Work 100 Hours a week
Quotes on work
We’re not in this life just to work, we’re in it to live ― Cecelia Ahern
Overworking is the Black Plague of the 21st Century ― Richie Norton
For years, I had used these fractured men to justify my cynicism and workaholism, and the grief, insomnia, and casual anorexia were no longer of any interest to me – Antonella Gambotto-Burke
Workaholism in modern life
A workaholic is someone who has a compulsive approach to work at the cost of their health, social life, and sleep. Productivity becomes less about purpose and more about anxiety disguised as ambition.
The idea of working 100 hours a week is sometimes presented as the price of success in entrepreneurship. What is rarely discussed is the shadow side of that lifestyle. Behind the headline stories are often strained marriages, limited family time, loneliness, and long-term health consequences.
Success should not be measured only by output but also by the quality of life created along the way.
Research consistently shows that excessive working hours increase the risk of burnout, chronic fatigue, cardiovascular strain, metabolic disorders, and mental health decline. The human body and mind were not designed to run in perpetual high-performance mode.
Yes, success in the 21st century requires dedication, discipline, and hard work. But the world we live in after the COVID-19 era has also reminded us that life is fragile, interconnected, and deeply relational.
Productivity without humanity eventually becomes a hollow victory.
Living with purpose, not just working with urgency
Consider setting aside at least one hour each week to make a small but meaningful difference in someone else’s life.
You might choose to:
• Share a meal with someone
• Offer water or food to someone in need
• Pay for the person behind you in a drive-through or restaurant
• Donate to a charity that reflects your values
• Support businesses committed to ethical and social responsibility
• Volunteer in an area where your natural strengths shine
• Be a dependable and kind neighbor
• Practice safe and respectful driving
• Speak truthfully and live authentically in your relationships
• Spend quiet time in reflection, prayer, or meditation
• Cultivate gratitude, compassion, gentleness, and unconditional kindness
The return on these small acts is rarely financial but profoundly human.
You may find better emotional balance, deeper relationships, improved mental clarity, and a quieter sense of purpose. Success begins to feel less like a race and more like a rhythm.
I am genuinely curious about your experience. What rewards have you noticed when you make space for kindness, rest, or generosity in your week? I would love to hear your thoughts.
All great advice most working people should follow. At a training program for petroleum dealers a few years ago we were asked what were our hobbies. About 4 in the group of 18 said they had no hobby. One said his hobby was Work !!
You must add staying away from mobiles and laptops as employers have found a way to keep us working 24×7.
Overall love your blogs. A treat to read each one.
The Cecelia Ahearn quote caught my attention! I’ve read and loved all her books! You have shared some great advice. Even if one must work 100 hours a week at times, you really need to have a very supportive partner/family to survive. Being mindful/deliberate of how we can do good with one hour a week can actually be life changing if we practice it regularly. I’ve got a plan for my hour this week. Thank you!
I really enjoyed this article. Success is often associated with working more, but finding a sustainable balance is just as important. Thank you for sharing such a thoughtful discussion.
I’m a workaholic but not by choice. I work in bulk, so I have long hours. I could definitely stand to slow down, though.
Jerry, I agree that compulsive approaches to work or anything are not healthy. I love all of your bullet points and do more than a few of them regularly. And especially, I love the reiminder about gratitude.
Whew, 100 hours a week would be too much for me. I think I’d go insane. Breaks are a must or else you’ll go insane.
At the start of my career, I was 1000% a workaholic, to the point where I was so sleep-deprived and getting myself sick all the time. I actually ended up doing a complete 180, moving out of the country to Europe and switching to a more balanced lifestyle altogether. I could not be happier with the change!
I’m the kind of person who always needs to have something to do, but thankfully, I’m not a workaholic. Once I stop working, I keep myself busy with the hobbies I love most.
Great perspective. Working hard is important, but so is making time for family, health, and the people who matter most. Life is about finding a balance that allows us to succeed while still enjoying the journey.