Get a Dog, Don't Work Like One.

Our working lives and the nature of our careers have fundamentally changed in a very short period of time. A number of forces have come together to make our working patterns more emotionally demanding and less rewarding, taking away control and having a greater impact on our whole existence. The globalisation of business and increased competition has driven companies further towards profit maximisation, usually at the expense of its staff. Many of us have been caught up in a spiraling virus of materialism fueled by the media which promotes lifestyles we cannot afford and which don’t make us happier or more fulfilled. Technology has made routine tasks a lot easier but has also asked us to be accessible virtually all the time, making it difficult to switch off from work issues. Work is entering our homes and private lives far too often, changing our balance and natural working equilibrium.

Expectations have changed about when and where we are contactable and the speed at which we have to respond. We are expected to make important decisions in a fraction of the time, and we have less time to assess the direction of our career path, along with the lifestyle that will make us more satisfied and rounded as human beings. Work commitments now affect our entire lives and the people around us. The result has been losing touch with what we really want from our job or occupation and how we want to run our lives, losing track in the process of aspects of our identity. This has left many of us frustrated, unmotivated, unfulfilled and in the dark about whether we have been successful or not. Work is now affecting our state of mind and this situation is only going to get worse unless action is taken. Bringing change into our lives is therefore essential to combat the evolving nature of work and the new demands put upon us.

We spend a considerable amount of time toiling away at our desk or computer terminal, constructing plans and solving problems for other people – often making profit for unknown shareholders, directors or investors. Yet we rarely, if ever, spend time examining ourselves with the same critical eye, in an effort to understand what we want. The road to success is not always an easy or straight one and there are certainly no 'magic bullets' but by thinking differently about key aspects we can transform our approach and get back on track. It is not always about making meteoric modifications overnight but often simply by taking small steps in the right direction. Much of what follows focuses on the work part of the work–balance equation, as this is the piece of the jigsaw that usually needs attention and has been affected the most by external factors.

This excerpt was taken from the book, Get a Dog, Don't Work Like One.