How's Life?

What's up? In this case, it's a rainbow.

by Greg Girard

So how’s life? I think I hear a variation of that question just about everyday.  Meant as politeness, for the most part, I’m not sure those that utter it really want to know. Seems to roll off the tongue automatically after a “hello” or “what’s up?” these days.  

I usually don’t think about my answer much anymore either. It’s typically a quick, “Not bad. You?” Even when I’m in one of these ebbing phases of life, I usually don’t want to burden the asker with my difficulties – although I think it would be interesting to see their reaction. “Actually, today life sucks …,” I say as the questioner outwardly cringes as if they ate an entire bag of sour patch kids. Bad form.

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Depending on where one lives has a lot to do with how we 
see life and what we think is missing. Folks in Brazil feel education is most important for a good life while those in Australia consider health is what it’s all about. For the U.S., 
as with most of the first-world nations, “life satisfaction” 
or happiness comes out on top.

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At least this is according to a Better Life Index study being conducted by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). OECD decided to look into the matter by polling people throughout the world on 11 indicators for a better life – from job satisfaction and the environment to income and safety. Participants rate each indicator on its importance to them and an average emerges. 

This is Mauritius. I think I could handle work-life balance on this beach.

For my part, I’m in line with the folks of Mauritius. Yes, the little island in the Indian Ocean. According to OECD, they consider work-life balance most important. Isn’t there a saying, “If the Mauritians are doing it ….” Maybe not. Anyway, I feel it’s a desirable goal that can lead to all the other indicators, although it’s admittedly elusive in attaining.

Back in the 1930s when the standard 40-hour workweek was established to increase productivity, many economists, including John Maynard Keynes, believed the advances in technology would eventually allow us to cut back to a 15-hour workweek. Well, the technology is here anyway. 

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Greg gets ready to go to work ... in his dreams.

Even the second richest man in the world, Mexico’s Carlos Slim, proposes creating a three-day workweek, with 11 hours work days. He believes this would increase our quality of life, allowing us to “generate new entertainment activities and other ways of being occupied.” And really, why have all these cool advances in technology if you can’t enjoy it – jet packs for the everyday commute please!

Of course, these ideas are generated under the premise that income growth has remained steady with inflation. Ha! Another middle finger to the middle class.

As for the Better Life Index, check it out at oecdbetterlifeindex.org and take the poll. What aspect of life is most important to you?

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