Achieving a healthy work-life balance as an Early Childhood Educator involves setting clear boundaries with time and space, prioritizing daily activities, embracing flexibility, leveraging educational technology, regularly evaluating professional commitments, and dedicating self-care. Teaching strategies in early childhood education are crucial for creating engaging and effective learning experiences, promoting the holistic development of children and setting them up for future success.
The Five Ways to Wellbeing consist of five key actions: Connect with colleagues, parents, and children, be active by incorporating physical activities into daily routines, and take notice. To achieve work-life balance in 2024, educators should enhance their adaptability by staying updated on the latest educational practices and being open-minded to change and innovation.
Early childhood education is often more experiential and play-based, encouraging children to explore their interests and develop social, cognitive, and problem-solving skills. The field has been in the spotlight for decades, but its fragmentation and variability in quality have led to calls for a restructure.
To become an early childhood educator, one must possess immense patience, great communication skills, and a genuine love for working with young children. The minimum requirement for becoming an early educator is a Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care, which takes around 12 months to complete.
Working with young children encourages creativity in lessons and interactions, and some educators may transition to coaching or consulting roles. Acquiring practical experience can help kickstart a career in child care and teaching by volunteering or interning at local schools, daycare centers, or community centers.
📹 What is the most important influence on child development | Tom Weisner | TEDxUCLA
If you could do one thing – the most important thing – to influence the life of a young child, what would that be (it’s likely not what …
What is the biggest challenge for childcare staff?
Balancing the needs of individual children is a significant challenge for childcare educators. Each child is unique, with varying personalities, interests, and learning styles. Balancing fairness with discipline, professionalism with familiarity, and sensibilities with fun is a challenging task. Managing children and handling parental expectations presents unique challenges in day-to-day work. By understanding and addressing these challenges, educators can enhance their skills, create a positive environment, and make a lasting impact on the children they care for.
To create a supportive and inclusive environment, educators should get to know all children and discover which areas they may need support with. They should be responsive to children who show signs of becoming isolated or withdrawn, and monitor independent children who don’t seek adult help. It is essential to be emotionally available throughout the day and engage with children by providing support where they may need it. Trusting one’s empathy and instincts as an educator is crucial for ensuring a positive and supportive environment for children.
How do children learn best in early childhood education?
Play is a powerful tool for children, as it enriches learning and develops essential skills like inquiry, expression, experimentation, and teamwork. Albert Einstein, an adult, was inspired by a magnetic pocket compass he played with when he was four or five years old. He spent hours twisting the compass, wondering how it always pointed towards the north. This experience made a deep impression on him, revealing something hidden behind things.
As a parent, you may enjoy watching your child play, as it allows them to hear their ideas and explore new worlds. It’s also fun to see how creative they can be as they use their imagination to learn about the world around them.
What is the best practice in early childhood education?
The recommendations for early childhood educators include creating a caring, equitable community of engaged learners, establishing reciprocal relationships with families, and observing, documenting, and assessing children’s learning and development. These recommendations aim to uphold the unique value and dignity of each child and family, celebrate diversity, recognize each child’s unique strengths, and support the full inclusion of all children, regardless of their cultural experiences, language, racial identity, gender, abilities, disabilities, religious beliefs, or economic class.
To foster a caring, equitable community, educators should uphold the unique value and dignity of each child and family, celebrate diversity by acknowledging similarities and differences, and provide perspectives that recognize beauty and value across differences. They should also develop trusting relationships with children, nurture relationships among them while building on their knowledge and skills, and embrace children’s cultural experiences and languages and customs that shape their learning.
Involving children, families, and the community in the design and implementation of learning activities can help build on the funds of knowledge that children and families bring as members of their cultures and communities while sparking children’s interest and engagement. Actively promoting children’s agency can be achieved through rich, engaging play, open-ended activities, scaffolding children’s learning to achieve meaningful goals, and using language(s) that children understand.
Educators should be prepared to provide different levels of support to different children depending on their needs, and they should consider how their own biases may contribute to their interactions and the messages they are sending children. They should also recognize that all relationships are reciprocal, and their behavior impacts that of children.
Using multi-tiered systems of support and collaborating with early childhood special educators and other allied education and health professionals is crucial for fostering success and maximizing potential. Establishing reciprocal relationships with families is essential for embracing the primary role of families in children’s development and learning, and seeking to learn about and honor each family’s child-rearing values, languages (including dialects), and culture.
To support families’ children’s behavior, learning, and development, it is essential to gather information about their hopes and expectations, uphold their right to make decisions for and with their children, and be curious about the families they work with. This includes learning about their languages, customs, activities, values, and beliefs to provide a culturally and linguistically responsive learning environment.
