I don't know if this fits here but allow me to tell my story.
First of all, I have to clarify that I am in a position where I can afford to convert to doing gig based jobs. My vehicle, which I use for work is fully paid off. The same goes for my tiny little apartment.
I still have some credit card debt to clear but other than that, my essential monthly expenses are just bills, food, maintenance for my vehicle, and gas/petrol for work.
In my last “stable” job, i had to do 12 hour shifts, five or six days a week. Without getting into too much details, I had to be at work an hour before shift and an stay an hour after shift for pre and post work stuff.
Add in commuting and that would be 16 hours each day just for work.
My standard work day would be; wake up, shower, go to work, come home, shower, minor chores, supper, then sleep, repeat.
My only free time would be on my off days and I would be so tired I'd be spending most of them sleeping.
Even though I was earning more then than I do now, I was unhappy. Very unhappy. Mentally and physically, I was in a very bad place.
Being in a relationship, I could only meet my then girlfriend, now wife, only once a week. (She's still staying with her parents because the commute to her workplace is just ten minutes from there but that is another story.) This put a strain on our relationship.
Now, I get to choose whenever and how long I want to work. I am chipping away at my debts. I am paying my bills on time. I am not starving. I still make enough to put away for a rainy day.
The best bit is I choose to work only eight hours a day and that is enough for my expenses.
I don't have to worry about commuting time since I can literally just get in my vehicle to start work and get off my vehicle to end it.
This gives me a whole sixteen friggin hours for myself every single day. Take away seven hours for sleep and two more hours for chores and that leaves me with SEVEN HOURS FREE every single day to do whatever the hell I want to do.
I have never been happier. That seven hours of freedom each day makes a HUGE difference.
I am healthier mentally and physically. I get to spend time with my wife. I get to spend time on my interests.
In fact, I'm trying to save up some money to get back into the hobbies I was into when I was younger. Hobbies which I felt I had quit because I was “getting older” and “have responsibilities”.
I know I am ranting but what I am trying to say is work-life balance is important. Very important.
Even if you earn a lot but have to dedicate most of your time to your work, you won't be happy.
You have value. Your time has value. Know your worth, and know when to walk away if you are unhappy.
You may have to make financial sacrifices when you walk away but depending on your personal financial situation, it might be worth it.
Plus from my personal experience here anyway, gig-based jobs are just an app install away.
Employers need to understand this. The power is shifting to the hands of the employees. We're starting to know our worth and we're demanding we be paid fairly for our time.
Thank you for attending my TED talk. I don't know how to end this rant. Like and subscribe? A big thank you to our sponsor for this video.
Okay bye.