This week, my post is going to be structured a bit different.
I have been churning out post after post for quite some time now advocating all sorts of things. These posts have mostly been derived from personal experiences and things I’ve learned or read along the way. What can I say? I love sharing knowledge with people. It is one of the primary reasons I started writing in the first place.
But this week, I want to hear from you. All of you. The collective wealth of knowledge available from you, the audience here on this site, is unimaginably staggering. So, here is what I would like to see happen this week. I’ve got a topic I have been thinking about, and I want your input. Your unabashed, unedited feedback and honesty.
So here it is:
Before you go running to the comments to tell me that is a silly question, give me a moment to further explain.
This question is generally geared more towards people that enjoy their work, not people that are in it purely for the money and because they have to do something to get by. I am really asking this question to the people who love their jobs. The ones who are invested in their work and enjoy waking up in the morning to go to the office. If you are a person motivated at work by purpose, because your work matters to you, then do you find you have trouble turning it off on the weekends? Do you find yourself thinking about issues at work because you can’t wait to solve the problems or finish the projects in front of you?
I do. I think about work because it matters to me. I know what I am doing is making a difference in the lives of the people around the country. So I think about it often, and usually I find myself answering emails, thinking about projects, or dreaming about how to not only do my job better, but bigger.
Don’t even get me started on side projects. I have a dream of starting a business in the next couple years and I consider making that dream a reality to be another piece of work. Between that and my day job, I work on weekends. Often. Obviously I don’t spend all of my time working. I make plenty of time to spend with my wife, hang out with friends, and be involved in other things. But, I also don’t really see a big problem with having work on weekends, especially if I enjoy it.
So, tell me. What are your thoughts on this? I want to hear if you think it’s acceptable to work on weekends. If you don’t do it, why not? If you do work on weekends, why do you continue to do it?
Please leave your thoughts in the comment section and shoot me a tweet this weekend. I may be working, but I promise I’ll find the time to respond!
Photo Credit: PicJumbo.com
Yes, I think it’s acceptable to work on weekends. It’s unacceptable to work 7×24. By revelation we are commanded to rest (“6 days shall you labor” and rest on the 7th) – and by observation we learn how good this is for us. We’re built to require rest. Our best work requires rest and recovery cycles. Does it make a difference if we distinguish work from art? Art is a calling, a deeply compelling sense of I-must-do-this-because-I’m-created-to-do-this. Art is hard work but satisfying in a way that other types of work are not. Art happens on weekends (or if a job requires you to work on weekend days, then whatever other day you take off).
Glenn,
I agree that working 24/7 is a bit to much. Obviously I’m all for rest well. But as you can tell I also believe that working beyond the typical 9-5 and not on Saturdays is outdated thinking and doesn’t work for everyone, myself included.
I think passion might the word to use over art because of the confusion it might cause with the “arts” (music, painting, etc). But I’m with you.
Thanks for reading!
Yes, passion is a better term in this context.
I’m with Glenn on this one. Rest is required at some point along the way to do our best work and to give our best art. I think even above and beyond that, it is definitely worth a discussion with your spouse about what will work for your relationship and exceeding their needs.
Absolutely! As I said, I ensure that much of my free time is spent with my spouse and that she is okay with me working beyond the office. Thanks for reading Adam!
Weekends to me are the best time to focus on a second passion, or like you said, that side or next business opportunity.
Exactly Leo! That’s what I’m using my time for right now! Thanks for reading friend!
The key is defining life priorities and creating a life balance that reflects those priorities. Here is a helpful resource on the topic, a book called 24/6 http://www.amazon.com/24-Prescription-Healthier-Happier-Life-ebook/dp/B007V698UE
Absolutely MAtthew!