Have you thought about how much time you spend at your “job”? For most of us nearly one-third of our lives is spent interacting with others to produce whatever it is we produce for our employers. That’s a lot of time to invest in something.

Many of us, myself included, spend probably half or more of our time working at that “job.”  But when it’s something that we enjoy, something that satisfies many areas of our life, then it certainly loses its negative connotation of “work” and becomes more like “fun.” Who says we can’t have fun and work at the same time?

I’ve known many people who make decent money (and some make obscene amounts of money), but are miserable with the work that they do. I often wonder about the quality of their work – I mean if they are so unhappy with themselves and their line of work, how attentive are they to the details? What kind of service or product are they delivering? “But,” they say, “I’m making a great living for my family, I’m saving for my retirement.”  Don’t get me wrong, those aspects are important for our well being. But at what cost? 

Does it make sense to spend nearly one-third of your adult life doing something that doesn’t bring you happiness? You and I probably know many folks who will divorce for less significant reasons, but they’ll hold onto that job no matter what.

And so what happens, when retirement comes, your health gives out and you can no longer travel or do whatever it was that you longed for all those working years? Will it still have been worth it?

A growing number of people are beginning to realize the health risks associated with stressful jobs - and especially if the jobs are not enjoyed. Many are standing up for themselves and saying, “I deserve to do something with my life that is fulfilling and brings me contentment. And still meets the financial requirement that I have.”

And they are making courageous decisions to change.

If you feel you are in a “dead-end” job, then you probably are. And YOU have the freedom to pick another direction. You can do whatever you truly wish to do. Perhaps you simply need to explore how to incorporate fun into the work you already love, but it no longer holds the challenge for you that it once did.

Gift yourself with some quiet time and think about where you want to direct your life. Ask yourself a few questions:

• What is it that you love about this current job? What would you change?
• What qualities do you possess that are congruent with the job you currently have?
• How do you have fun? How can you incorporate those activities in your current work environment to put a “spring” back into your step?
• How will that change you and your outlook on the other areas of your life?  Where would that lead?

Some paths will be a longer stretch and may require more effort. Success stories abound – we’ve all heard them – of someone who overcame all odds and achieved something they truly wanted. How sweet the victory!

Let’s remember that our daily living IS the journey. Let’s have fun along the way!

Time is one commodity that we can never regain, never recoup. Once it’s gone, it’s gone forever. Are the hours you spend at your job providing the return you want in your life?  If not, you have the ability to change your investment strategy.