The Real Reason We Work So Hard

We work as we do because – of course – we need to; because nothing is cheap, because the bills are incessant; because of all the good and wise and sensible reasons that we’ve been highly aware of since mid adolescence at least. But that is too neat and we know it deep down; we know that there is also – alongside this – something more complicated that we use the idea of necessity to avoid.

FURTHER READING

“We work as we do because – of course – we need to; because nothing is cheap, because the bills are incessant; because of all the good and wise and sensible reasons that we’ve been highly aware of since mid adolescence at least.
But that is too neat and we know it deep down; we know that there is also – alongside this – something more complicated that we use the idea of necessity to avoid…”

MORE SCHOOL OF LIFE

Watch more films on SELF in our playlist:

SOCIAL MEDIA

Feel free to follow us at the links below:

CREDITS

Produced in collaboration with:

Mike Booth

Title animation produced in collaboration with

Graeme Probert

work-life balance, motivation, career advice, productivity, purpose in life, happiness at work, financial independence, time management, success mindset, hidden reasons we work hard, why do we work so much, rethinking work ethic, finding meaning in work, beyond the paycheck, is hard work worth it, is there more to life than work, chasing your dreams, work-life balance tips, how to find purpose in your work

[aluisious]

Buddy I have absolutely no terror of stillness. The times I’ve been unemployed have been the best. Wake up at my own time, make coffee, take a walk, teach myself to fix things, learn new skills…I despise working but rent doesn’t care.

[mindfulmaximalism]

“Some people see things that are and ask, Why?
Some people dream of things that never were and ask, Why not?
Some people have to go to work and don't have time for all that.”
― George Carlin

[ebonysoldier]

I tried telling all these things to my landlord and they just asked for money

[PhotoJeticPoet]

Sir.... You're underestimating how much not wanting to be in poverty is fundamental to staying at these horrible jobs.

[hellcat.countess]

In terror of being still ❌️
In terror of seeing the bill ✅️

[hob]

Holy sh*t that was beautiful. Genuinely touching. NOW GET BACK TO WORK.

[pokemercenary]

Let’s look at this economically, working hard increases the supply of labor, thus lowering demand. It’s in our best interest to restrict the amount of labor by working just enough.

[nicolaiqbal]

Just worth pointing out, some people have a job and still have ended up using food banks.
The school of life is meant to be about mental wellbeing, but it never mentions the effect of poverty on mental wellbeing?
Also, a lot of work is unpaid. For example, I have spent my days off work for the last couple of years helping care for and support my bedbound, terminally ill mum.
Before that, when my son was younger, I was doing everything for him as a single mum on days off work.
Family carers don't labour because of a fear of stillness but because children and elderly/disabled people really need support!
So whilst I have occasionally kept myself busy due to the reasons described in the video, 99% of the time it is paid work to get cash or family work because I love my family!

[trinaq]

You always release videos at the most appropriate time, right when we need it. Thank you for your insightful observations, School of Life.

[ivareskesner]

This reminds me of a line I heard in the Sopranos. _'Madame de Staël said "In life, one must choose between boredom and suffering."_ I think people who are compelled to achieve and move, mostly do so because whatever suffering is inflicted by burning oneself out with constant work is just that much better than the boredom of doing nothing.

It then becomes an addiction to momentum and progress, and at that point it will either cement this behaviour as a pathology, making it a permanent part of the person's behavioural gambit, or it will make them flip out and rebel against it.

[Carmen-mpje]

I bet this is true for many people but I live in Mexico and as a 3rd world country we really have to work the whole day to get a decent lifestyle. Of course I wished to have time for my family and myself, to be in peace at home doing not necessarily “productive” stuff but I have to work 10 hours a day just so I can keep it up. Economic inequality It’s a crime.

[YarrBr]

It is true that sometimes I keep busy to avoid being still. People in the comments are getting too hung up on the definition of "work."

[pathkeepers]

This is...not for me lol i would be stoked with no work. Immortality too. Im comfortable af with myself.

[krowkovtuber]

omg you released this video while i'm staying up late to perfect a presentation for a client that i get ZERO rewards for doing... thanks for explaining my own irrationality to myself 😭😭😭

[mobiusbacon]

I'm not afraid of the stillness, I'm afraid of the bills,
joking aside, life is work, for survival in itself is work, and the work we do can be stressful, but they also can be relaxing, it depends on what type of work you wanna do or what you wanna achieve with it, if we dont try to do the work, well never achieve anything, we wont learn anything new from giving up, and it depends on life and on what you can do, in the end your stuck in life where everyone wants survive or worse wants to rule the world, but those that dont want to work, usually end up achieving nothing.
and the nothing, is the thing that everyone is truly afraid of.

[denisesiddon]

Only because I need to eat and keep my home

[Oyster_Man]

I love my moments of stillness. I actively try to fit them into my day.

But i have so much to do outside of work right now- responsiblities and people counting on me. And if I stop, Im going to sink to the bottom of the abyss.

[RustyOwnage]

This definitely isn’t me. I have loved the times I’ve been out of work with nothing to do.

[yay-cat]

I’m sorry to hear that people feel this way - that’s awful - i’m pretty content doing the minimum though I’ll occasionally take a little pride in the work. Oh I could keep myself busy for centuries if left to my own devices

[Sincebrassnorstone]

"When despair for the world grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting with their light. For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free."
Wendell Berry🎉❤