Maintain high expectations for family involvement, being open to multiple forms of engagement and providing intentional and responsive supports. Communicate the value of multilingualism to all families, as all children benefit from the social and cognitive advantages of multilingualism and multiliteracy. Ensure that families of emergent bilinguals understand the academic benefits and significance of supporting their child’s home language as English is introduced through the early childhood program.
Observe, document, and assess children’s learning and development by considering their own culture and background, adapting expectations and learning environments to incorporate each child’s cultural way of being, and considering societal and structural perspectives. Use authentic assessments that seek to identify children’s strengths and provide a well-rounded picture of development, conducting assessments in as many of the children’s home languages as possible. If using an assessment tool that has not been established as reliable or valid for a given child, recognize its limitations and strive not to use them as a key factor in high-stakes decisions.
Focus on strengths and develop the skill to observe a child’s environment from the child’s perspective. Seek to change what you can about your own behaviors to support the child instead of expecting the child to change first. Recognize that it is often easier to focus on what a child isn’t doing compared to peers than on what they can do in a given context or could do with support.
What are the weaknesses of an early childhood educator?
Teachers play a crucial role in educating the future generation and must possess various skills, character traits, and experiences to bring out the best in their students. However, some teachers struggle with sharing information and building student skills, while others excel. Understanding these strengths and weaknesses is essential for teachers to harness their abilities and address challenges. The HIGH5 strengths assessment can help educators discover their top personal strengths, empowering them to harness their unique qualities to enhance their teaching effectiveness.
By taking the assessment, teachers can tailor their teaching methods based on what naturally works best for them, enhancing their effectiveness in the classroom. By understanding their strengths and weaknesses, teachers can harness their unique qualities and find ways to address any challenges they may face.
What is your main motivation for working in early childhood?
Child care workers offer a unique perspective on the world and a love for the little things in life. They gain qualifications for in-demand roles with genuine job prospects, making their early childhood careers more rewarding. The variety in shifts allows for a more varied workday, making it more enjoyable. The standard 9-5 working day at a desk is not enjoyable, as it can become monotonous. Child care workers also enjoy the freedom to move all day, which they find enjoyable. Overall, child care is a rewarding and rewarding career choice.
What are three ways to encourage children’s interest in learning?
To help your child learn at home, it is essential to show them your belief in them, engage them in activities like talking, singing, and reading, involve your extended family, limit TV watching, maintain a positive attitude towards school and learning, and ensure they complete their homework. It is also crucial to communicate your belief in your child’s ability to do well from a young age and encourage them to talk, sing, and read together. Engaging in these activities can provide a fun and engaging learning environment for your child.
What methods can work best with early childhood education?
Early Childhood Education involves various teaching methods such as cooperative learning, differentiation, gamification, active learning, project-based learning (PBL), teacher-centered vs. student-centered learning, and play-based learning. These techniques drive education in the early years and equip educators with the necessary skills to be the best educators. To explore career opportunities in this field, consider reaching out to the Sunrise Children’s Foundation, a leading provider of infant care in Nevada, or their Early Head Start program. By understanding these techniques and preparing for the future, educators can become the best educators in their respective fields.
What are the three approaches to early childhood education?
The Montessori, Wal-dorf, and Reggio Emilia approaches to education are three European-inspired methodologies that are commonly utilized in elementary and early childhood education.
What are the 5 smart goals in childcare?
The SMART method is a framework for goal setting that ensures specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound objectives.
What makes you unique as a child care worker?
As a Child Care Worker, my uniqueness lies in my love for children and my ability to attend to their basic needs. My friendly nature and energy make me easy to win the affection of children. To ensure a successful job, it is crucial to assess an applicant’s passion for their job and their desire to impact the lives of children. The applicant’s interests include the desire to impact children’s lives, their playful attitude, and their enjoyment in learning from them.
They enjoy watching children play, asking questions, and engaging in meaningful conversations. They see themselves as a professional who can influence a child’s life, inspiring them to put in their best every day.
📹 How to Find Fulfilling Work
The key to finding fulfilling work is to think a lot, analyse one’s fears, understand the market, reflect on capitalism. Enjoying our …
Me at: 14 – I will become an air-force pilot 15 – I will become a blood splatter analyst 16 – I will become a heart surgeon 17 – I will become a lawyer 18 – I will become a CEO – Starts Financial Management Degree 19 – I quit! I will become an entrepreneur and a designer 20 – Ok…now I have a degree in design and entrepreneurship but I want more…I want something else….I want to be a geneticist, I want to be a philosopher, I want to be a physicist, I want to be an engineer, I want to be an architect, I want to be an astronaut, I want to be an actor, I want to be so many things, things that are hard to even verbalize or write down….yet, I am nothing…and I am whining about it in a Youtube comment.
