avatarKL Simmons

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Abstract

src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/0*Ts8p3IMK0LkPD9n0"><figcaption>Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@martinirc?utm_source=medium&amp;utm_medium=referral">José Martín Ramírez Carrasco</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com?utm_source=medium&amp;utm_medium=referral">Unsplash</a></figcaption></figure><p id="f4e5">It has only been 3 months since I started this job and lifestyle that offer many “perks”, but I am already looking into other job possibilities.</p><p id="21c9">It is the only way I can keep my sanity —</p><p id="f8c0" type="7">to remind myself that this will not last more than a year and that I have the power to stop it whenever I want.</p><p id="5373">Even if my hour long commute <i>(each way)</i> was shorter, I would feel the same.</p><h1 id="90f6">40+ hours a week is too much for me to devote to any one job.</h1><figure id="1e59"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/0*4KBh3tRgg1L9PYpl"><figcaption>Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@iamdarosaa?utm_source=medium&amp;utm_medium=referral">Jessica Da Rosa</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com?utm_source=medium&amp;utm_medium=referral">Unsplash</a></figcaption></figure><p id="da14">A close friend of mine who has been a full-time college professor for almost 20 years and has two middle school children enjoys her busy schedule, but has a hard time sleeping and suffers from high anxiety.</p><p id="f84e"><b>I recently learned that the average American gets far too little sleep and it’s more unhealthy than most people realize.</b></p><blockquote id="781d"><p>The impact on American life and economy is enormous as sleep deprivation and untreated sleep disorders are estimated to cost over $100 billion annually in lost productivity, medical expenses, sick leave, property, and environmental damage.</p></blockquote><div id="d34e" class="link-block"> <a href="https://www.sleephealth.org/sleep-health/the-state-of-sleephealth-in-america/"> <div> <div> <h2>The State of Sleep Health in America in 2022 - SleepHealth</h2> <div><h3>Sleep-related problems affect 50 to 70 million Americans of all ages and socioeconomic classes. The state of sleep…</h3></div> <div><p>www.sleephealth.org</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*unm90FSpvyCcRdsf)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><figure id="9fbd"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/0*hj9O2bhbAo0EZcRJ"><figcaption>Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@olva?utm_source=medium&amp;utm_medium=referral">Lena Varzar</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com?utm_source=medium&amp;utm_medium=referral">Unsplash</a></figcaption></figure><h1 id="60f1">Time is money.</h1><p id="cf17">How many times have we heard this over the course of our lives?</p><p id="ee01">I know that there is a good chance that I will make less money as a result of reducing my hours in my current field of employment.</p><p id="beb9" type="7">This is also where the phrase, “work smarter, not harder” comes to mind.</p><p id="1399"><b>If I do not at least TRY to create a more suitable lifestyle for myself</b> here in Germany,<b><i> I will slowly die from the inside out </i></b><i>as I merely survive and not <b>thrive.</b></i></p><figure id="ca23"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*lzug82kbsYusV34bMr4daQ.jpeg"><figcaption>That’s the look of me thriving while enjoying a boat ride at a zoo here in Germany. Photo by KL Simmons (the author))</figcaption></figure><p id="10bc">Fortunately, I can still reap the same full-time benefits, such as 30 paid days off (plus 10 public holidays) and excellent health care, as long as I work at least 30 h

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ours a week for an employer.</p><p id="da74"><b>That would give me more time to do many other things that make life worth living:</b></p><ul><li>writing <i>(I used to write and publish stories daily, now I go weeks without)</i></li><li>yoga</li><li>biking <i>(could go from twice a week to 4+ times)</i></li><li>reading <i>(more than stories on Medium or new related articles)</i></li><li>weekend getaways <i>(I’ve 2 planned for October when there are two 3-day weekends due to public holidays)</i></li><li>talking on the phone with friends and family</li><li>dancing, singing and/or playing guitar</li><li>painting</li><li>watching awesome movies and television shows</li><li>cooking <i>(currently my boyfriend does most of the cooking because I’m usually too tired after my 11 hour days)</i></li><li>gardening</li><li>walking through parks and chillin’ outdoors</li></ul><figure id="493d"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*se8yTxL1tYXOZuWrO60uZQ.jpeg"><figcaption>A bunch of deer chillin’ on a hot day at a humongous park where they are protected that is near my job. Photo by KL Simmons (the author)</figcaption></figure><p id="d856">One of the best feelings in the world to me is priceless —</p><p id="b89e" type="7">that is knowing and living my truth.</p><h1 id="0262">What is your truth on this topic?</h1><p id="edf8"><i>Please share in the comments…I would really like to know.</i></p><figure id="696e"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/0*N9VP4TAurpUDVnbG"><figcaption>Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@ksu_mashch?utm_source=medium&amp;utm_medium=referral">Oksana Manych</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com?utm_source=medium&amp;utm_medium=referral">Unsplash</a></figcaption></figure><p id="b4b1" type="7">Sincerely,</p><p id="9adc" type="7">KL Simmons</p><div id="ccfe" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/has-writing-been-your-best-friend-worst-enemy-or-a-mixture-of-both-7b72fb9c6c44"> <div> <div> <h2>Has Writing Been Your Best Friend, Worst Enemy Or A Mixture Of Both?</h2> <div><h3>Another informal survey to which this inquiring mind is seeking sincere responses</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*uNbiok4k5TzVDK1W)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><div id="d2dc" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/so-this-is-what-it-feels-like-to-be-treated-humanely-by-an-employer-ff2a392e358f"> <div> <div> <h2>So This Is What It Feels Like To Be Treated Humanely By An Employer</h2> <div><h3>Much better late than never in making this long held dream finally come true</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*pCDT-iDyYVjMVx9nF0E6hg.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><div id="a25b" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/halfway-through-my-40s-and-living-my-best-life-386cc982e790"> <div> <div> <h2>Halfway Through My 40’s And Living My Best Life</h2> <div><h3>The ups and downs and all arounds brought me to this state and I am HERE for It</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*-91a26kWTXy97eLYXy5BEA.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div></article></body>

