If work hasn't been your favorite thing lately, read this.
Over the past 2 years, I've had a few friends take sabbaticals (voluntarily taking 6 or more months off work).
I was shocked to hear how they were feeling after 6 months off of work:
Bored
Lonely
Lazy
Lack of purpose
It exposed the often overlooked perks of having a 9-5:
Feeling wanted or needed
Not feeling alone or isolated
A little structure can get us moving
Having purpose
Something to have gratitude for!
But is work the only thing that can give us these feelings?
Over the past 5+ years -
Some of the happiest, most successful 9-5ers I've interacted with live as if work is a valuable source of purpose, but it isn't their only source.
They also get purpose from -
Family, friends, hobbies, health, volunteering, etc.
It is this balancing act of deriving purpose from work, but not too much that it starts determining your happiness in life.
A good reminder to ask ourselves -
Where is your purpose coming from?
Is it coming from multiple areas of your life?