Existential psychiatrist Irvin Yalom says in one of his books that even though he is 80 years old he can’t imagine to be retired. He says he would even ” pay” in order to keep doing his work! How wonderful…I also remembered an interview I have read with a famous Italian shoemaker. ( I forgot his name unfortunately). After making shoes for about 50 years with so much love and passion, for all kinds of people, he decided to retire. So the interviewer asked him : ” well, now that you will have a lot of time, what do you want to do with it?”. He thought for a while and said: ” Oh, himmmm, I guess I will make shoes.” 🙂 I think young people should take folks like these as examples! Go for what you really love and what has a ” meaning” for you, something that can beautify your life and other people’s lives. I would also recommend everybody to read Alain’s book ” The Pleasures and Sorrows of Work” before they decide! ( Very beautiful lesson. Thanks a lot! )
Yet another brilliant article. I wish i had this during or before my mental break down in my senior university years. I’m lucky enough that I happen to stumble upon a career path of my liking, but the wisdom shed in this work would have saved me a lot of grief back then. In fact it probably still will one day.
As I see in most comments, a lot of us feel the same way. Students in their senior years in college that just got dragged in the popular life path, never having a moment to breathe and realize that they have to put some thought into what they’re doing rather than being on a damned autopilot. Luckily, it’s never too late to stop and reflect on those things and hopefully build up enough courage to make a change in your life. Good luck to all people who are in the same situation.
Existential psychiatrist Irvin Yalom says in one of his books that even though he is 80 years old he can’t imagine to be retired. He says he would even ” pay” in order to keep doing his work! How wonderful…I also remembered an interview I have read with a famous Italian shoemaker. ( I forgot his name unfortunately). After making shoes for about 50 years with so much love and passion, for all kinds of people, he decided to retire. So the interviewer asked him : ” well, now that you will have a lot of time, what do you want to do with it?”. He thought for a while and said: ” Oh, himmmm, I guess I will make ……. shoes.”:-) I think we should take folks like these as examples! Go for what you really love and what has a ” meaning” for you, something that can beautify your life and other people’s lives. I would also recommend everybody to read Alain’s book ” The Pleasures and Sorrows of Work” before they decide! (Thanks a lot for this very valuable lesson! )
I desperately needed this article after months and months of being miserable about all the possible career options and not knowing what to do. Somehow I figured out all these things on my own and I’m now working towards finding something that’s just right for me, but it feels so good to know that I’m doing something right! Thank you for this, School of Life! You rock!
All your article have become an enormous source of knowledge for me for my research work in philosophy. I have also been addicted to your articles. I have also got one question what is the way to refer to the content of your articles to my research and papers. I really want to give credit to the articles which are helping me a lot.
This is exactly what I need to listen. I’m a lawyer, but I don’t enjoy what I’m doing. It doesn’t matter how much I eat I want to feel confortable with what I’m doing. I wish I had changed my career before. During university I always doubt about how convenient was studying law. I have never felt satisfied
Great points. I would add that, while identifying what makes life meaningful to us is the most crucial aspect, it should be considered equally possible/legitimate for a person to not necessarily seek their life’s fulfillment as part of a “career”, but possibly a hobby. For some people, the most meaningful thing in life might be something that they do not want to or cannot turn into a “career”, e.g. barbecuing/playing amateur football with friends (due to lack of market demand or personal skills). However, they might be very happy to design a lifestyle that allows them to focus on and pursue this hobby, while choosing a “job” (instead of a “career”) that offers security and allows to provide for that lifestyle. Another reason to stress this point is that there are still some jobs that might not exactly lend themselves to self-actualization (e.g. trash collecting). In this regard, it would be unfortunate if some people got the idea that the meaningfulness of life is necessarily connected to the self-actualization in an exciting, meaningful career.
What I get from my list is that I should be a writer. Specifically in non-fiction. I really like non-fiction writing because it helps explain to people information, communicating ideas in a digestible and insightful-sounding manner. Good writing helps people with their problems. I like whenever I do something that makes people happy, and I also like getting praised for my writing. I like completing goals I set for myself, such as in a article game, rather than those imposed on me by someone else. I like completing tasks I chose to take on in everyday life, like walking the dog or doing the dishes. So that’s related to what a writer does; set tasks and goals for themselves, and then accomplishes them.
It’s also important to acknowledge that we don’t spend our lives “trapped in one job” any longer. I recommend that if you are doing career exploration or planning that you read the Foundation for Young Australia’s report “The New Work Mindset” which redirects focus from one job or one industry to “clusters” – groups of jobs with similar transferable skills. Most peoples’ careers are actually very varied, complex, diverse and non-linear, which is reflected in this report.
I was not very well prepared for my undergraduate years and muddled through for about the first 2 1/2 years until I finally picked my “back up” major. I then poked around in a career (again my 2nd choice) for about 11 years until I finally found what I’m doing now – academic librarianship. I’m helping people every day and I’m feeling fulfilled in the process. Finding that “perfect” career is kind of like hitting the lottery. If you get close, you should probably consider yourself lucky. Still, I had only wished I had received this kind of message earlier in life. That might be one of the benefits of sending your kids to some time of prep school. It does improve the odds of finding a good fit earlier in the process and eliminating some of the anxiety.
