How much time does your job take daily?
If you’re an employee of a company, have you ever thought about how much time your job actually takes from your day?
I was thinking about this recently. It’s so easy to say that I work 9-5, thus 8 hours a day but why was I feeling so burnt out all the time!?
That’s when I started adding up all the hours relating to my job.
Commuting for work: 1 hour 45 minutes one way, thus 3 hours and 30 minutes daily
Time at work: 7 hours and 30 minutes (if I eat at desk so no lunch) to 8 hours
Time to unwind from work: at least 1 hour
Time to prepare for work (getting ready, preparing lunch and so on): 45 minutes to 1 hour
Total time spent around my job: 12 hours and 45 minutes to 13 hours and 30 minutes
No wonder I feel so tired all the time! I spent majority of my day going to work, preparing for work and at work!
That brings another interesting question. How much am I really making an hour then? My hourly rate is going to go down quite a bit if I divide by 13+ hours instead of regular 8 hours!
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June 27th, 2009 at 6:02 pm
A very perceptive post as usual.
You raise a very important point. I am facing redundancy soon and am using the opportunity to sort out my life. This has brought into sharp perspective how much my job has impacted my life – so the post comes at the right time.
I think some companies believe they own you lock, stock and barrel, 24 hours a day. I have spoken to colleagues who are expected to go into work five hours early for a meeting. To put that in perspective, we do shift work so they might be starting a shift at 2pm and finishing at 12 midnight. The meeting might be at 9am so they have to be in for that and then work their shift. Now, remind me, why is the divorce rate so high?
I am on a 2pm to 10pm shift this weekend so, in theory, that gives me the morning. Not really. How much can you do looking at the clock all the time? Then you have the preparation as you stated plus all the other hidden commitments. Oh, and we work seven days a week with the odd day off here and there.
And I don’t think this is unusual.
Days off – let’s look at those for a moment. If you have to book your time off, then it is your boss who generally says when that can be. Again, with shift work, I might work a 2pm to 10pm shift, have a day off, then be in at 6am the next day. We call these ’short days off’: can you see why?
A free country? Really?
The hourly rate point is well made too. You are right, our pay should be rated by the impact on our lives as a whole.
Redundancy? Bring it on!
Thanks for raising this.
June 27th, 2009 at 11:09 pm
Wow! You work seven days a week? That’s a pretty hectic schedule. Society’s just built to make us good employees. From a young age in school we’re being trained to become employees. Just look at all the different programs in Universities or Colleges. Everyone studying hard so they can become employees, work for someone else but get a good salary!
We are the products of our environment. So, if we hang around with other people who’re aiming to be good employees more than likely we will end up as employees. That’s why sometimes I feel that schools are a waste of time. There are a lot of good things associated with schools but also there is this side to it.
I was just thinking the other day how little one really needs in order to live happily. But living in this society we end up gathering materialistic items, to compare with the Joneses, and then need more money to maintain our lifestyle and get a better job, work hard and so the cycle goes.
2pm-10pm shift is not the best shift but at least there is less traffic on the roads, in the malls, in the banks and so on
All jokes aside, we need to seriously look at how much time we’re spending around our jobs and our actual hourly rate.
But you work too hard Keith! Working 7 days a week! What time do you have left for your life?
June 28th, 2009 at 6:36 pm
Yes, being around during the day does have its advantages. And you are right, I feel my life has gone down the pan – especially now I am getting older and cope less well with the work schedule. Regrettably there are a lot of people doing the same thing (maybe some people deal with it better!).
We only recognise two days at work: work days and non-work days. I forget what day of the week it is sometimes!
Schools do not give you much choice. It may be different in other countries but I do not remember any lessons on being an entrepreneur, for example! I guess society needs the ‘cannon fodder’ to take the jobs and keep companies going but we don’t seem to have the choice. If you don’t want to join the job brigade, where do you go? Actually, I think the Internet can help with this now: blogs like yours help to make people think for themselves.
I regret that, certainly in Britain, we are getting more and more regulated in all areas of life so compliance is expected. No, really. Health and Safety is a big thing here now. We even have a rule at work now that you must wear a high visibility vest in the staff car park. Some local authorities are fining people for putting the wrong rubbish in the wrong bin! The list goes on. Encouraging individuals to take their own risks is definately a no no.
Break out while you can!
June 29th, 2009 at 12:42 pm
Yeah I heard about England. I absolutely love internet and the freedom it provides everyone. Because of the internet we’re able to find anything that we’re looking for at any time. If we’re learning to do something, with a few key strokes we find ton of people who’ve already done what we want to do and are willing to help us.
Best thing about knowing what you don’t want is that in that moment we are clearest about what we do want. If everything’s going well we’re usually going about our business. But if for example we get really sick, that’s when we really know that we want to be healthy.
So, in times like today where there’re rules and regulations trying to control our every move, that’s when we realize that we want freedom!
As long as we hold onto our desire we’re bound to get it.
Know what you want and surround yourself with people who’re getting what you want or are on the same path.
That’s what I’m doing. Instead of focusing too much on the negativity, I keep myself busy with positive books and tapes and am attracting like minded people in my life.
And after reading all your comments, looks like you’re doing the same.
July 4th, 2009 at 11:49 am
this is exactly why some people are looking for healthier ways to conduct their businesses. the traditional working hours just burn people off and it’s not healthy. when we work, people see them as productivity when in truth, the routine simply numbs up the mind. in fact, it was even said that those who work from home are much more productive than those who work in offices and have no time for themselves.
July 5th, 2009 at 10:20 am
If you’re interested, you should definitely read Tim Ferriss’ book called “The 4-hour work week!” He talks about how to work from home. Not only if you have your business but even if you’re an employee. He even talks about how to convince your management that it would be better to work from home.
I know in Europe a lot of companies have been either experimenting with their employees working from home or have changed to working from home completely. I read a while back that productivity went up 40% and sick days were down to 0 and employee loyalty and retention rate was quite high as well. Also, the companies gain financially since they don’t have to pay for space for employees. It’s quite expensive if you think about it. Even a cubicle for one employee.
Add in space, desk, internet, phone line, computers, phones, all connections and so on…
So, working from home is a win win for everyone!
July 5th, 2009 at 11:36 am
I agree, Carol. I am sure a better routine and happier staff makes for better productivity.
My plan after redundancy is to work from home – and, yes, Ricky, you are right – to tie still harder into the positive books and tapes (or cds). Let’s see how it changes my outlook.
I don’t think I have ever heard of anyone on their death bed saying ‘I wish I had spent more time at work…’.
July 6th, 2009 at 6:50 pm
hehehe that’s a wonderful way of looking at it! On the death bed saying “I wish I had spent more time at work…”
As long as we know what we want we will get it. Challenge comes trying to keep our wants in sight instead of compromising.
There is nothing wrong with where we are, and nothing wrong with saying “I don’t know how to get to where I want to go!” as long as you know where you’re going!
Slowly but surely we’ll get there. Actually, it’s quite impossible to fail!