Balance is key. I’ve had the 40 hour a week lifestyle, the sub-20 hour per week lifestyle, and the 80+ hour per week lifestyle, all interspersed with long periods of no job. No job is the best to a point, but the inevitable financial worries creep in and then you no longer are stress free during your time. But what I’ve learned during my most recent stretch (9 months) is even though I was financially good for another 6+ months, I wanted to find a job, just to feel useful. I didn’t even focus on pay, just something that sounded like it could be good work to do.

Right now I’m trying to find a role where I can control how much I work. I don’t mind a 40 or 15 or 80 hour week, the problems arise when you have to work them, and work them consistently for someone else. When the objective is attractive, I like working. I’ve had the good fortune of working on some projects where I only had a deadline. I could work 12+ hour days and be excited to keep going the next. If I was tired I’d work less or rest for the day. Working isn’t the problem, lack of control and ownership over your work is. Adding in sabbatical weeks on my own time is top priority.

Working well then resting well is the ideal balance. If more people had the luxury to live that type of lifestyle, getting rid of the 40 hour week wouldn’t be top priority anymore. The constant drone of having to work set times regardless of what needs doing is a big problem.