how important is it you enjoy your job?

jamels2

the perspective i have developed is a kind of 'putting up with it' attitude to work, where i am doing a job i can do quite easily but i don't actually get much satisfaction from.

the overwhelming part of my thought process tells me that i wont have to do this all my life, if i am sensible and invest the money correctly and dont spend on things i dont need.

i have just about given up on the hope of finding paid work i actually want to do. the things i want to do with my time almost certainly wouldn't make money. therefore i see money as being incompatible with my desires. i feel a passive income in the future, by investing in property now, is possibly my only option.

i am always relating what i spend to how much time i have spent working to earn it. it is also affecting my living situation as i find myself 'stuck' at the parents house and i'm now in my 30's. i feel there is something slightly wrong with this, possibly why i am writing this post.

i just wondered what are other people's ideas on work and should you not settle for something you don't really care much for, even if it will facilitate a future passive income, a time in the future where you may obtain financial freedom? do i need to somehow change my outlook to a more 'in the now' view and less of a fear of the future?

Spacepig

Remember, this is where you spend the majority of you day, if you're miserable with your job then it can easily transfer over to non work situations. Happiness is much more important than money. Sure, it makes things easier but from what I've seen, the general opinion is that Happiness first, money later.

JustAnotherSaver

Spacepig wrote: »

Remember, this is where you spend the majority of you day, if you're miserable with your job then it can easily transfer over to non work situations. Happiness is much more important than money. Sure, it makes things easier but from what I've seen, the general opinion is that Happiness first, money later.

I guess you're right in a sense, but i don't totally agree.

It can spill into home life, but i find that for the vast majority of the time, i leave my troubles at the clocking out machine. Only if i am or potentially am facing a disciplinary do i bring the feeling home & i'm then very quiet at home as i'm a worrier by nature.

If i've had a bad day, or i've worked late, then i generally leave it at the clocking out machine & when i'm home, i'm happy.

Denning.

jamels2 wrote: »

the perspective i have developed is a kind of 'putting up with it' attitude to work, where i am doing a job i can do quite easily but i don't actually get much satisfaction from.

the overwhelming part of my thought process tells me that i wont have to do this all my life, if i am sensible and invest the money correctly and dont spend on things i dont need.

i have just about given up on the hope of finding paid work i actually want to do. the things i want to do with my time almost certainly wouldn't make money. therefore i see money as being incompatible with my desires. i feel a passive income in the future, by investing in property now, is possibly my only option.

i am always relating what i spend to how much time i have spent working to earn it. it is also affecting my living situation as i find myself 'stuck' at the parents house and i'm now in my 30's. i feel there is something slightly wrong with this, possibly why i am writing this post.

i just wondered what are other people's ideas on work and should you not settle for something you don't really care much for, even if it will facilitate a future passive income, a time in the future where you may obtain financial freedom? do i need to somehow change my outlook to a more 'in the now' view and less of a fear of the future?

I work out how much things cost in man hours, I think it is a pretty good way or gauging value.

I agree find a job you enjoy even if it pays less. If you enjoy work you will feel less need to spend to make you 'happy', you will be more contempt with your life.

The thing is, it is very possible to have a good life doing a job you enjoy. You might never be rich, but you will be happy and enjoy life.

marybelle01

Spacepig wrote: »

Remember, this is where you spend the majority of you day, if you're miserable with your job then it can easily transfer over to non work situations. Happiness is much more important than money. Sure, it makes things easier but from what I've seen, the general opinion is that Happiness first, money later.

Assuming that the money does come later! Having no money doesn't make people happy either...

I'm afraid that I'm not in a good position to answer because I love my job, but my feeling is that you have to have balance in life. Many people, for a variety of reasons, don't find work satisfying, but far more find that unemployment isn't satisfying at any level. Work is often a means to an end, whether that end be paying the bills, holidays, treats, or indulging yourself in your passions. In the end, each individual has to decide what "cost" they are prepared to accept against what they get out of it. Having a job I love isn't all roses either - there are things that I miss out on too. It's the price I accept paying to do it.

AP007

Spacepig wrote: »

. Happiness is much more important than money. Sure, it makes things easier but from what I've seen, the general opinion is that Happiness first, money later.

Depends if its a NMW job or one earning £40k!

Coraline

I'm of the belief that being happy in a job usually leads you to doing better at it, which in turn leads you to better prospects and opportunities. Happy people tend to be more interested in what they're doing and just a heck of a lot better to be around and work with.

I know way too many people who earn six figures and are completely miserable and ugly-on-the-inside gits. Plenty who earn minimum and are totally happy and content.

The thing about money...is that a lot of people have unlimited wants and as soon as they move up and earn more money...they find plenty to squander it on and then the new standard of living just becomes the new "bare minimum" base line.

So in a convoluted way I'm trying to say is that happy people stay happy, miserable people by nature will always be miserable. So do what's best to be happy now and chances are you will be 20 years from now.

TrickyWicky

I've done both crappy NMW and well paid jobs. To be honest, both can be equally distressing. My last decent paid job was a doddle job wise but the boss was impossible to work with. No-one liked him because he was such hard work, aggressive and arrogant. It was the best money I'd ever earned but I walked because I simply couldn't take it anymore.

I've also had NMW jobs that are hell too. You earn peanuts and they put you under more and more pressure to get more and more done. Even then if you get it done they'll put more unrealistic demands on you knowing full well that it's unreasonable. Then you're at fault because things didn't get done. The job I'm talking about I was giving a damned good shot at too despite the difficult circumstances and when it came out that other people were taking shortcuts (eg not bothering to send certain letters to customers etc) the manager simply sighed but then continued to give me hassle - the one who was trying to do an honest job!

So yes, happiness DOES matter in the workplace. If you're like me and don't have anything in the way of family and no nearby friends to talk to etc then work can take over your life and make you very miserable. If you have a busy social life (and I do believe this is the key to surviving a crap job) then you are able to boost / recharge a bit by forgetting work in your spare time. You'll consequently handle work better as you're more optimistic / cheerful than someone who doesn't have that and will cope better.

I've also stupidly walked from jobs I really liked - when something has happened and I've had treatment that I've had from another job I've just seen it as the beginning of the **** again and walked before it's got worse. Looking back I realise that some of the times I got offended I probably shouldn't have and I've lost out because previous bad experiences influenced my way of thinking. Thing is though, those jobs were enjoyable and the days would pass quickly - even though the pay was utter crap, the jobs were enjoyable and that DID make a big difference.

You have a bad job / employer though and it can affect you for years.

TrickyWicky

Spacepig wrote: »

Remember, this is where you spend the majority of you day, if you're miserable with your job then it can easily transfer over to non work situations. Happiness is much more important than money. Sure, it makes things easier but from what I've seen, the general opinion is that Happiness first, money later.

I do agree with you in principle but you DO need money to enjoy your life too. If you don't have enough and you're always stressed about paying the bills etc then you're not going to be happy. Thats what you don't realise.

drbraindead

I have this attitude as well, my enjoyment of work is far more imprtant than money.

More money is a bonus, but it is no good if you are not happy in your job.

I see many people working long hours at where I work at the moment, but I am not one for working long hours just to grab a few more pounds.

One day, you may lay in a hospital bed and think 'where has my life gone'.

dandelionclock30

Your a long time dead.

At the very least your job has to be bearable,if you absolutley detest being there then in my opinion its no good because a person has to have some quality of life whilst at work.

I've been in well paid jobs I've hated and been unemployed and I would rather be dead in a ditch than work for some places ever again.

Being unemployed is better than being in a detestable job I've found.