“Work recovery has become part of the national conversation on well-being,” says Andrew Bennett, a social scientist at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. “There’s a growing awareness that we can’t just keep working ourselves to death.” If I try to source this quote, it’s referenced in…..Uh, every top Google hit with any combination of these words: Stress, burnout and work. So, I can’t recall where I first saw it, but it reminded me of this scene:

“Isn’t It Our Time?”

Jeff Spicoli, Fast Times At Ridgemont High

The thinking in all of these linked google hits, blog posts, articles, top ten lists, is that workers today should prioritize their own, personal time. Stop taking work home, stop living the values of our money -grubbing employers. Instead, take on a realm of self-care to sustain yourself; recognize that you’re not “needed” at work, and honestly, let’s face it: we’re all replaceable, right?

What do hard work and long hours get you? A promotion, with more long hours and hard work!

For me, as someone who has twenty years behind me but another twenty to go, working for an employer as a W2 employee allows me to spend my “off-time” attempting my hand at creative pursuits, such as writing, or water-coloring, or hell, even roller skating. When I freelance, working for myself, I’m constantly hustling up my next gig and so all of the time is uptime. There is no downtime when you’re a business, man. I say there is no downtime when you’re a businessman. Amiright?