I have recently made a conscious effort to stop checking my work email account every five minutes, 24 hours a day, seven days a week and it’s a rather liberating feeling, if a little unnerving initially. It’s a small push-back against a partially self-imposed attitude which is also undeniably fostered by corporate employers.
I accept that my job requires a certain degree of flexibility in my availability and I have always been extremely conscientious, but in all honesty this has been to the significant detriment of my free time and I am extremely fortunate to have a patient and understanding spouse otherwise the countless lost evenings, weekends and holiday time could have been a dangerous wedge between us.
I also appreciate that today’s corporate world requires hard work to maintain one’s position, not least of all as the decades tick by and concern about institutional ageism begins to grow.
I do not intend to become a couldn’t-care-less slacker by any means and I couldn’t be like that even if I wanted to, but I have reached a point where I need to redress the balance in my life, not only for my quality of life, but also because I have increasingly come to realise that the pay-back is limited. Sure, there’s professional pride, but in the final analysis job satisfaction is behind financial reward and that should come as no surprise to anyone working in a corporate environment.
In one of my early jobs I worked extremely hard and gave up much free time. I was very young, fresh out of university, and I naively thought my every sacrifice was somehow being noticed, that promotion and other reward would be forthcoming. I thought I’d learned a lesson for life, but I’m not so sure that I really took it to heart. More fool me, I suppose.
I recently spent several days in an increasingly angry fog created by dwelling on the negative aspects of my job, but I’ve given myself a metaphorical slap, reminded myself of how fortunate I am to be in the position I hold, and am back on track as a generally happy employee. I have let go of the negativity as much as I am able.
I will, though, continue to reduce the amount of my life and my soul that I give so willingly to an employer that is essentially a soulless entity that is more effective at taking than giving.
Myraeth.