Do What You Love, and Youll Never Work Another Day in Your Life Is Bad Advice - The Muse

Do What You Love, and Youll Never Work Abedrngnisher Day in Your Life Is Bad Advice - The MuseDo What You Love, and Youll Never Work Another Day in Your Life Is Bad AdviceDo what you love, and youll never work another day in your life.Yes, weve all heard that sentiment countless times. We repeat it to recent graduates like its the only career advice theyll ever need. We print it on motivational posters, bumper stickers, and encouraging note cards. We incorporate it into commencement addresses. Heck, Im sure its even embroidered on the occasional throw pillow.But, does this treasured piece of advice even reif true? Will finding a career that youre insanely passionate about make your entire life feel like one big tropical vacation? No, I dont think so. In fact, I think its perfectly normal to love your job and simultaneously recognize the fact that its hard work.Thats right- just because you sometimes feel stressed, overwhelmed, or even a little tired doesnt mean that youre in the wron g line of work. Here are four facts that debunk that infamous (and misleading) proverb. 1. Work Is Not PlayI absolutely love what I do, and Im lucky to be able to make a living at it. But, that doesnt mean that Im not consciously aware of the fact that I would usually rather be enjoying cocktails with friends than trying to meet a deadline.Yes, work and play are two vastly different things. Work requires exertion and effort in order to pay the bills and put food on the table, whereas play is all about fun and enjoyment. If youre lucky, youll be able to incorporate some of that joy and passion into your daily routine. But, that definitely doesnt mean that your entire career will be a walk in the park.Adding in that pressure and the expectation of pay is exactly what separates your job from everything else. Unlike fun, work isnt always something that you want to do- its something that you need to do. And, chances are, when what you love turns into your job, you just might not love it as much anymore. 2. Your Number One Passion Isnt Always a Realistic CareerThink back to when you were a little kid. Remember when people would always bend down on a knee and inquire about what you wanted to be when you grew up? Do you remember what your answer to that question was? Well, I always told people I wanted to be a bird.Yes, having passions, interests, and big dreams is encouraged. But, finding what you love is only half the equation. You need to be able to make a living doing it. Real-life pressures require us to pursue avenues that are able to provide us with a decent and comfortable standard of living. Perhaps youre an outstanding violinist or video gamer. Thats awesome However, we all recognize that these are pretty exclusive and specialized career fields, even if you are insanely talented. So, while you may have crossed identifying what you love off your to-do list- youre also probably well aware that love doesnt pay the bills. 3. No Job Is Completely PerfectThere are plenty of people out there who absolutely love their careers. But, that shouldnt be twisted into a perception that everythings perfect. Pretty much every position comes along with at least a few pesky tasks or responsibilities that will simply never be enjoyable. You may adore what you do 98% of the time. But, there are bound to be a few related duties that you simply dread. Maybe you hate monitoring incoming invoices. Perhaps you loathe the quarterly board meeting. Or, maybe you simply cant stand filling out your monthly expense report. Whatever it is, theres undoubtedly a certain aspect of your day-to-day that makes you say, Ugh. Trust me- youre not alone. Im sure even professional beer taste testers have piles of paperwork that theyd rather not absprache with (not to mention gross beer). Theres always something. 4. The More You Love Your Job, The Harder Youll WorkLoving your job is a wonderful thing. Not only are you bringing home the bacon, but you also get the added reward of feeling fulfilled, accomplished, and satisfied each time you stroll out of your office. But, you likely dont feel that way because you spent the entire day slacking.Thats right, loving your livelihood requires hard work. Its pretty much human nature to enjoy the things were good at. And, in order to be good at your position, you need to put in some serious elbow grease.Oftentimes, its not just the work that we love. Its the reward and satisfaction we get after doing it well. And we all know that getting things done well involves exerting effort and staying at the office for the occasional late night. Its a never-ending cycle.Do what youll love, and youll never work another day in your life. Its a well-meaning sentiment. But, it can actually be somewhat discouraging and guilt-inducing for those of us who do love what we do, yet still feel wiped by the end of the day. Dont worry- its completely normal to love your job, but still think it feels like hard work. Unless youre employed as a professional puppy snuggler. Then I dont want to hear any complaints. Photo of tired woman of Shutterstock.