Bottomline - you work to live but dont live to work

One of the many wise things my dad told me lately was that sentence. He could see me working long hours and getting all stressed about getting things right. It consumes more than 3/4 of my time, thoughts, and energy that he just went and said "Take it easy with work, and realize you work to live not live to work". Reading that hit home right away...its so true. Bottomline is we work to get enough money to live. But we do not live to go to work everyday. This was something I always knew and preached but lately lost it with my extreme enthusiasm at work. But dont you see it yourself? Your family or friends call you, so you dont answer coz you're busy writing this big important email. You feel sad for a friend, but have no time to comfort them so you push that feeling away and stop feeling it to get the work done. Pretty soon its too late to feel that compassion for your friend, its too late to answer that call and help whomever needed you, etc. You cant pause important talks, feelings, and appearances to then expect to resume them once work is over. You really dont live to work!! So stop trying to!

When do you say stop?

When you start allowing work to invade your thoughts, sleep, and free time, how can you ever stop it like you used to? I always did a great job of finishing work by 6 then not giving a moment's thought to the work I left behind. Now, its how can I sleep faster to get to work earlier to try and get a head's start on the day. Its not coz anyone's pressuring me. Quite the contrary, I am the one who wants to do things right, on time, and as efficiently as possible. When did this become me? When did I allow this invasion? The problem is, even though it may just sound like any normal person giving a priority to their career, I feel drained alot which demotivates me suddenly. That's NOT good and makes me burn out so much faster. I need to regain my life back! Not to avoid work, but to be able to do my job in a way that would satisfy me!