Getting this conversation with friends quite often. I have one friend who’s working in the restaurant as a cook, could be chef already since he has 20 years of experience at this point, but he doesn’t want to live at work. His schedule currently is very relaxed, since he just goes in, prepares a bunch of ingredients for other cooks to use and goes home when he’s done. With his experience it takes around 3-4 hours, sometimes even less, then he also has 2 days off, even though they are in the middle of the week.
Salary for such work is quite low for local standards, especially for someone with 20 years of experience, but amount of free time is insane. Dude plays lots of games, has no problems with amount of sleep, when it’s warm he usually goes to work on his bike and takes some detours through parks on the way back. Since he doesn’t need to pay rent money is actually decent, because he can afford all the games, he has a good PC, PS5, Switch, lots of collector’s editions, figurines and other stuff. Sure, last vacation trip he had in 2012, same as me, but at least he can go to his dad’s countryside house any moment to get away from the city. But still it’s not enough and he’s not happy with his income, amount of work he’s obviously happy with though. So he’s constantly on the lookout for something – other job or side hustles, constantly disappointed, because in restaurant line of work salaries are quite dog unless you live at work.
I also have my mom’s husband, who actually went and downgraded his position at work to get less stress, less money too, but I think now he’s actually way happier than he was before with a bigger paycheck. Less responsibilities, less meetings, less time working, can slip away earlier on some days, I think massive commute still generates enough time waste and stress, but at least work is more chill.
In the same time I know a couple of guys who are on the grind – working a lot, sometimes even too much I’d say, taking some extra projects, side hustles, getting paid really well too. But there is an interesting paradox, none of the people who I know on the grind are actually living that rich happy life. Most actually might own only their phone and smartwatch, having accumulated less things than my friend who’s chilling. Some deal with some alcoholism and binge drinking, some have health issues connected to stress and overworking. Sure dealing with issues when you have money is easier, but if money caused those issues, then maybe it’s better avoid getting them in the first place. But also one of them needs to support his kids and family now, so that grind is for a noble goal.
As for me I would love to stay in the chill camp. I used to have some dreams and ambitions that I would love to grind for, but nowadays I’d rather be left alone just chilling and enjoying some hobbies. But being a content creator I need to be on the grind, at least in my current state and channel size it is inevitable if you want to do it for living. So you get into this dissonance, where you’d rather limit your appetites and take it chill, but taking it chill causes everything go even below your limited appetites and keep shrinking. And I actually don’t know, can you really chill as self-employed/businessman? I guess when you are too big to fail or when your financial safety belt is massive enough to pretty much retire here and now, otherwise you are doomed to grind I feel. If you can afford to take it chill though, I personally recommend that, just seen way more happiness among that group of people than in another one. It’s fine to earn less, as long as it’s enough, it’s fine to not drive some expensive car (hell I don’t drive any car since 2018, whatever), you can travel on a budget even, less stress is totally worth it.