1. Being confused about career choice is perfectly normal ( The paradox of choice ) 2. Know yourself (Learn to pick up on the little clues of what you do enjoy doing)(financial panic sometimes kills true authentic passions)(write down all the things you have enjoyed in the past) 3. Think a lot (don’t stay stuck in the insecurities of your 16 year old self) (use your free time to tackle this problem, don’t keep escaping into useless things) 4. Try something (You can only know you like it if you’ve done it) 5. Reflect on what makes people unhappy (Work is all about fixing problems, there are opportunities in helping others) 6. Be confident (success is about giving it a try and remaining resilient) (lack of confidence means a lack in understanding how things work)
I started studying Computer Sciences but i do not know if i like to work in the field. I just study it because i want to learn about the computers that surround us everyday. Its hard because i am actually more of a “art person” and i never knew that maths is so importiant. But what i have now found is that it’s all connected, art describes how it looks, math describes how it looks from the inside. And now i have hard time learning maths basicly from the beginning. But i am happy i came to that realisation. But i am just afraid that just because i study it i have to work in the same field. It can actually be nice yet i dont think some things are for me. I never would like to be database admin or something so, but on the other hand i would love to do some research or write program to a robot or do something creative. Im just afraid i might not find it.
I appreciate this immensely, thank you for sharing!! I’ve found that one of the biggest problems that I’ve faced on the career journey has been allowing shame to dictate my choices. Maybe that’s kind of what was meant by letting your “16 year old self” decide what job you’ll have for the rest of your life. One thing that really has helped me work to improve that over the years has been to stop looking at mistakes as shameful from the start. Instead (as recommended by a self-aware (gentle) parenting article I once read online), I now try to approach mistakes with a compassionate curiosity. Instead of, “I’m a failure, because I couldn’t handle being in this position for more than X number of months,” I now do my best to consider it like, “Ok, great! I now know, without a doubt, that this is NOT a suitable position for me. Which means that’s one less job standing between me and the job that IS right for me! I wonder which factors would be most helpful for me to consider more closely when I begin another job search in the future…”
Most jobs out there aren’t fulfilling. How can you justify the message of this article knowing that tons of people have to work mundane or tedious jobs? Structurally, capitalism requires a working class to carry out labor that almost certainly neglects any individual’s interests, passions, and creative tendencies.
I love this website. I was fired (mutual agreement) 2 days ago from a sales job I was very good at, a job I was terrified to quit but, I think, needed to quit. I didnt want to give up my higher-than-average-for-the-country salary even tho I did perfectly fine before having it. It stopped feeling satisfying almost a year ago, maybe more. Right now I’m actually consciously trying to figure out what I want to do in life, rather than subconsciously projecting my unloving parents on management and trying so hard to satisfy them by being good at the job! Thank you!
I’m doing a degree in English and History right now but in the future I’d like to explore a career in the sciences. It’s a very early process for me right now but I am intending on returning to mathematics and science whilst doing my degree to prepare for a future in that field. The reason why I chose something as broad as the sciences is to really give myself a chance to explore such a wide range of concepts and I feel innovation is highly valued in that sector. Essentially, I just don’t want to feel anxious and depressed about the direction of my life, I know without this change I’ll feel unfilled and I simply want challenge myself and see where I go in the future.
Stuck in a job unwittingly chosen by our 16 year old self… Wow. I don’t want to sound ungrateful but I’m stuck with regards to career choices because I chose to go to medical school when I was a naive 18 year old. I thought it’d be a fulfilling job but it just left me with lots of resentment in the area and no time for other ‘fulfilling’ things in my life.
I have no idea how this popped into my recommended as I rarely watch self-help articles, but this was probably a sign. I am a young professional and I only graduated a couple of years ago. I’m not unhappy, but I want more meaning to my work and be comforted at the end of my life that I followed my passion. Thank you!
