I Quit to Work Less and Live More—Now I Work More Than Ever (And I've Never Been Happier)
I kept the same job for years because it was great. I had a wonderful boss, amazing coworkers, and appreciative patients. Yet, I was unhappy.
There was a clear divide between my life and work. Life was filled with things I loved – Sunday picnics with my wife, family time, traveling, etc... Then, there was work.
I wondered if I had chosen a wrong career for myself.
Then one day, a lucrative opportunity in Manitoba came up. "This is it," I thought. "I can work less and spend more time on passion projects, family, and travelling".
I was convinced that working less and living more would lead to my happiness.
Renewed Sense of Purpose and Growth
There is poor access to eye care in rural Manitoba – and this is especially true for the Indigenous population. Delivering eye care to people facing health inequities was deeply fulfilling, and I felt a renewed sense of purpose.
Being the only optometry clinic in the area, my schedule was packed with sight-threatening emergencies. It was a challenging work that forced me to grow as a clinician – and I absolutely loved it.
I carried that spark back home to Ontario and quit my FT job. Since then, I've built a career I truly love. Some highlights include:
- Well-being talk to fellow eye doctors (New Brunswick Association of Optometrists)
- "Landing Your Dream Job" seminar panelist at Toronto Metropolitan University
- Locum specialist to busy optometry clinics
- Work-life satisfaction blog
Integrating Work and Life
If you asked me, "Would you still work if you didn't need money?" my answer would be a resounding yes, because my work and life no longer feel like separate entities.
Key factors that helped me integrate my work and life include:
- Starting a portfolio career
- Autonomy over my work
- Building a personal brand via speaking/writing
- Ongoing growth in my optometry skills
I Wanted Less Work, More Life. Instead, I Got More Work and a Happier Life
I thought I wanted less work to be happy. In hindsight, the real problem was a poor integration of my work and life.
If you feel a clear divide between your work and life like I did, you likely have the same problem too.
Perhaps you stay in place because you're unsure of what to do (like I did for years). Or maybe you're afraid of failing or pursuing the wrong goals.
But my year of radical change taught me a valuable lesson:
Clarity comes from action, not thought.
Reflect on small but meaningful ways to increase your job satisfaction. And then... take action!
Thank You
I want to take a moment to express my sincere gratitude to two people who were integral to my career transformation:
Dr. Zheng – thank you for your trust and inviting me to join your Manitoba clinic. You and your team are doing incredible work, and I'm proud to call you my friend and colleague.
Sera – thank you for always inspiring me to be the best version of myself. Your support has never wavered despite frequent work travels keeping me away from home. I’m endlessly grateful to have you by my side. Love you always!
Do you feel like there's a big gap between your ideal and current life? That's how I felt for years until I took action. Since leaving my full-time job, I've built a career I feel deeply passionate about, made more time for my loved ones, and began pursuing passion projects (like this blog!).
I created a practical guide filled with actionable, research-backed ideas to help you build the life you want – many of which helped me on my own journey.
The guide is free for members—and signing up is free! Join now to get your copy.
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