Advice for a young business professional.

I am 23, will be 24 on the 12th of this month. I work for a construction company in a position I love. I wake up for work at 4am and I go to bed at 8am. I occasionally work 7 days a week and, because I don't leave my job until 5:30pm, I almost never go out to have fun or socialize. For my fellow cancers, or anyone with good advice: should I be thinking about getting out and enjoying things while I'm young? Or do you think I will be able to enjoy that later on in life?

No. Get out and enjoy things while you are young.

Everybody should enjoy life while young. Don't overwork yourself and forget about the rest of the world.

Hi there, in my opinion spending time with family and loved ones are the best. Have memorable moments while you can. If you don't go out much maybe you can invite friends and families to come over your place instead. There's nothing wrong with being busy specially if it makes you happy. But don't forget you're not alone in this world. It's exciting to meet new friends. Pamper yourself so you can spread the good mood.

You can only work that much for so long. Either you decide to cool it on your own terms or your body and/or mind is going to do it for you on their terms. Pick and choose.

I did not expect such a unanimous answer! I suppose I should try to enjoy that part of my life more. It's something that has been bothering me so a part of me has known the answer all along. College may have only been a few years ago but to me it seems like forever. How can I break my voluntary isolation without it affecting my job performance? Keep in mind that I really enjoy my job and I hold myself to a very high standard. I must sound like an old guy lol.

If you want to keep a high standard at work you need to cut down, imo. And this is coming from a capricorn... 🙂

"How can I break my voluntary isolation without it affecting my job performance?"
I'm not sure what you mean by that. If you work less and socialize more, you would enhance your work performance, imo. Or did I misunderstand your question?

No, you understood it. I think our minds just process it differently... big surprise there, right? 🙂 The reason I ask is because I feel like I need to be in tune with things to perform as well as I can. Although days off are sometimes refreshing, I often feel like it's resetting my mind from work and I have to start over again, I feel like that's bad, but isn't that supposed to be the good thing in the situation?

Well, your schedule seem a bit hectic. Have a day off or something so you don't check your time every now and then. Relax. Schedule your leave and plan ahead with your friends or family. A little vacation away from the hustle and bustle will recharge your batteries. Go on, explore, there's much to discover.

what do you do on your day offs?

Hehehe Well, may I ask you this: how do you feel when you do have a day off. Is it stressful? Do you think about work? Do you think about what you will have to do at work to compensate for your free time? Or can you relax?

I felt that way before during school semestral breaks, tons of projects..etc.. Can't even enjoy vacation.

I do think about work even when I'm off, and when I get back to work it's like it wouldn't been easier to have never taken that day off.

You say you love your work but sounds very stressed from it. When you leave office, leave your work there. What if you don't feel well and can't go to work, what happens?

What makes you happy aside from working?

Posted by Tonyisland
I do think about work even when I'm off, and when I get back to work it's like it wouldn't been easier to have never taken that day off.

Thought as much. Imo, this is not so much about you taking a day off, but rather about a little bit of a change of life style. Down-size on work load. You can do it gradually, but not too slowly. It's not going to be easy, I promise, there is going to be a great resistance, especially in the beginning. In a way it behaves like an addiction.

Well done on realising this in time - many people don't!

I don't think you're very far off yet, but please promise me to take it seriously. I have seen some pretty bad outcomes of this thing. Don't end up there. Super good luck!

Posted by beautifuldiaster

Posted by HappyCapper
If you want to keep a high standard at work you need to cut down, imo. And this is coming from a capricorn... 🙂

"How can I break my voluntary isolation without it affecting my job performance?"
I'm not sure what you mean by that. If you work less and socialize more, you would enhance your work performance, imo. Or did I misunderstand your question?

Meaning the more you let go and enjoy life outside of work, the more life and creativity you will bring into the work force.

I have a cap stellie in the 6th house, I am a work a holic BUT I play hard and Im good at being lazy.

Work time if for work.

Study time is allocated for study time.

And free time is just that, free time.

Don't mix or blend them. They are all well defined and separate.

click to expand

^^^Exactly.

Posted by Oxygenada
What makes you happy aside from working?

I'm a techie. Anything electronic or mechanical is interesting to me. I build things, restore things, just go crazy with things sometimes. I will try to work on it guys and girls, I know I should do it to improve myself but I have to do it slowly or I'll go crazy lol. I'm very happy to have all you wonderful people here trying to help.

Get out and have your fun now. I was like you at your age ... grad school and work. I have no fun. Now 10 years later I now know I should had the fun then.