This is something I question myself daily. I’m about to get into college (17 years old) and I’m in love with chemistry since I was 12. Doing some research on all the careers that involve chemistry, I have my mind set on Chemistry (to become a chemist) And Chemical Analyst. I really want to be this last one, hence it fulfills my profile and what I’ve always wanted to do as a scientist. Unfortunately, I live in Chile, a really lovely place with beautiful landscapes and diversity, where 40% of the global minerals depend on us, but this is a place were scientists are poorly paid and seen on our society. On the US, you get 4430 dollars monthly, which is enough to paid everything you have to. But here? They get paid 1230 dollars monthly. It’s very sad that the minds that build our future and wellbeing get so little. My family wants me to be a Chemical Engineer, which get paid 4500 dollars. The problem is that I don’t want to be that. I have no idea what to do and I’m running out of time. Should I take the way my heart wants? Or “The best way possible”? :/
At 23 after completing my undergraduate degree I entered a professional graduate scheme and hated every moment i spent there. I looked at my bosses and managers – saw what they did at that stage in their careers, and realised i did not want to be where they were. I found practice environment completely different to everything I had studied, my managers concurred they initially felt the same way after university. Nearing the end of a 2 year placement, I was fired. Initially I was devastated but relieved. I had been due to continue to postgrad education but felt relieved I didn’t have to, I had no idea what i wanted to do after choosing my initial path as a 15 year old self. Over the next two years I took several freelance and contract jobs using the skills that I had, I gained work placements and worked for free before being offered a job for a central London. I enjoyed the environment, culture and the people. During the following two years I was able to revolve around different departments, seeing how they operated and were run, learning new skills – again this was only a contract role. My immediate manager, when the role was coming to an end made a business case to the MD for me to stay in the company. Unfortunately the case wasn’t strong enough and I was required to find another job (yet again), they did however give me an excellent reference. After this, I was able to secure a role in a large multinational media corporation, I immediately realised I hated the culture and environment, my manager despised me and I often felt redundant, as if my role did not matter and I was a cog in a machine.
Searched through this website for this topic cause it lives in my head rent free and it’s so frustrating. I think i have already done a bunch of mistakes that ruined my life. Yes, I’m not hungry and unemployed, but mulling over my actions that led me to unsatisfied result and being afraid to move on in fear of making more serious mistakes that i already did makes me feel so hopeless….
This was an utterly brilliant article. I’m currently a senior international business major in college, and I haven’t any clear idea of the direction in which I want to proceed. I’ve realized that neither riches nor renown are my objects of desire, and while that has helped me winnow the list of prospective careers, there is still an overwhelming degree of ambiguity. The article did well to mention the paradox of choice, though. And not choosing a career is still making a decision, albeit a poor one.
I feel lucky that I get to have this website where my parents didnt… Also, I love that all of the headstone images you put up always have a death date in the future- gently reminding us that we will die, so following this advice is paramount to make the best of our lives. This really helps me overcome depression and negative thinking.
What about kids living in under developed countries where they need to start working form early ages to help their family survive ? What about people who are discriminated against even in so called “developed” countries? All of your ideas are based around the monetary system; everyone doesn’t have the same opportunities.
I’m 18, and I’m hoping to get into the Biological Illustration program at my college. I’ve always had passions for both art and science, but I used to think that I had to take the most difficult math or chemistry course to prove my intelligence, that I was somehow lesser for not being able to make sense of something so scientifically complex as to make my head spin. But I can still get involved in that process of scientific discovery through service and communication. Now that I’ve realized something about myself, I’ve gained a genuine sense of excited confidence about what my future might hold.
The worst thing about choosing a career is that most people do this at age 15-16, thus leading to your 18-19 self hating the decision later. That’s what’s happening to me. And in my country you can’t just drop out, there’s conscription and all, what irritates me the most is that it’s some big totalitarian Eastern Europe army we’re talking about. So yeah, life sucks, but this website makes me understand it better and overall increases my awareness and confidence, so thanks a lot.
A couple of years ago I had a good career in advertising, lots of perks, plenty of room to move up the ranks and earn more money, job security etc etc. However, I found it absolutely soul crushing, every morning I woke up dreading the day ahead, even in my freetime I found myself thinking about work and worrying about these pro ject deadlines, meetings, all the money I was responsible for at the company. I hated wearing a suit every day and having to act all classy and sophisticated when meeting with clients. So I decided to quit (I was called crazy by my bosses and colleagues, friends and family). I began doing bicycle delivery work as soon as I quit as a temporary solution to unemployment. I’ve been doing it for about a year and a half and I absolutely love it, I’ve come to realise that I enjoy working outside rather than being cooped up inside all day, and I enjoy doing physical work rather than mentally and emotionally draining high stress, high responsibility work. So in the meantime I’ve applied to do a horticulture apprenticeship and until I begin that I’ve found work helping out with a gardening company who maintain commercial and domestic gardens. I’m absolutely loving the low stress outdoor work and I can see myself happily doing this for life, or for a very long time at least. I understand not everyone is in the position to quit their job due to financial reasons but if you’re not happy do everything in your power to find something you will enjoy rather than torturing yourself every day.
I hate this article. It promulgates the idea that fulfillment is achievable through a career, and that if you’re not fulfilled in your career its because you haven’t adequately analyzed the situation. Here’s another possibility: perhaps work is simply not a place where you can be fulfilled. Perhaps agonizing over that decision takes away from time that could be spent doing those things that DO fulfill you. Perhaps doing routine work and getting paid for it sucks the pleasure out of the very things you like the most.
