Why your 9–5 job is killing your creativity
Even though it says 9–5 but in real terms it is not 9–5. Sometimes the job can demand 60+ hours in week
As a human we are not designed to work continuously. Our mind works best when we are physically and emotionally fit. The current high paying especially Consulting/Investment Banking/Engineering take a toll on the mental, physical and emotional health.
Although it offer the predictability of the paycheck but it takes away the most important thing that is creativity. Most of the jobs are designed to follow the routine or repetitive task for prolonged hours. These tasks are supposed to be completed with in the limited time frame. This gives very less space of doing the same work in alternative or creative way.
Apart of from this a steady pay check works like a drug which will distance you from taking any risk. The pay checks works like a comfortable blanket which gives you security of covering not only your basic need but also maintaining lifestyle.
The job also force you do everything right because anything wrong is not accepted. However, the creativity is not about doing everything right. It is about trying, making mistakes and build something after improving on your mistakes.
The job force you to focus on too many things. You have continuously focus on mailbox so that you not miss any important email. Be on the call and do something in parallel is the accepted norms now. However, nothing great can be achieved by focus of multiverse. It is always better to focus on one thing deeply.
The job will give only limited perspective of what you are doing. You will do the same work again and again. For ex if you are working as analyst, you will never get a chance to see your your project is creating impact.
The job is zero sum game which makes your colleague your competitor. If you need promotion you have to perform better than your colleagues. You need better bonus or increment, you need to perform better than your colleagues. While creativity comes from collaboration not from the competition
So what is the solution. I will post the solution in my next article. Please feel free to comment your views.