OPEN LETTER|PSYCHOLOGY

If You’ve Ever Worked 40+ Hours A Week On A Regular Basis, This Open Letter Is For You

A typically non-conformist, introverted night-owl is in the throes of this time-sucking lifestyle that does not feel “right”

Photo by Lino Ogenio on Unsplash

Dear People Who Work (Or Have Worked) 40+ Hours A Week On A Regular Basis,

How do you do it while keeping up with non-work-related activities that are important to your existence as well?

Such as sleep

Photo by Adam Kuylenstierna on Unsplash

I am torn to pieces, in the strangest of places that might be akin to what many call “purgatory”, as I am filled with a degree of admiration, respect, disgust and revulsion over the fact that millions of people devote such an enormous chunk of their time to work.

And that’s me thinking of the BEST case scenario where people actually LIKE what they do for work.

Photo by Husna Miskandar on Unsplash

The fact that working 40+ hours a week is seen as normal in the vast majority of places around the world continues to blow my mind as I approach the age of 50.

Before you call me lazy or think that I do not want to work, please hear me out…

I have a wide variety of interests and have actually enjoyed working a ton (at least 100) of different jobs throughout my life.

I love helping people and have benefited greatly in myriad ways from work I have done in the service industry of which I am no longer a part.

Photo by Usen Parmanov on Unsplash

However, it has been pretty much 20 years since I worked 40+ hours on a regular basis for any given company-

AND FOR GOOD REASON.

Photo by Hernan Sanchez on Unsplash

It drains the life out of me.

…especially when I have to wake up before 8am Monday through Friday.

My current job, that I love, has me getting up between 6am and 6:20am Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.

Most Wednesdays I get to sleep an hour later due to after work meetings.

Who the hell decided that this was okay for most people to do!??!

Photo by José Martín Ramírez Carrasco on Unsplash

It has only been 3 months since I started this job and lifestyle that offer many “perks”, but I am already looking into other job possibilities.

It is the only way I can keep my sanity —

to remind myself that this will not last more than a year and that I have the power to stop it whenever I want.

Even if my hour long commute (each way) was shorter, I would feel the same.

40+ hours a week is too much for me to devote to any one job.

Photo by Jessica Da Rosa on Unsplash

A close friend of mine who has been a full-time college professor for almost 20 years and has two middle school children enjoys her busy schedule, but has a hard time sleeping and suffers from high anxiety.

I recently learned that the average American gets far too little sleep and it’s more unhealthy than most people realize.

The impact on American life and economy is enormous as sleep deprivation and untreated sleep disorders are estimated to cost over $100 billion annually in lost productivity, medical expenses, sick leave, property, and environmental damage.

Photo by Lena Varzar on Unsplash

Time is money.

How many times have we heard this over the course of our lives?

I know that there is a good chance that I will make less money as a result of reducing my hours in my current field of employment.

This is also where the phrase, “work smarter, not harder” comes to mind.

If I do not at least TRY to create a more suitable lifestyle for myself here in Germany, I will slowly die from the inside out as I merely survive and not thrive.

That’s the look of me thriving while enjoying a boat ride at a zoo here in Germany. Photo by KL Simmons (the author))

Fortunately, I can still reap the same full-time benefits, such as 30 paid days off (plus 10 public holidays) and excellent health care, as long as I work at least 30 hours a week for an employer.

That would give me more time to do many other things that make life worth living:

  • writing (I used to write and publish stories daily, now I go weeks without)
  • yoga
  • biking (could go from twice a week to 4+ times)
  • reading (more than stories on Medium or new related articles)
  • weekend getaways (I’ve 2 planned for October when there are two 3-day weekends due to public holidays)
  • talking on the phone with friends and family
  • dancing, singing and/or playing guitar
  • painting
  • watching awesome movies and television shows
  • cooking (currently my boyfriend does most of the cooking because I’m usually too tired after my 11 hour days)
  • gardening
  • walking through parks and chillin’ outdoors
A bunch of deer chillin’ on a hot day at a humongous park where they are protected that is near my job. Photo by KL Simmons (the author)

One of the best feelings in the world to me is priceless —

that is knowing and living my truth.

What is your truth on this topic?

Please share in the comments…I would really like to know.

Photo by Oksana Manych on Unsplash

Sincerely,

KL Simmons

Psychology
Money
Work
Open Letter
Culture
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