversion and it’s just so much fun to coach and teach remote associates.
My point is, working between 25-30 hours a week, helping this company, provided me with a tiny house in the Appalachian mountains where I have my US home now. I still have my condo in Manta, Manabi, Ecuador. My tiny home all of 399 sq ft is halfway between Florida and Kentucky.
Thank you Joshua for helping me to become a minimalist with your inspirational writing! But working is still fun and needed in my life!
Jean Bauch says
I retired at 62 because I couldn’t stand my job one day more. But after a year and a half I found that I was really not satisfied staying home. I wanted to be engaged, productive, have social interaction and feel like I had a purpose. So I got a part-time job at a golf course. Checks all the boxes and I do feel better!
Lacy says
I am 62 and so need to retire but the need for health insurance keeps me stuck.
Anne says
I’d like to see Part II of this article — Why Retire? If work brings so much meaning to our lives, as it did mine, what are the implications for retirement? I was forced into early retirement during the pandemic, and ageism has ensured I won’t be rehired into similar work. Because I agree with what you wrote above, and therefore poured myself into 50 years of fulfilling work, retirement seems like a slow glide to meaninglessness.
Neita says
I think this is a great comment! I’m in a similar situation and am interested in reading any responses / suggestions. I too feel directionless.
Shan says
Anne, I’m so sorry that happened to you. When I was planning my retirement from a demanding, fulfilling career that I loved, I spent a couple of years thinking about what I could do with that time and energy and continue contributing, feeling useful, learning new things, and associating with other people. A book by Ernie J. Zelinski called How to Retire Happy, Wild, and Free was helpful to me. My dad, who retired early then went to law school and spent his last several years in a volunteer position that drew on his work experience and expertise, was my role model. I wish you the best of luck finding meaning in your retirement years.
David says
Hi Anne.
I’m sorry you are dissatisfied with retirement. You clearly loved work. I retired as well during the pandemic at age 60. We were working from home 5-days a week and home is where I always loved to return too after leaving the office; not get up, work from home and getting off meant nothing. But, I went to a funeral where the minister read the Eccl ch-1 and I discovered that according to Solomon, all life is “meaningless”, with a proposition that only obeying God and his commandments produces lasting meaning. That funeral changed my attitude towards living in retirement. Now, I realize, a bike ride is far more fulfilling than all I accomplished during my career. In short, accomplishing great levels of success is just as meaningless as a bike ride in the long run, if you believe it is of as much value.
joshua becker says
You can find a more in-depth conversation on retirement in my book, Things That Matter.
Chris says
I loved my work. I loved the problem solving, and helping groups with various viewpoints find consensus. What I didn’t love was the endless meetings to appear busy and avoiding decisions to avoid being blamed. I don’t miss the patriarchy, and how even if I was twice as good and asked my boss what I needed to demonstrate to move up, the man next to me would get the promotion without even asking. I don’t miss the bureaucracy and the managers who has exceeded their competence making my life more difficult with metrics that caused folks to do the wrong thing, and the management trend of the year which would totally upend everything, with no lasting improvement. I don’t miss the delicate egos I had to work around to get my job done, and do what was best for the company. All of this is why I retired early.
A. Hoskins says
Mr. Becker, thank you so much for posting Dorothy Sayers essay. I don’t know that l would have ever found it otherwise. It puts to words something quite difficult to grasp. Thank you for continuing to do the good work God has made you for in this world. Bless you and your family. May our nation be awakened to the Lords truth.
Sincerely A. Hoskins