I don’t think my manager appreciated my drunken rant about making myself a better job at the company. Or maybe he did!???…. Stranger things have happened… Do a article on loneliness and talking to yourself and only yourself all day and how to better connect with the multitudes out there doing the same thing. Please.
im in my last year of hight school, and everybody in my class wants to study something related to medicine, biology or chemestry (thats the way my school system works) and one of my teachers made us visit three labs, one educational, one clinical, and one of reasearch, i thought that was a waste of time and effort, i couldnt be more wrong, it was amazing to stop idealizing those fields and actually getting in the labs and hearing the reasearchers talk about their passion, it made me be fully conviced i wanna work in reasearch
besides choosing to study sociology I try to learn from subjects related to humanities: phylosopy, history, psychology, econoy, politics; for me it has been I delightful form of discovering, enlightement and fullfilment. Of course more areas of knowledge are important 🙂 This SCHOOL OF LIFE is such a great chanel to watch, congratulations! 🙂
So this got me thinking from my mid 1960’s schooling and the idea that INSTEAD of being forced to do a whole season or year/s of a particular subject at school, ie, woodworking, cooking, tech drawing, art etc Wouldn’t it be BETTER to have a huge complex of small workshops/classes where students could wander through having a go at everything in passing like a wander thru a funfair BUT being able to walk out onto the next workshop UNTIL they found a particular subject that held their creativity focus to stay long enough to decide ? You get my drift ? We do it at funfairs, we have a go at everything on offer but tend to go BACK to the stall that was really FUN ❤️ if those funfair stalls were the principles of a particular field of employment then instead of being forced to do a whole year of something you loathe you could actually find your passion and drive with something you truly enjoy instead of reading about something or perusal a article. A hands on workforce funfair. Yeah I know, sounds all whishy washy but IN PRINCIPLE … Anyway, I should have followed my heart instead of being bullied by parents to concentrate on one particular field. Happy Wednesday from Middle Earth 🤘
You guys are amazing. I highly recommend your website to everyone I meet. I wish for you all the followers YouTube has to offer. By far the best and most informative website on YouTube. I will write a review everywhere I can with this same enthusiasm. I’ll promote you to the best of my abilities, because I believe you hold the potential to become such a positive influence on the people of our generation and generations to come. Keep up the great work and thanks from NZ🤘🏽🙌🏽💯💯💯💯
These are the best insights on work that I’ve seen. I think the modern workplace has reduced people to starting at computers and working on phones all day, all in the name of profits. Of course, it’s efficient and there’s money to be made. But humans can’t possibly be designed to be stuffed in offices all day starting at screens.
I graduated in 2012 with an IT degree but still stuck in customer service. I am afraid that I won’t have my career in IT because it has been 9 years already and I have experience in an unrelated field. But still, I am ready to discard and disregard my work experience in exchange for what I am passionate with. It is because of my relatives that say that “love your work”, they aren’t helping anyway.
This article has cheered me up and made me feel that I am on the right path to a more fulfilling life. I have had the luxury of time due to being on benefits for depression and in the meantime I have managed some introspection and despite my doubts I have tried harder than I have in a long time, sometimes I have failed but ultimately I have triumphed although I keep holding on to those failures as proof that I am doomed to repeat past mistakes and not make any progress I have still held on and this article gives me hope in that I can progress further becasue I have for the most part been following what it says if that makes sense 🙂
Things I enjoy (this is for my own evaluation) 10.40 pm – August 8 (mk1) – skiing – table tennis – soccer – weight lifting – weapon disarming – solving rubix cube – article editing – film making – cooking – creative writing – gaming – brainstorming about ideas (lol the irony) – talking about metaphysics – learning philosophies – learning then applying – commiting to something, then improving it (v1) (v2) (v3) – connecting thoughts together (maybe this is critical thinking) – going on a dopamine detox for 24 hours – making jokes with friends about stupid stuff – seeing if i could be someone at something (like a article game, or sport) mk2 August 8 – 11.00 pm – skiing – table tennis – soccer – weight lifting – weapon disarming – solving rubix cube – article editing – film making – cooking – creative writing – gaming – brainstorming about ideas (lol the irony) – talking about metaphysics – learning philosophies – learning then applying – commiting to something, then improving it (v1) (v2) (v3) – connecting thoughts together (maybe this is critical thinking) – going on a dopamine detox for 24 hours – making jokes with friends about stupid stuff – seeing if i could be someone at something (like a article game, or sport) Try Something (Trying something means doing it for atleast 2 minutes) solved my rubix cube at 11:05 pm mk3 August 8 – 11:12 pm – skiing, especially speeding down a slope while passing people in front of me – table tennis – soccer – weight lifting – weapon disarming – solving rubix cube – article editing – film making – cooking – creative writing – gaming – brainstorming about ideas (lol the irony) – talking about metaphysics, stuff about assumptions and beliefs – learning philosophy, such as stoicism – learning then applying – commiting to something, then improving it (v1) (v2) (v3) – connecting thoughts together (maybe this is critical or analytical thinking) – dopamine detox for 24 hours – making jokes with friends about stupid stuff – seeing if i could be someone at something (like a article game, or sport) – habitually releasing youtube articles – finding a thing to be passionate about Try Something (Trying something means doing it for atleast 2 minutes) solved my rubix cube at 11:05 pm mk4 – do + make August 8 – 11:36 pm – skiing, especially speeding down a slope while passing people in front of me – table tennis – soccer – weight lifting – weapon disarming – solving rubix cube – article editing – film making – cooking – creative writing – gaming – brainstorming about ideas (lol the irony) – talking about metaphysics, stuff about assumptions and beliefs – learning philosophy, such as stoicism – learning then applying – commiting to something, then improving it (v1) (v2) (v3) – connecting thoughts together (maybe this is critical or analytical thinking) – dopamine detox for 24 hours – making jokes with friends about stupid stuff – seeing if i could be someone at something (like a article game, or sport) – habitually uploading my own articles on youtube – lookings for things to do, then chosing one.
