Flicker

I recently read an article by James Clear on the concept of The Four Burners Theory. The author concludes that everyone must face a difficult truth: there are constraints on your time and energy. Every choice has a cost.

While there’s more to life than our work, it also happens to consume an inordinate amount of time. The average American will spend a vast majority of their waking hours at work. Work schedules over the pandemic extended and increased working hours by up to 40%.

Since time is a precious, finite resource; choosing what to work on is a meeting of one’s needs, capacity and ethics. Though many times, there seems to be a conflict between doing what one loves and what pays the bills.

Even the best work can feel disappointing at times.

Even if you check “all the boxes” — say it’s a fulfilling, exciting and well-paid job, the results of your effort might not be tangible or immediate. Perhaps there’s criticism or unintentional negative externalities. Outcomes are out of our control even with the best intentions.

Credit: Ruslan Burlaka

But the more realistic experience of searching for a job is one of trade-offs and roadblocks. Perhaps your area of passion must be relinquished for the sake of stability. Or you find the working world a rude awakening from what you believed you could achieve as an idealistic student.

If the pandemic has offered you new insights on what to prioritize, consider what parts of “normal life” do you want to return to and what parts are in need of change.

Another way to frame how satisfied you are with a given job is as a ‘mix’ of factors: money, expression and impact. Assess the ‘mix’ of your work and weigh which areas are deficit at this given stage of life:

Are you looking for a role with more money? More expression or creativity? One that allows you to make an impact in an area that aligns with your values?

As a designer, the question when faced with constraints is to first start by imagining possibilities without pre-determined outcomes in mind. Begin with divergent thinking: what areas of interest do you tend to gravitate toward? Then start filling in the details: what could it look like to fulfill those areas of interest through your work or other opportunities? Take actions on the things you can control.

Another exercise is the answer to a lofty question: what is your end goal?

Think of your end goal like a north star. There’s a multitude of choices you can make in any given day but you want to be guided by your north star even if you never reach it. Of course, there are things out of your control —what you want may change, your priorities shift, your health might be suddenly disrupted, you may experience a personal tragedy, but at the very least, you’re aware of the limitations of time and consciously using your end goal as a decision-making compass.

Everyday choices may take you a little bit closer or further away from your north star. Regardless of what drives you, be aware of how you’re choosing to spend your time and whether it’s worthwhile. Sometimes we simply drift toward things that we don’t feel particularly motivated in. Or make decisions based off other people’s expectations.

Fight against the unconscious inertia toward apathy.

Credit: Roi Dimor

That said, choosing what you work on or who you work for is a privilege. There is ultimately a diversity of admirable ways to live. Our work does not define our worth. However, the decisions you make project the values that you hold to the world around you.

On one hand, constraints can feel limiting or restrictive. But they can also offer valuable clues that help you determine where to focus and what areas you’re looking to pursue next.

Instead of climbing the endless ladder over other people to compete in a pursuit of greater material wealth or prestige, creating a holistic life that is reflective of your values and satisfies your soul will become one that is worthwhile, even when meeting frustrating moments or setbacks.

Did you find this useful? Buy me a coffee to give my brain a hug. 🍵

Feel free to check out my design work or my handbook on UX design, upgrading your portfolio and understanding design thinking.