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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
Listen to the Intro
Wellbeing at Work summary
Jim Clifton and Jim Harter
How to Build Resilient and Thriving Teams
23 mins
Table of Contents
Wellbeing at Work
Summary of 7 key ideas
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Key idea 1 of 7
Enjoying your job is the key to a long and happy life.
What does a good life look like? You might imagine a work-free existence with lots of money, endless leisure time, and carefree socializing with family and friends. But despite dreams of early retirement, a work-free life might not actually make you happy.
Not convinced? Consider a pioneering piece of research conducted in the 1950s. In the study, psychologists interviewed hundreds of British and American 95-year-olds to try and learn the secrets of their longevity.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, these long-lived folk reported living fairly stress-free lives. They prioritized leisure time with friends and family, and they all had a cheerful outlook on life. They took each day as it came, rather than worrying about the future.
But when it came to their working life, the results seemed counterintuitive. Rather than spending their time on stress-busting vacations, the respondents had spent their lives . . . at work.
The key message here is: Enjoying your job is the key to a long and happy life.
These men and women had all worked an average of sixty hours a week until they were 70 or 80 years old. And, astoundingly, half of the men had never gone on vacation during their entire working life!
This just goes to show that work is not the enemy of well-being, contrary to what many of us may think.
In fact, the researchers discovered that work can actually protect our well-being. But not just any work – it has to be satisfying work.
One thing that separated this contented group of 95-year-olds from the rest of the world’s population was how much they enjoyed their work. Ninety-three percent of the men and 85 percent of the women said they got a huge amount of satisfaction from their work, and that it was a lot of fun.
In contrast, over the last decade, only 36 percent of American workers said they felt engaged with their work. This means that 64 percent of workers aren’t getting enough fun and satisfaction from their jobs!
There are huge benefits to our well-being when we enjoy our work. Not only can it improve our daily lives, but, as this research shows, it could also have a big impact on how long we live.
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What is Wellbeing at Work about?
Wellbeing at Work (2021) explores how the different spheres of our lives contribute to our overall sense of well-being. It also outlines how leaders can positively impact their employees’ well-being, and sheds light on the link between employee well-being and organizational success.
Who should read Wellbeing at Work?
- Stressed-out workers
- Managers learning how to lead in a pandemic
- Wellness enthusiasts looking for inspiration
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