Quote: (02-16-2015 07:11 AM)zatara Wrote:
Quote: (02-15-2015 08:21 PM)worldwidetraveler Wrote:
Yes, we only have so many hours in the day. That means working 30 hours or the minimum you can in order to enjoy relaxation and family time is wasted time. That is 30 hours per week wasted for what? 20+ years..
[snip for brevity]
I think you're falling slightly for the American fallacy that one needs to devote one's self to work excessively to 'do well'. Plenty of people work 35 hours a week while both enjoying their work and being lucratively financially rewarded. That is why its referred to as a work/life balance - its about finding the right level of balance where no one aspect of your life dominates all others.
The average American worker works 1700 hours per year, the average German worker works 1400 hours per year. At an American standard 40 hour work week thats almost 7 entire weeks of extra holiday time per year to devote to other activities. Yet Germany still has plenty of highly successful professionals with rewarding jobs. No matter how rewarding your job is its better for you as human to not have it dominate your life - the more other interests you have the more well rounded you'll be.
I think you're falling for the European fallacy that you know what is better. If one wants to be average, your advice is golden.