Letting Go of what isn’t serving you is a necessity.

We spend so much of our time at work. If you work 40 hours a week, that’s 24% of your life at work.

If that work environment is chaotic, extremely stressful, totally unsatisfying or just plain sucks, then that’s a large part of your life that is in the suckage category.

I had such a job. I worked more than 40 hours a week at a job that was extremely chaotic, stressful and thankless. I only worked there for about 4 months, but in that time my overall life satisfaction and health plummeted.

I experienced anxiety attacks just driving to work. My heart started racing. I went for an EGK and it showed abnormal heart rhythms.

I tested positive for blood clots and the panic increased. Finally, I ended up needing a CT scan which, thankfully, showed everything as okay. But I still had stress-related anxiety and my health was going downhill-fast.

I couldn’t sleep. I couldn’t relax. I felt totally incompetent at work. I could find no positives. Except maybe the paycheck.

So I found something else. And it’s so much better. I work way less. The work is satisfying and I am good at it, probably because I am used to this type of employment. I enjoy my co-workers. Most importantly — I smile on my way to work.

I had to sacrifice one thing for this job. Money. My paycheck reflects the fact I work quite a bit less.

But what is money worth anyway if 25% of my life was a major hole of suckage, my health was worsening and my unhappiness was at an all-time high?

It is worth nothing. Less than nothing.

So I made the change, tightened the budgeting belt and now smile a whole lot more.

It’s time we all start evaluating how we spend our time and how that time serves us. I’m so glad I did.

Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it. — Steve Jobs

Michelle 💙