Work: enjoyment or enslavement?

[Nik]

Unless you are the boss, at work you are subordinate to someone else and sometimes required to perform assignments you don't exactly love. Different studies show that most (maybe varies per country) people don't like their job.
Let's assume an 8 hour working day, which means that at least 1/3 of our most productive years people spend working. That's quite a big chunk of life. If to further assume that happiness is a sound goal, how important is to enjoy your work? Or settling for it to be a source of dough to finance enjoyment in the remaining 2/3 is good enough? Whatcha think?

[Marie]

This is an interesting topic. :-)

I spent over thirty years working in places I didn't like and places I loved. With that being said, I saved back some funds and decided to retire early so I wouldn't have to no longer deal with "bosses". :-)

[Nik]

Marie wrote: ".....I spent over thirty years working in places I didn't like and places I loved. ..."

I bet quite a typical situ for many of us. Maybe a few sportsmen and artists can combine their passion with moneymaking, while most others - need to keep them separated.
Congrats on bidding farewell to bosses -:)

[Marie]

Nik wrote: "Marie wrote: ".....I spent over thirty years working in places I didn't like and places I loved. ..."

I bet quite a typical situ for many of us. Maybe a few sportsmen and artists can combine their..."

Thank you, Nik! :-)

[Scout]

For the last 5 years of my working life, I was unhappy and felt little control over my circumstances. Fortunately, I had lived below my means for many years and had made a plan. I retired at 53 years of age, and I haven't had a boss since. Like Bezos and Buffett :-) I think the key for a working person is to live below your means and plan for independence. Or you can spend all your money in the present and keep working for the boss.

[Roxanna]

I was forcibly retired at 49. I miss some aspects of my former job and the sense of purpose it gave most of the time. It was sometimes a joy, sometimes a terrible bother. Now I am writing to keep myself busy. It is similar, tiresome some times, joyfull others; I like being my own boss but I miss working with expensive and awesome machines and the sense of adventure.

[Scout]

I get that. Any way you could get back to what you miss?