In 2021, I was two years into my job and had become nearly depressed.

Why?

Because it didn’t check off all my criteria for being a “dream job”:

• Build a cool product
• Work with interesting people
• Connect with the company’s mission
• Be fully remote
• Make a lot of money

*Rolls eyes*

I might sound ungrateful for basically just starting my career. Any job is better than no job, right?

But I had fallen victim to the comparison game.

My teammates were leaving left and right for more prestigious, higher-paying jobs, so I thought I should try and job-hop, too.

Of my dream job criteria, I was okay with compromising on the first four.

But at the end of the day, I wanted more money, fast.

And so began my quest to find a job that ticked all the boxes.

On the job hunt

Alongside my 9-5, I worked to put together a portfolio and apply for jobs.

I skipped meals, workouts, and most importantly, quality time with my friends and family to prepare for and smash my interviews.

This went on for months until I ultimately burned out.

But I ended up getting what I wanted: a 25% salary increase.

So was the grind worth the extra money?

I mean, it wasn’t life-changing, but it felt nice having the extra cushion.

But that feeling soon faded and my life was pretty much the same.

• Wake up tired
• Drink coffee
• Sit in meetings
• Pretend to be excited about work
• Think about quitting

I took some time off to soak it all in and that’s when I came to a realization.

A job is just a job

It’s a way to fund your lifestyle.

If your lifestyle is comfortable, it doesn’t matter if you make $80,000 or $180,000.

We all end up in the same places, drinking at the same bars, going to the same concerts, and living in the same cities.

And most importantly, we’re all still stuck in the 9-to-5 grind.

Sure, maybe some live in bigger houses or drive nicer cars.

But as long as you’re comfortable, those things don’t really affect your quality of life.

More money just means more savings and maxing out your retirement account.

I was making enough to live comfortably, so why was I not happy?

That’s when I decided to focus less on chasing money and more on enjoying life in the present moment.

The grass isn’t always greener

If you’re looking outside for a raise, think about the other factors that come with the job before you make the leap:

• Shorter commute
• Flexible work policy
• Paid vacation time
• Respectful coworkers
• Good boss

All these things will have an impact on your life.

It might not be worth it to leave for 10% more money in exchange for an hour-long commute and a boss who micromanages you.

Be content with what you have.

This doesn’t mean you can’t have goals and aspirations.

But sometimes, we focus so much on achieving more that we forget to enjoy the things we have.

I decided to stop chasing money, and as a result, my life got better.