Why Do We Still Work So Much?

I just wrote a A Simple Guide to Financial Freedom based on my experiences with Financial Freedom. Consider giving it a read if you are interested in this topic.

Why do we still work 37-40 hours a week?¹

Our working hours may have decreased a bit over the years. But not all that much. At least not compared to the increase in productivity we have experienced.

If we already live in a world of abundance, why are we spending all our good hours working for more money?

This question continues to confuse me.

Our behavior just doesn’t seem to make sense. We continue working long hours in jobs we don’t particularly like. Yet everywhere around me it seems like we have advanced so far technologically that we should be able to produce what we need with way less effort.

How is it that people (myself included at times) are still so stressed out over work? In an society as advanced and productive as ours, why do we still waste our best hours in jobs we wouldn’t do if it weren’t for the pay?

The answer is pretty obvious and deep down I have known this for years:

We are producing and consuming way more than we need. What we think we need seems to grow at the same rate as our increase in productivity (interesting!).

The much more complex answer has to explain why this is the case. My bet is there is some human psychology in there, something about the structure of our society (consumerism), and maybe even something about purpose and meaning. Idk.

I don’t think I have a good shot at fixing our entire society. But I do have a shot a fixing my own behavior. And in the process of doing so, I’ll hopefully also make society just a tiny bit better.

So why do I keep working so much?

I think the two main reasons are:

1. Consumerism
2. My desire to fit in

The deep hooks of consumerism is making me spend more than I should. I have a desire for more. And the world around me is happy to provide — even encourage — this ever-increasing consumption.

I have worked towards more financial freedom for a couple of years now. A core part of that project is consuming less. Spend less, save more, use the money to “buy” free time.

But even as I’m working on this, I still struggle with my consumer tendencies. Everything around me feels like an invitation to consume more. It is so easy to do. And because our society encourages this type of living, nobody questions your actions when you consume insane amounts of resources.

I also work so much because it is the norm. It is easy to do what everybody else is doing — and easy to think it is the correct behavior. If you don’t question things, you’ll end up with the society default. And our default is spending most days working a job.

Are these good reasons?

Not really.

So maybe I shouldn’t be working as much?

It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society.

Krishnamurti