My roommate Stan is a consultant at a top healthcare consultancy. It’s not unusual to see him to work till 10PM or later and over the weekend. Sometimes, with big project and tight timing, he even worked till 2-3AM or overnight…yet he is usually cheerful and always willing to support others. I asked him how he stays positive and not stressed or burned out. He responded, ‘I have time’… he explained that he is willing to work long hours to “compensate” comparing to “smarter” colleagues or people who want to spend more time with family or things outside work…’what to stress about? It may take me longer but it will get done’, he smiled. ‘I have time’ not only sets my roommate free from the stress but also gives him “slack” to help others and socialize (vs. optimizing efficiency).
‘I have time’ gives me a new perspective in thinking of work, life, and intelligence. The truth is that we “create” the stress we feel, often due to time and comparison (fear of not enough). It also means we have “full control” of how we feel in any circumstance.
Note: name has been changed to protect the person’s privacy