Work to Live or Live to Work?

[morgan98]

Not sure how to answer this. I value my leisure time greatly, but I value my job, too. Both are integral parts of who I am.

This is how I look at it too. I have a demanding and time consuming career that is definitely a part of who I am. I am fortunate to have it and it definitely allows me to have the means to enjoy my "hobbies", in addition to just covering the basics like food and shelter. I have also met many great people through my career and for the most part, really like my co-workers.

However, make no mistake about it. If I hit it huge in the lottery, I would have to trouble quitting my job.

 

[Mrs. Ciz]

I work to pay for my kids' college and take vacations. I'm a Catholic school teacher, so the pay is pretty low. But the time off is great and the positive impact I make on my students is what keeps me going each day. I really work on my work/life balance because I could spend all day every day (and most nights) preparing and grading. I've found ways to get quicker and have put a limit on how many hours I put in each week. If it takes a couple extra days to get their papers back to them then it takes a couple extra days.

 

[usnuzuloose]

To me it is way more than those things.

 

[Sweetpancake]

For me I turned a hobby into a career and I love it. I tend to do work related activities and training in my off hours because I love it.

What do you do for a living? I'm always amazed when people are actually able to pull this off. It's so inspiring and makes me feel like dreams do come true

 

[stratus]

What do you do for a living? I'm always amazed when people are actually able to pull this off. It's so inspiring and makes me feel like dreams do come true

I work for Red Hat (makers of the largest commercial Linux version)

 

[Pacolovestacos]

I work for Red Hat (makers of the largest commercial Linux version)

I scored 100 shares of their IPO many years ago!

 

[lovemygoofy]

I didn't pick one because neither apply. I like working and have done so for free and for paycheck. Some days free was lot better when I just wanted a break and would take
few days/weeks for myself. I've known long time that I enjoy giving back and helping people and being a "fixer." I've always had positions where I do so and I wouldn't change
it. I currently work for salary and some weeks are longer than others. Some times my work cell doesn't stop ringing whether 2pm or 2am but in the end I am passionate about my work
and actually get something back that is fulfilling.

 

[Jennasis]

Both. I am doing the job I dreamed of doing since I was old enough to know what the word "job" meant. It's more than a job or a career...it's a way of life. Sure it's stressful...SO stressful. But it is so rewarding. So fulfilling. It's everything. Plus I get to live this dream with my best friend/business partner...my husband.

 

[disneychrista]

My boss says we work to eat.

 

[PollyannaMom]

I'm definitely a "work to live" type in the sense that I'm careful to keep work a part of my life, and not something that drowns out the rest.

I'm a firm believer that money is a means to an end, not an end in itself - so I believe in working enough to have/do the things you want, but no so much that you have no time or energy to enjoy those things.

Luckily, I really do like my work right now. I don't think I'd even completely give it up if I won the lottery - maybe do similar things in a different capacity, or work less and travel more, but I'd miss it if I gave it up completely.

 

[PaulaSB12]

Work to live. I work to pay bills and do what I enjoy. Now before I start where I work you get four days berievement leave if a parent, spouse or child dies. There is a woman at work notorious in her determination to do all the overtime, we have a rule that you can't do more than 60 hours which she hates and starts fights over whose overtime is whose. Her mother was ill and needed help but that would stop her doing overtime so she refused, on the day of her mother's funeral not only dud she not take the paid leave she could have done she did overtime because nothing gets in the way of overtime. She also had a boyfriend who broke his back, she dumped him because he wanted her to see him in the hospital and that would have meant losing some overtime.

 

[Happyinwonerland]

I guess I'm a bit of both. I couldn't go without working ever. even if I won the lottery, I think I would still need some sort of part time job or volunteer work to feel fulfilled. But I do fully appreciate my days off and try not to think about work when I'm not there.

 

[indimom]

I'm also a bit of both. After working from home for a lot of years, I know that I could never give up my career entirely, even if I won the lottery. I may drop to part time or change my position for something slightly different. But, I get a lot of satisfaction from my work and I couldn't possibly fill my days enough to satisfy if I was just staying at home/enjoying hobbies/etc. I'd be bored to tears in a matter of a year.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

I work to live. I enjoy what I do. I like helping people and I'm good at it. It brings me a lot of pleasure and I like the people I work with. But I refuse to work a minute over 40 hours, I don't bring my work home, I don't let my job interfere with my children's activities and I use every minute of my vacation time and actually go on vacation. If I won the lottery tomorrow I would quit, and give my coworkers a nice check on my way out.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

.
Same here. I enjoy my job (most of the time), but would give it up in an instant if I won the mega-millions lottery.



Sound like my exH. One of the reasons he's my ex.

Mine too! lol Who signs up to work EVERY holiday because it's double time but you don't NEED the money?

 

[longboard55]

we have always had the work hard, play hard. I will work 60 hour weeks but take great vacations. Work has one purpose, to make money

 

[OhMari]

If my dh was on here, he would be #4 on the list work to live. Right this minute he is going to work with influenza. Crazy. In November he told me he had 40 hours of Personel time off and 64 hours of vacation. He did take time off, which was a shocker, but he was on his phone, and IPad working, taking phone calls and still doing work. I told him once that I am putting on his head stone, "But wait, I need to go into work yet." It is sad, though, how much he really missed, but he doesn't see it that way at all.

 

[Boardwalk Jedi]

I like my job...but I love not working too!

 

[AnnaS]

I work to vacation. Sorry, but that wasn't a poll option.

Me too!! - Of course I worked full-time before the kids were born. I have been working p/t for many, many years. It's a lot of work but I almost enjoy it, get out, socialize, etc. I might volunteer some day.