Why are we working so hard?
By Tan Yi Ming • 5 minute read
Photo by Josh McGuigan on Unsplash
I had just been promoted to Manager and felt renewed motivation to work even harder. My company had rewarded me and recognised my contributions. It was now my turn to prove to them that they had made the right choice.
By 8 am, I was already in the office, making sure I was one of the earliest to arrive. I also made it a point to be the last in my team to leave, with nights constantly stretching past 10 pm before I’d go home. My calendar became a blur of colours as meetings filled my schedule — appointments aplenty. I barely had time to eat, wolfing down anything that was convenient and within arm’s reach. Such a hectic schedule, though tough, felt oddly fulfilling. I possessed such a strong drive and thought nothing in the world could stop me.
It was only until a regular health check that I realised my work had taken a heavy toll on my body. My blood test revealed several key concerns, and many of my health indicators were below the recommended healthy levels. My cholesterol level — which had been relatively stable throughout my life — had increased significantly. Even though I had not developed anything serious, the doctor warned me of the possible consequences if I continued with such a lifestyle.
For the first time in my life, I felt vulnerable and fragile. It was a wakeup call. I had to change. I needed to stop taking my health for granted, pronto.
This timely scare caused me to reflect on why exactly I was working so hard. Was it for the right reasons? What are the "right" reasons to work hard? Was I working hard to achieve my goals, dreams, or life purpose? Or, was I working for fame, fortune, and recognition?
When asked what surprised him most about humanity, a famous Buddhist Master answered: "Man. Because he sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health."
In Buddhism, we learn that we must be content with what we have. We should not become materialistic, but learn to erase our attachment to our possessions. Working hard with the sole motivation to earn more money, climb the social ladder and fuel our ego would ultimately leave us unsatisfied. We will keep wanting more, hence either overworking ourselves to achieve our desires but be left with no time to enjoy it, or fail while trying and then becoming more miserable.
I began to wonder: Was I falling into the same trap, too?
I realised that part of the reason I was working so hard was so I could gain recognition from my bosses. I wanted to prove to them that I was capable of bigger and better things. Having felt the joy of promotion once, I craved for the adrenaline rush again, so I had my eyes set on the next rung of my career ladder — Senior Manager.
Of course, it felt good to be respected by your colleagues and to hear people calling me, “Boss,” too. That pay increment also boosted my purchasing power, and I enjoyed my shopping trips to the mall to pick up branded items so I could fit in better with my friends and climb the social ladder.
The more I reflected, the more I felt shocked and ashamed of myself! Even though I had been learning the Dharma for more than five years, I was subconsciously walking down a path of greed, in contrast to what I had been learning.
Through further contemplation, I realised that this was because I had never taken the question of "Why was I working so hard?" seriously. I was working for the sake of working, letting my emotions and societal norms get the better of me. Thus, I decided to pause and clearly rationalise what a better motivation would be.
What were good reasons for me to work hard?
Eventually, I found my goal — I want to contribute positively to society by working for a non-profit or charitable organisation — and figured that these should be my priorities now as I work to get there:
To achieve my goal, I would need to work hard in order to learn as many skills and knowledge as possible. This would allow me to effectively utilise my skills and share best practices in the future.
Working for a non-profit or charity would also reduce my income. Therefore, I would need to work hard now to accumulate wealth and build passive income streams so I can support myself in the long run.
Finally, if I wanted to contribute for as long as I could, I would need to watch my health. Therefore, I need to pace myself and stay healthy so I wouldn’t have to suffer from preventable illnesses which may affect my ability to add value to society in the future.
With this new motivation in mind, I found comfort and a new sense of purpose. Though I still had to work hard, I could put things into better perspective with these new reasons in mind. Cutting down on overtime and taking regular breaks no longer felt like a waste of time as I knew I was putting my health first. It also gave me a chance to reconnect with my friends, family and loved ones.
Our busy schedules have made it difficult for us to reflect on our motivations, so it’s no wonder we are easily swayed by societal norms.
Our meritocratic society is filled with powerful incentives that may lead us on blind pursuits of material wealth. . Capitalism, on the other hand, fuels our desire to consume in order to create more wealth.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to criticise or argue if meritocracy and capitalism are correct. I'm just encouraging all of us to take a step back periodically, pause, and evaluate your intentions before it's too late. Think about why you are working so hard, and your motivations.
Are they aligned to your ultimate goal?
Will they bring you true happiness?
We often think we are working hard to achieve our dreams, but if we really take time to reflect on our motivations, we may be surprised to find other factors also at play. It is good to be aware of these factors and evaluate whether these sources of motivation are healthy and sustainable. If they are not, find ways to moderate or eliminate them so you can discover the true reasons you should work hard for.
