“So Jack, where do you see your career in five years?”
This was the final question I was asked during my employee performance review at my old job.
It’s a question I’ve never enjoyed answering, and one that I’ve never really had the answer to.
My mind ticked over as I scrambled to piece a somewhat feasible answer together.
“I don’t necessarily want a career, I just want to be happy,” I said.
Ahhh, perfect. The same thing I’ve been saying since high school.
Thankfully, my words were met with a grin, and I had seemingly escaped having to answer it for yet another 12 months.
But as I reflected on what I’d just said, like always, I couldn’t help but think one thing.
If only it was that bloody easy.
The Allure Of A Simple Life
I’ve always dreamed of a simple life. A tiny home in the mountains somewhere, where I can spend my days cooking, reading, indulging in time spent alone and not having to speak to another soul.
To be honest, I think that’s a fantasy that all of us have had at some point in our lives.
I’ve done a pretty good job at shaping my life in a way that aligns with these values.
I’ve gotten rid of a lot of unnecessary stuff, I spend most of my time around people that make my life better, and I have nothing holding me back from choosing to live a completely different life tomorrow if I truly feel like it.
But whilst all that’s great, there’s one part of my life where simplification hasn’t quite delivered the results I hope for.
Work.
You know that thing we’re all supposed to hate?
Well, turns out it’s pretty essential if you want a life of value and fulfilment.
Not the commuting, or the small talk, or the extended meetings that seem to lead nowhere.
I’m talking about the creativity and focus that comes from working on meaningful projects and dedicating yourself to something.
Overcoming The Friction Of Deep Work
“Without labour – nothing prospers.”
Sophocles.
It seems all great philosophers throughout history have recognised work, and the delayed gratification that comes with it, as an essential part of a life well lived.
Work is called work for a reason. You’re not necessarily supposed to want to do it.
But that’s where the magic lies.
With instant gratification and cheap pleasures rearing their ugly heads at every minute of our distraction-filled day, the need for deep, meaningful work has never been greater.
The thing that stops most of us from actually committing to this deep work is the friction of starting.
Why would we want to sit down to write a blog post and force our brain to think deeply for two hours when we can just switch on Netflix and get lost in the love story of Dexter Mayhew and Emma Morley?
Believe me, I ask myself this question every time.
But if you push through this barrier on a regular basis, you’ll know that this friction usually disappears as soon as you start.
And it’s all thanks to a little something called flow.
Understanding Flow: The Power Of Focus
“Enjoyment appears at the boundary between boredom and anxiety, when the challenges are just balanced with the person’s capacity to act.”
Mihály Csíkszentmihályi – Flow (1990)
Mihály Csíkszentmihályi’s book Flow was groundbreaking when it was first released in 1990.
Why? Because it gave a name to a feeling.
A feeling that many had experienced, but could never quite explain.
In Mihály’s words, flow is “a state in which people are so involved in an activity that nothing else seems to matter.”
Sadly, I used to only get into this state when I was gaming. But I’ve slowly conditioned myself to experience this state of mind when doing something less stimulating (like writing this blog post).
After reading this book, I realised it was never ‘work’ that I was missing.
I was missing the challenging pursuits of creativity.
I was missing being so engrossed in something that I wasn’t overthinking other menial parts of my life.
I was missing flow.
The Value Of Structured Work
Author Cal Newport touched on flow in his book Deep Work.
He explains how it can actually be easier to get into a flow state at work because challenges and feedback are built-in goals.
“Free time, on the other hand, is unstructured, and requires much greater effort to be shaped into something that can be enjoyed,” he says.
How often do we wish away our work days for the weekend or for an extended holiday break, only to finally get time off and then have no clue what to do with it?
Finding purpose away from work can be difficult, as sad as that sounds.
But that’s because structuring our own day, setting our own goals and critiquing ourselves are skills that many of us lack.
Think of that stretch of days between Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.
This is the most unstructured, focus-lacking period that most of us experience. And although it feels great to switch off, you’ve got to admit you feel like a bit of a useless blob towards the end, right?
I know I do.
And it’s the cheap pleasures, indulgence, and lack of exertion that cause this feeling. Things that can be incredibly enjoyable in the short-term, but detrimental over time.
Finding Balance Between Work & Life
Finding the balance between work and play will always be tough.
Are you someone who values the hustle of a 40+ hour work week? Or do you value short bursts of deep work throughout the week?
I’ve been trialling part-time, full-time and freelance work over the past few years, each of which have their own positives and drawbacks (this could be a future blog post).
So far, I’m sure of one thing. Avoiding work completely does not satisfy me, even though my silly old brain never wants to start it.
I have to be creating something, and a job is just a means of structuring this creativity.
What’s important is finding a balance that works for you, and I’ve found the best way to do this is by finding out what you don’t like first.
That means getting out of your comfort zone and shaking your routine up (eek).
It also means getting yourself into a financial position that allows you to experiment (because trying this stuff does mess with your income).
Taking time and space away from full-time work or whatever routine is numbing your mind is one of the best things you will do for yourself.
But don’t think that escaping work is the answer to your problems.
The opposite may be true.
