The older I get the more I tilt towards life. I don't have to prove anything to myself or anyone else anymore.

The most important thing I have learned is working hard when you see directly benefits. Working hard on your own school work or education is a great lesson because it's all tied to you. Use that same work ethic at a large company you burn yourself for nothing. Own your own business where additional work directly benefits you is a great idea.

As an 18 YO, the first option. A short 3 years later snd i know the second option is the right choice. Maybe I'll get my energy levels up again one day, but know that the world is rigged against us right now - and ti some extent, collapsing - so hustling likely won't get you what you're worth. Take the time to be comfy while things burn

Life. Your kids are only young for so long, spend as much time as you possibly can in what they are interested in. The smile is your payment

Ask yourself why do these have to be in opposition?

So long as I have enough I prioritize work life balance. If my wife wanted kids, that would ironically push me more towards climbing the latter harder to provide for them, but as it stands I don't need to push hard on the corporate ladder to have enough, more would be nice, but not nicer than more time with my hobbies and loved ones

Balance.

If you find the right environment you can do both, but this is tricky and involves a bit of luck. In my current (underpaid, state university) job I leave every day at 3:30, don't check my email when I leave, spend much of my day at the office doing work for my side gigs (making my effective salary much higher), and in a couple years I'll be managing the department. Long ago I realized being sycophantic and a slave to others only made me a pathetic chump. But there's genuine hustle in there too, it's just for me, not them.

Work/life balance

I actively avoid getting promoted because management is the next step and fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck that shit. I hate managing my own workload, I'm not dealing with HR shit and keeping track of other people (while still also doing my job....)

Work life balance, for sure. I worked my ass off and got blindsided and screwed by two different employers last year. Companies don't give a shit about technical/support staff, there's no reason to work hard unless you're going to get paid for that extra effort.

I changed careers specifically for a better work life balance.

No more weekend work

Flexible hours

Working from home

Etc

Also higher salary

I did the whole work work work thing, and the only reward i got was more work and more responsibility. There may be some time where the responsibility eases off and you can actually take time off, but i never saw it. Now I'm very much life-oriented. I don't make as much money, but I have the time to actually do things, which is more important for me.

I need to work enough to ensure that my personal life is comfortable, and that I'm saving enough for retirement.

Life. Fuck work

Working hard for a better position is something I want to be apart.

less work, more life.

To most, due to lack of opportunity, hard work is just elitist propaganda these days.

work/life balance! I have visibility of more stressful responsibilities of colleagues a few rungs more senior and think I would very happily progress to a certain point but not beyond, and live my life without the trouble.

Taking seven medications a day so I don't have to struggle to not think about suicide or worse. Best I can do.