I think you are missing the point the article is trying to make (at least how I understood it). The point is not that it is impossible to only work a few hours

I think you are missing the point the article is trying to make (at least how I understood it). The point is not that it is impossible to only work a few hours a week, it is indeed possible. The point is that if you do, you will not be happy, as you need difficulties, challenges and the feeling of progressing toward some goals to feel happy. Yet, most people's objective is to indeed avoid difficulties. It seems today's holy grail is a high paying job, that requires little actual work. The author is arguing that we should instead not try to find a way outside of difficulties, but to carve a path through them. re-quoting from the article: > "[...] Happiness is experienced largely in striving towards a goal, not in having attained things, because our nature is always to want to go on to the next endeavor.”-Albert Ellis