Calling all those who love The School of Life! We should share these articles with others more often! I’ve noticed that the number of views of most S.O.L. articles are actually quite low compared to even moderately successful youtube websites. My guess is that most of us perusal these articles are fairly thoughtful and reflective by habit and thus less inclined to forward a link along simply because we like it. But considering how incredibly helpful the content of this website is, I think we should make a point of spreading the word (via links) as much as possible. If there’s one website that I would like to go viral, it would have to be this one…
I have found that it does not matter at all what we do for a vocation, within legality. I had a job I loved and I felt as if I really was making a difference to many. But, pay was mediocre. Life was a struggle. Credit cards were all close to maximum balance available. Repairs on my home automobile, and land had to often wait a long time. Then I found a job I knew I would hate. But it paid incredibly good. I thought that I would take an extended sabbatical from my very enjoyable job that made me feel good about myself. I went to the other job and within a year, all credit cards were closed, all loans were paid in full, I paid my car in full and got a new one with zero miles in 1996. (I still have that car today). All home, and land repairs were made and paid in cash. Today, I still have the job I heavily dislike. But I have absolutely no debt, no credit cards, no loans, no payments on a vehicle, no lines of credit at all. The only things I pay monthly are my mortgage and utilities. My home will be paid in full in seven years! There is the occasional repair to my automobile or my home, sometimes land. However, since I am determined never to open any sort of credit account ever again, I have learned how to make any and all repairs to my home, automobile, and land. I do not have to hire a company to do something for me and charge me 900% higher than if I did the job myself. “Professionals,” take a lot of shortcuts today. In the past, if you wanted something done right, a professional was the way to go.
To me, I am facing the hardest phase right now. I finally got the chance to work at a garden nursery after two years of being unemployed. Usually, people wouldn´t hire someone who stayed at home this long (without going to a leasing company), but the thing is, while everyone (even myself) thought that it would make me happy to work there, with the people being the most caring in the world, I just can´t find what I am looking for there. Sometimes I find that I like going there, but most of the time I am just apalled that I have to even go there, and constantly want to ditch the job for a different one (where it isn´t even certain if they would take me). Having a secure job nowadays is very crucial. I work 30h a week, and at the laundery where I would be interested in going (it´s never cold there during the winter, and the work schedule is always from 7am until 4pm and on fridays only 7am to 1pm) it would be 40h. It is a walk of 5 minutes away, while my current job is outside of the city, so I have to walk a long way from the next busstop to get there (which is a pain in the winter) also let´s not talk about being off the job during winter time, because it is a seasonal job after all….. I just don´t know what, and how to do it, because I were to leave now, then they probably wouldn´t have anyone for next year´s season, and it wouldn´t be even guaranteed that I´d get the job at the laundery (and not be kicked out after 3 months). It is a very difficult topic, and sadly, no one can help us with the decision.
I don’t care what people say about this website on how biased it is in some cases, or how it is the simplification of is one philosophical idea. Philosophy and hope is all what we need for now. Because every pop science book is about creating hope that I still have chance Living a fulfilling life. Because the Scientist said so these facts.
A recent experience of mine with the “Try Something” one: A month or so ago, I wanted very badly to make a fan webcomic of a game I like very much, but I made myself believe that I wouldn’t even be able to do it, or that, if I did, it wouldn’t be good, people wouldn’t like it, I would quit it anyway, etc. When I finished making the prologue I couldn’t post it because I was too scared. Until my friend conviced me it was alright, since the entire point me making that webcomic was to let me try something new with something I’m confortable and like. I’m really happy my friend convinced me to post it. So far it’s been great. I don’t think I’ve ever been so excited to do anything in years.
