There is a certain narrative doing the rounds currently - on social media and the mainstream press - that my generation just can’t be arsed to work. Hashtags such as “quiet quitting” and “lazy girl jobs” are bandied around on TikTok, and I can’t skim a newspaper without discovering another article, written by a 20- or 30-something, proudly declaring how work-shy they are.
Sooooo strongly agree and also think that our generation entered the workforce with the promise of work hard = home ownership and promotions. We entered during a recession, quickly found/saw that actually hard work has very little to do with how far you get. Then we got hit with covid in our early 30s when we most probably weren’t at the place in our careers that we thought/hoped we’d be. Most don’t own our homes and if we’ve had children, we are being screwed left right and bloody centre by eye watering childcare costs and guilt. Plus facing ours and others mortality through covid etc. And probably the realisation is ‘fuck it what’s the bloody point?!?’ Which I think leads to a much healthier work life balance where work is NOT the most important thing and nor SHOULD it be. If you love your job, great, but I find if you love your life you are more likely to be better at your job. I have met many who are work obsessed and worry far too much about it etc and as a result do not actually do better work. Plus they’re sacrificing their life to get ahead at work but it’s not paying off and they’re bitter. It’s a vicious cycle…. But surveys aimed at turning generations against each other is SO not the solution!
“If you love your life you are more likely to be better at your job” - this is so true! In the same way that I’m a much better/nicer parent when I’m feeling fulfilled in other areas - basically you need time to fill up your cup in order to pour good stuff into work/family!
Sep 17, 2023·edited Sep 17, 2023Liked by Sophie Hines
Ok, I LOVED this. I think 'lazy girl jobs' is the aftermath of 'devote all your waking hours to work jobs', since the latter didn't materialise in property-ownership, build a conservatory for said owned property, X holidays per year and all the other 'milestones' we were told we'd achieve if we followed that dreamy capitalist recipe. Thank you Sophie! Congrats on being a functioning adult btw 😅
Sooooo strongly agree and also think that our generation entered the workforce with the promise of work hard = home ownership and promotions. We entered during a recession, quickly found/saw that actually hard work has very little to do with how far you get. Then we got hit with covid in our early 30s when we most probably weren’t at the place in our careers that we thought/hoped we’d be. Most don’t own our homes and if we’ve had children, we are being screwed left right and bloody centre by eye watering childcare costs and guilt. Plus facing ours and others mortality through covid etc. And probably the realisation is ‘fuck it what’s the bloody point?!?’ Which I think leads to a much healthier work life balance where work is NOT the most important thing and nor SHOULD it be. If you love your job, great, but I find if you love your life you are more likely to be better at your job. I have met many who are work obsessed and worry far too much about it etc and as a result do not actually do better work. Plus they’re sacrificing their life to get ahead at work but it’s not paying off and they’re bitter. It’s a vicious cycle…. But surveys aimed at turning generations against each other is SO not the solution!
“If you love your life you are more likely to be better at your job” - this is so true! In the same way that I’m a much better/nicer parent when I’m feeling fulfilled in other areas - basically you need time to fill up your cup in order to pour good stuff into work/family!
Precisely! It’s funny how we’ve lost sight of this here. I think continental Europe has got a much better view on it…
Ok, I LOVED this. I think 'lazy girl jobs' is the aftermath of 'devote all your waking hours to work jobs', since the latter didn't materialise in property-ownership, build a conservatory for said owned property, X holidays per year and all the other 'milestones' we were told we'd achieve if we followed that dreamy capitalist recipe. Thank you Sophie! Congrats on being a functioning adult btw 😅
Honestly where is my effing house already?! 🤣 thanks, glad you liked it!
Hello - joining you from Farrah's masterclass :)
Hi Nat - have joined yours too!x
Lovely :) I look forward to reading your work!