Study after study seems to suggest that middle-class Western demographics finding lasting happiness to be an elusive state and that they feel by and large, over-worked, under-rewarded, unsure of their future and short of time to stop and smell the roses.
Dysfunctional families, mounting health crises (particularly psychological), poor economic conditions, political apathy and degenerative societal trends (from excessive Facebook use to diminishing parental-child bonding time) are cited as symptoms of a working class that is no longer able to cope with the burdens of a brave new age of rising employment pressures.
I hesitate to use the term "Work-Life Balance" as it feels much like a corporate buzzword concocted to gloss over the unfairness of reducing human life to a dichotomy of carrot and stick, but it is what most of us are familiar with, for better or worse.
Do you personally feel that:
Your work life and your personal life are distinct and separate spheres of influence, with little to no intrusion from one side into the other?
You have enough time to satisfy your work commitments within your scheduled working hours each week?
Your scheduled working hours are fair based on your role, credentials, industry and age?
- (Note: Obviously 8-5 is an unwritten rule, I'm speaking more of the amount of time you spend actually engaged in intensive stretches of mental or physical labour; as not every minute of each day is actually consumed by productive work).
You have sufficient lengths of time to "detoxify" from your workplace and feel at peace with your life's direction and/or feel fulfilled on an existential level?
You consistently enjoy your work and are committed to it for reasons beyond financial security, lifestyle upkeep and providing for your family?
You are comfortable with maintaining your current work-life balance until you are of retirement age?
For those with an aversion to writing, I have made a poll.
5 months work 7 months play… no complaints here…