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I have learned about the perils of overworking the hard way - burnout after about 2 years of working too much. I've since learned to be more tempered. However,

by rocgf 5y ago

I have learned about the perils of overworking the hard way - burnout after about 2 years of working too much. I've since learned to be more tempered. However, maybe I am missing something in most of the comments in here. Everybody seems to agree with the article and against working longer hours. However, how are you supposed to 'get ahead' if not by working longer and/or harder than your peers? There is obviously a balance here, but knowledge and, implicitly, higher income doesn't just happen. If you don't push harder, you won't get more. And I honestly don't think I can ever be satisfied with any given salary in perpetuity.

adamhp 5y ago
And this is really the heart of why capitalism is truly evil. You're stuck on a treadmill that adjusts as soon as you get comfortable. There are rows and rows of your peers next to you, and you see them running a bit faster, so you press the button to go faster so you don't look "slower" than them. It is built-in from the primate days of fighting for literal survival. You can't let them win or you'll starve and die. If you're a well-paid SWE, you're probably in the top 1% of the world: eating anything you want, living happily, likely without debt (or could easily pay it off). And here you are thinking you still need more, and thinking you'll never be happy with it.
nickd2001 5y ago
So, don't play the game! My formula = (1) live in slightly cheaper neighbourhood. Your kids will be at school with a healthy diversity of people. (2) If you drive, something uncool / old-but-reliable. That's 2 big costs reduced. Then, develop and nurture a long-shelf-life vendor-independent skillset e:g Linux, command-line, python which'll always be in demand. If your employer then demands crazy hours, easier to walk away. Less well-paid university or gov't jobs may be the answer. BTW there's a conflict in the treadmill argument. Companies that push harder and harder will eventually fail if important people burn out. I worked in the USA for a bit. Sometimes I blatantly left earlier than my colleagues. Cos the mountains beckoned. Possibly annoyed some management. Didn't get fired though. Cos had good skills! Good luck don't let The Man win. ;)

by rocgf 5y ago

adamhp 5y ago

And this is really the heart of why capitalism is truly evil. You're stuck on a treadmill that adjusts as soon as you get comfortable. There are rows and rows of your peers next to you, and you see them running a bit faster, so you press the button to go faster so you don't look "slower" than them. It is built-in from the primate days of fighting for literal survival. You can't let them win or you'll starve and die. If you're a well-paid SWE, you're probably in the top 1% of the world: eating anything you want, living happily, likely without debt (or could easily pay it off). And here you are thinking you still need more, and thinking you'll never be happy with it.

nickd2001 5y ago

So, don't play the game! My formula = (1) live in slightly cheaper neighbourhood. Your kids will be at school with a healthy diversity of people. (2) If you drive, something uncool / old-but-reliable. That's 2 big costs reduced. Then, develop and nurture a long-shelf-life vendor-independent skillset e:g Linux, command-line, python which'll always be in demand. If your employer then demands crazy hours, easier to walk away. Less well-paid university or gov't jobs may be the answer. BTW there's a conflict in the treadmill argument. Companies that push harder and harder will eventually fail if important people burn out. I worked in the USA for a bit. Sometimes I blatantly left earlier than my colleagues. Cos the mountains beckoned. Possibly annoyed some management. Didn't get fired though. Cos had good skills! Good luck don't let The Man win. ;)