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Call it an Asian thing or the curse of the rat-race, but Singaporeans just can't seem to shake the whole "no pain, no gain" mentality.
In light of this (and definitely not as a thinly-veiled hint to our boss), Mothership recently hosted a dialogue session for people to discuss the age-old issue of burnout at work.
Invited to speak were Desmond Tan, deputy secretary-general of the National Trades Union Congress, and career coach Jurcannie Yeong.
Tan is also the Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office.
Tan and Yeong answered questions which included whether it's possible to progress in our job without trading in our soul.
Photo by Chan Seng.
The short answer is yes.
For the long answer, read on.
Evolving work culture
When asked what was one of the main culprits for work-related ire, many members of the audience said work-life balance.
It stems from the idea that work performance is directly related to the amount of time and energy we sacrifice.
via Going Seventeen
But are job progression and work-life balance mutually exclusive?
According to Tan, no.
Changing office cultures are quickly dissolving the dichotomy between professional success and happiness.
If Covid-19 had a silver lining, it was the work-from-home (WFH) trend, Tan stated.
WFH proved that Singaporeans can adapt to hybrid work schedules, causing productivity to become measured by output rather than time.
Redefining WLB
Think "work-life balance" and you probably think clocking in at 9am and saying sayonara at exactly 6pm.
"But as society matures, employers are gradually starting to see the value of catering to diverse workflows and schedules," Tan explained.
Work-life balance can also mean giving employees more flexibility in time management. For example, giving a night owl the option to stay up late and finish a project rather than coming into office on the dot at 8am, or letting an employee with chronic illness take time off during the day to undergo regular treatment.
Some companies already practise flexible work hours.
@wearesocialsg tag yourself! i’m andie on most days #flexibleworking #agencylife #officehumour #fyp ♬ hotel r a s p u t i n service - veggibeats
There are researchers who believe this promotes creativity and productivity.
Work-life balance also means learning to do nothing and not feel guilty about it.
via andremichaux
Finding the right job
"Do you still feel the purpose of the things you do today?" Tan asked.
If you find yourself just going through the motions each day, perhaps it's time to reevaluate your job.
It doesn't mean that you should quit on impulse.
Tan admitted:
"I have actually written a resignation letter out of anger because I was not happy. It's very drama — I was angry and just went home and started drafting it to my boss. But thanks to the wise counsel of my wife, I realised that was not how I wanted to leave the job. I asked myself if I wanted to leave on a low or high point."
via Twitter ikaveri
"The first thing we ask people is if they want to change job roles, change company, or change career," said Yeong, explaining that if your main problem is burnout, it's okay to ask for no pay leave rather than jump ship.
Take the time off to find what motivates you. Think about what drew you to this job in the first place.
When you were interviewing for your current job, and you were asked, "Why here?", surely you didn't just say, "Because I need money so I can buy food so I won't die." (it's true, but we don't say that).
Recalling what pulled you to your current job at the start might bring you some clarity.
Meme from GMMTV.
Alternatively, you can also think about you're passionate about.
What type of assignments got you excited back when you were studying? What speaks to you? What helps you wake up filled with energy and not dragging your feet?
Knowing the answers to these questions will help you pinpoint the type of working conditions you thrive in, Yeong explained.
"There is never a perfect job, it's all about give and take. How do you make compulsory things easier of yourself and tweak them to fit your workflow? In the right environment, you will be able to do well. A job you love isn't really a job at all."
An audience member spoke up as well, suggesting people try out National Youth Council (NYC)'s "On My Way" where you'll get expert insights and "taster" programmes into industries you might be interested in.
Tan also suggested that people who are struggling to find a career direction should join NTUC as a member, as the organisation offers job placements and helpful career coaching programmes.
They help you evaluate the skills in your toolbox and find a job that is meaningful to you.
"That's the value of NTUC. We don't just talk about training, we actually have support for our members when it comes to understanding where you are in your career, where you aspire to be, and how to get there."
People change and with them, their career goals. And that's perfectly normal.
Tan shared that it was okay to alter one's professional aspirations along the way.
"I wanted to be a teacher because I was inspired by a teacher in secondary school. So, when I joined national service (NS), I was thinking 'I just want to get this over with and become a teacher'. But halfway through, I figured maybe I didn't mind doing something like NS, then one thing led to another and I signed on for a few years. Throughout my career I had thoughts of doing something else, but for me the purpose is important and that's why I stayed for so long."
As Yeong remarked, a career path is never a straight line.
Top images Canva and princesconsuela