Actively seek out and invest in multiple sources of identity and meaning beyond your job, similar to how an investor diversifies a stock portfolio, to build a more stable foundation for fulfillment and happiness.
View your job as “good enough” – a means to support the life you want to live, rather than the sole center of your existence. This approach can lead to more fulfillment and happiness by reducing the pressure on work to provide all meaning.
Avoid placing all your identity and self-worth solely on your job, as this can make you vulnerable if you lose your job or if expectations for transcendence aren’t met, leading to disappointment.
Consciously avoid giving all your best time and energy to your job, as this can neglect other important identities like neighbor, parent, friend, traveler, or artist, which are crucial for a well-rounded life.
Strive to define your identity based on evergreen characteristics like generosity, loyalty, or kindness, rather than solely on achievements or external validations that can be taken away. This provides a more stable sense of self.
Begin by envisioning your ideal “life well-lived” – where you live, what you do – and then determine how your job can function as a support system for that vision, rather than letting your job dictate your life.
Dedicate time, energy, and attention to your non-work values, such as being a good friend, engaging in causes, or learning new skills, because these identities and sources of meaning grow in proportion to your investment in them.
Intentionally carve out specific times in your days and weeks where working is not an option, especially for knowledge workers who are always connected. This allows for recharging and being present in other aspects of life.
Choose activities like running or yoga where you cannot multitask, forcing you to be present. These structural protections against working help cultivate a more diverse identity portfolio and allow for genuine rest.
Start small by picking up a hobby with the sole purpose of connecting with the inherent joy of doing it, rather than aiming for mastery or monetization. This acts as an antidote to workism by embracing play.
Choose activities based on what intrinsically motivates you and brings inherent pleasure or joy, rather than focusing on external validation, resume virtues, or social media likes. This helps connect with deeper personal values.
Recognize that rest, including active hobbies like woodworking, hiking, or exercise, is essential and complementary to work. Engaging in active rest can make you better at your job by allowing your brain to recharge and synthesize ideas.
Engage in diverse hobbies and interests outside of work, not only for personal fulfillment but also because research shows it can make you more creative, innovative, and a better problem solver in your professional life.
Actively participate in different communities or groups outside of work, such as sports teams, volunteer groups, or friend circles, where people have different value systems. This helps de-center work and offers refreshing perspectives on what matters.
Spend time in places or cultures with different value hierarchies, such as visiting family in a country with different priorities, to help rejigger your own expectations and values regarding work and life.
Engage in the thought experiment: If capitalism wasn’t a thing and all your needs were met, what would you do with your life? This helps connect with the “why” of doing beyond making money and expands possibilities.
Clearly distinguish between a workplace and a family, understanding that employment is conditional and company loyalty to its bottom line will often trump loyalty to its people, unlike the unconditional love expected in a family.
Embrace a more clear-headed, transactional view of work, recognizing that employers hire and fire based on value. As an employee, understand your end of the economic contract and ensure it’s not your only source of community.
Take regular breaks and proactively reset to prevent burnout, especially if you are passionate about your work. This means refilling your “gas tank” before you’re running on empty to maintain sustainable productivity.
Understand that work and life priorities have natural seasons; some periods may involve prioritizing career more, while others focus on life outside work. Aim for a balance that evolves over time.
Define your “good enough job” by considering both what the market values (e.g., wage, prestige) and what you personally value (e.g., collaboration, environment, impact), then seek work at their intersection.
For career development, focus on building skills, investing in expertise, and honing your craft, as passion is often a result of hard work and mastery, rather than a prerequisite for starting.
When meeting new people, instead of asking “What do you do?”, try asking “What do you like to do?” This subtle shift allows people to define themselves on their own terms, based on how they spend their time or find meaning, rather than just their job title.
After work, avoid solely turning off your brain with passive activities like watching TV, as this won’t help cultivate a diverse identity portfolio. Instead, actively invest time and energy into relationships, hobbies, and community.
Be wary of the inclination to turn all your passions, interests, and hobbies into side hustles or monetization schemes, as this can make it difficult to ever truly be “off the clock” and enjoy activities for their inherent value.
Decide for yourself whether and when to bring your “full self” to work, understanding that it should not be a mandate but an option. It’s acceptable to maintain a different persona in the workplace if preferred.
As a leader or manager, actively model the culture you wish to create; if you send emails late or work on vacation, it will trickle down and negate any progressive policies, influencing employees to do the same.
If you work outside standard hours, use “send later” tools for emails and Slack messages to schedule them for regular work hours (e.g., 9 am Monday). This prevents inadvertently pressuring employees to work during their off-hours.
Prioritize workplaces that offer trust and autonomy, allowing employees to get their work done when and how they see fit, as this is considered the best office perk and fosters a competitive advantage.
When considering employment, look for companies and managers who implement structural protections against burnout, such as clear norms about online/offline times or cultures that prioritize taking time off.
Understand and advocate for the idea that rest and time off are integral to sustainable long-term productivity, especially in a knowledge economy where ideas need space to synthesize, rather than just more hours.
Look for companies that implement “minimum vacation policies” which require employees to take time off, as this acts as a structural protection to ensure employees invest in their non-work lives and prevent burnout.
Support and seek workplaces with salary transparency, as it helps mitigate racial and gender bias and promotes fairness in compensation for similar types of work.
Look for workplaces that offer optional wellness resources like meditation rooms or yoga studios, supporting employees’ mindfulness practices without mandating them, as this can aid focus and compassion.
For remote or hybrid teams, organize intentional in-person gatherings, like quarterly retreats, specifically for building relationships, fostering culture, and connecting with coworkers, rather than just for daily Zoom meetings.
Be cautious of office perks like on-campus dinners, gyms, or dry cleaning services that, while convenient, can subtly encourage centering your entire life around the office, potentially at the expense of investing in outside communities and a well-rounded life.