Summary: – being confused about career choice is perfectly normal num of job type increased from 2k to .5m ~> paradox of choice – know yourself – think a lot – try something – reflect on what makes people unhappy – be confident courage to give it a go ~> success a lack of confidence is at heart a misunderstanding of the way the world works: internalized feudalism (only certain people but not oneself have the right, preordained to get certain things)
1. Make a decision 2. Know yourself through little moments in life 3. Give yourself a year or months to think 4. Actually do something. Small steps. Interning, volunteering over weekends. 5. Think about what makes one unhappy. They are entrepreneurial opportunities. Work are chances to serve. 6. Be confident.
1, being confused about career choice is perfectly normal; 2, know yourself (write down first thougth of things you enjoy; then analytical ); 3, Think a lot; 4, Try sth(data colliding with the real world); 5, reflect on what makes people unhappy(entrepreneurial; solve problems, the bigger and more urgent, opportunity); 6, confident, (the way the world works more possible than one’s intimidity and doubt)
Yes this is the job I want and it only took 2:30 mins for me to realize this. Yes your article telling others that on a week s time and a 5:12 min article well edited and obiviously well researched article you have the answer to one of lifes big questions. Just think about it and do it. Sirry to be so harsh, Its my job I love it but I can live with the self adulation and low pay. Thanks I’m very satisfied.
Paradox of choice – limit consumer option to encourage adoption Not having a plan puts us at the mercy of those that do have a plan. Think a lot – take the time to think and discuss ideas. To find opportunity, reflect on what makes people unhappy Every successful business is at its heart an attempt to solve someone else’s problem. Work is a chance to serve. Be confident and live without regrets.
2:19 can someon explan me in more detail how philosophy can “clearing up, and demand logic of my first thoughts”? when i study philophy, it talk about only of an idea or an understanding “how world work” but this can’t really help me find in the mix of all my idea which one can will be my fulfilling work.
I’m on my second year of reflecting on my future career. A two year “gap” where I’m allowing myself to think about what I want to do. I just graduated the university. I didn’t want to rush to a masters degree I didn’t want to do in the future. I’m at the edge of realizing that self discovery is a road, not a destination. One mustn’t get obsessed with deciding. I seize the moment now. Well, in the end, you’ll be fertilizing daffodils anyways. One must focus on socialüzing with one’s family.
As much as I agree with the broad perspective of this article.. I’m a shocked at how little understanding The School of Life, has about the psychological workings of confidence: ” A lack of confidence is at heart a misunderstanding of the way the world works” – this sentence is on top with some of the worst things you could ever say to an individual, suffering from low self-esteem or confidence issues.. A person with low self-esteem has be shown that they matter and their contribution is valuable; throwing them out to the wolves, demanding that they pull themselves together and “be confident” is a terrible disservice to them. It’s sort of on the same line of thought as: “Oh, this raging bull standing in front of me, wont harm me; because I’m a vegetarian..” Like, with the “disaster news” article and a lecture, by Alan Watts (I heartedly recommend listening to him, even though I think he too is naive in terms of employment, or at least from a different time), I find that a lot of these articles about “fulfillment” and “finding your passion”, are often filled with wishful thinking and a rose-tinted perspective on things: In this day and age, it isn’t always possible to get internships or shadow other people at work or even trying out different career-paths. In an ideal world, this would be the way to go; but as both you and I know; we don’t live in an ideal world.. If I wanted to change my carrier to, finding an internship in this economy isn’t easy – there are also certain lines of work, that doesn’t hire interns at all.
I have wasted years of studying something I hated. Went against what my parents/society wanted me to become by changing my study. I feel like I dodged a bullet which would haunt me for like 60 years. You shouldnt believe in “the one” job or partner. That believe will do you harm. Make the best out of it.
“Not having a plan, quickly puts us at the mercy of those who do have one.” This is so true. Or as Viktor Frankl said so well: “Now, knowing neither what he must do nor what he should do, he sometimes does not even know what he basically wishes to do. Instead, he wishes to do what other people do – which is conformism – or he does what other people wish him to do – which is totalitarism.”
I liked everything except the last statement. Why should the ultimate criterion be what we think of ourselves in our deathbed? This seems to be a recurring theme that modern self-help topics I cannot disagree more with. From an analytical and utilitarian point of view, shouldn’t we prioritize what we think of ourselves throughout our lifetime?I think the question we should ask ourselves is: would you rather be the scientist who struggled throughout life and have your Nobel price won on the year of your death, or would you want to live life as a relatively unremarkable but stress-free fisherman?
Great article…one caveat: what if elements of democratic socialism or social democracy are solutions to “everyday problems people face” instead of “centuries more of capitalism” exploiting those solutions? What if social entrepreneurship isn’t enough to bridge that gap? Shouldn’t we also include that individually and collectively working to develop, cultivate, and implement those social tools a way to find meaningful work?