Researchers at the University of Toronto
and Stanford University
have discovered that people paid by the hour
are far more likely to be happy
than those earning a monthly salary.
What I found
when I switched from salary to hourly
was that
it changed my thinking about time.
My time became visibly valuable.
I track units of time.
I am conscious of my time.
I am careful about how I spend my time.
I ensure (and track) that
I have something to show for that time.
At the end of the week,
I know exactly what I’ve done
during those seven days.
I end each week
with a sense of accomplishment.
When I was on salary,
I would often reach the end of the week
and wonder where the time went.
That was a tad bit depressing.
I don’t know if my life is happier
but I do know
that my life is more purposeful.
Of course,
a salaried worker could mimic my results
by dividing her salary by average hours worked
and/or tracking her time.
She could be as conscious and protective
of her precious hours on earth.