The Perils of Salary Addiction

Its far worse than narcotics and opioids

I’m hooked on it

My job consumes my life…well one-third of it anyways. I’ve tried to wean myself off of it more times than I can count and I keep coming back for more. Time and time again I tell myself it’s only one more <insert time frame> of this and then I’m done for good. But years go by and the salary dose gets larger and larger and you become so accustomed to it in your life that just having it on a bi-weekly basis doesn’t do anything for you.

You crave more. You try to find other healthier alternatives but keep falling off the wagon. Withdrawal, in the form of money leaving your bank, has a tendency to increase stress and anxiety over time. Eventually, you realize you need it just to stay alive and sane.

I’ve even been let go…more than once over the past few years and you’d think it would end there, but I kept coming back for more and I kept finding…more…work. I told myself it was the right thing to do, as a responsible father and husband. Addiction drives you to rationalize all of your decisions.

If religion is the opiate of the masses, then a predictable salary is the stimulant of economic security seekers.

I started this post three four five months ago. Yes, it literally took me over two three four months to get to the third paragraph. I had gotten stressed out from work, stressed out from filing taxes, my child and wife got sick and then I caught the same disease two weeks later with 20x the severity.

My current role had been full-time contract on a long-term temporary assignment. That was supposed to have come to an end six twelve weeks ago and I was supposed to scale back into part-time ad-hoc work, as per an agreement with my department head. But then my immediate boss went on vacation and needed someone to cover, then my former junior decided to go on vacation, then my replacement decided to go on vacation, and guess who got to do vacation coverage?

Just two more weeks and then I’m done. Finally, I have my time back on Mondays and Fridays as of the middle of July. So this is where I’m finally at and never have I felt more guilty at not working. The thing is… these morning naps that I desperately needed to catch up on are costing me a few hundred dollars each time.

Experimentation: When It's Time to Wean Yourself Off the Drug

We've all got our hooks, the things we can't shake off. One of mine, and probably yours too, is the job that takes up a third of our lives. It's like this significant other you spend all your waking hours with, so you'd better enjoy their company, right? But what happens when those 'great day' highs at work, those days that feel like a well-orchestrated symphony of achievement, challenge, and joy, start drying up like the end of a drip-feed? Maybe that's when you need to start asking yourself: is it time to pack up and find a different dance floor?

I’m talking about the experience of never having a great day at work. Great days are not the unicorn days without stress or hiccups. They're the ones where you overcome hurdles and feel the thrill of it. Where you actually grow, make a difference, where you're more than just a cog in the corporate machine. These are the days that feed your soul, that make you excited about facing another day, the ones that keep the motivation flame alive. When these days start turning into an endangered species, you might find yourself feeling cut off, demoralized, and your performance starting to tank.

So, why are the 'great days' missing in action? Maybe you're stuck in a rut, doing something that doesn't resonate with who you are, what you value, or where you want to be. Or maybe, you're caught in a toxic work environment where your efforts are as visible as a polar bear in a snowstorm, and personal growth is a far-off mirage. When the daily grind leaves you feeling more drained than energized, that's a red flag flapping wildly in the wind.

This job, this time-sucker, it's more than just the means to pay the bills. It's a piece of your identity puzzle, a big chunk of your happiness pie. And when it's serving you nothing but 'blah' days, it's like a virus that seeps into other areas of your life, killing your mojo, cranking up your stress, even messing with your health. Most importantly, it leaves you feeling like you're stuck in quicksand, frustration mounting, and the dreaded burnout lurking around the corner.

So, what's a dad who wants to reinvent himself going to do when he can't remember the last 'great day' at work? Here's a thought:

Self-Reflection: What does a 'great day' look like to you? For me, it’s about solving complex problems, being part of a team, leading the charge of a Massive Transformative Purpose, or just having a chance to flex my creative muscles.

Evaluate Your Current Gig: Does your job serve you 'great days' on a platter? Is there room to tweak your role to include more of these elements? Personally, I can’t stand to work in a silo with a rigid job description. In every single job I’ve ever had, I eventually ended up writing my own job description that could never be duplicated again.

Feedback Time: Sometimes, an outsider's perspective can give you some clarity. Have a chat with your co-workers, your boss, or your mentors, see what they have to say about your situation. Better yet, give feedback as to why you feel like you’re dying on the inside like I did.

Think About a Change: If your current gig can't deliver the goods, maybe it's time to hit the road. Maybe it's time for a new role in your company, or a fresh start somewhere else, or a complete career pivot.

Work is a big part of the life pie, but it's not the whole damn thing. It shouldn't suck the life out of you. Don't ever hesitate to put your wellbeing at the top of your priority list and do what you need to do to carve out a fulfilling career. If the 'great days at work' are on the endangered list, maybe it's not just a sign that you need to cut the cord from your company or at least trim the cord down a bit. Maybe it's a call to arms to find a place where you can flourish, evolve, and actually enjoy the grind.

In the end, it’s about purpose. A man without purpose is no man at all. For me, providing for my family is what gives me purpose.