Do you work to live or live to work?

[dave50]

Life's too short, I work to live.

[tamborine]

^^ that's me - lol china

[wolf63]

I think that stress is generally a great motivator and can make a job enjoyable. But stress, paranoia, bipolar disorder etc is a bad mix. I must have been hell to work with, looking back I surely did more harm than good where my actual work was concerned.

[LoftyLottie]

I had jobs back in the 60's and 70's that were totally stress free and very enjoyable. Work was defnitely easier back in those days. I worked for airlines and universities and loved every minute. As the years progressed work became more and more stressful as employers squeezed more and more out of people. Works canteens and coffee breaks became a thing of the past and you really had to earn your money. The last ten years of my working life was the most stressful of all - I was glad to get out.

[owdhamer]

i worked to live,one shiftless lad who after a drunken night out, and a dare,found himself on an Icelandic trawler,he did about a year, and even after paying his debts still had some beer money left.When he went to sign on he gave his occupation as deep sea fisherman, the man at the dole said sorry Mr H____t we don't have much call for that job in Oldham.He never worked again,and died early, a drunk.

[wildwood]

I worked to live, and did so diligently so that I could now retire early.

[jake-the-peg]

It would be a nice world wildwood if working dilligently was all you needed to do to be able to retire early

[NOX]

When I came out of prison I had essentially two options- one was to continue as i had been before ( which I doubtless would have done except that my first wife left me and dumped several small children on me to look after)- or to leave Ireland and try to do something more productive. I decided on the latter and went to the girl who would become my second wife who completely got me back on my feet, and no mistaking. After that I went into a sort of productive work frenzy and I worked and worked and worked like a mad thing for years, so that I could create a life where before I was 50 I could retire ( which I more or less have)- so I suppose I've done both, worked myself to death nearly to enable me to live without working.

[Duncer]

I think a little bit of both is necessary but, if pushed, "work to live" would be my choice. I've been through the mill of being umpteen hours up and struggling to get them back, (my employer works a TOIL system), and I plan to retire and enjoy what life I can before it is too late, although a certain government seem to think I should work until I collapse.