Urszula Jóźwiak, President of the XBW Foundation (Opinion): “Love Your Job and You’ll Never Work a Day in Your Life” – or Will You?”Love your job and you’ll never work a day in your life” – this phrase reigns supreme on the social media profiles of mental trainers, coaches, and self-proclaimed motivation gurus. It sounds beautiful, almost like a mantra for a Sunday roast. But do we really all need to love our jobs to be happy? Or is this so-called “love” just a clever way to justify working 24/7 – and enjoying it?
Urszula Jóźwiak: We must draw clear boundaries between work and personal life
According to American psychologist Adam Grant, loving your job can lead to it becoming your entire life. The consequence? You no longer have time for anything else, and burnout becomes just a matter of time. After all, no one can be constantly “on.” Sometimes, you just have to log off. Grant says: “Maintaining work-life balance is essential for well-being.”
So does that mean you can’t love your job? Of course you can – but only if you set clear boundaries between your personal and professional spheres. And that’s no easy task.
Urszula Jóźwiak: The more you do, the better a person you are?
Personally, I’m still learning. I know very well how hard it is to say “stop” when a new project is already tempting, and the next one is forming in your mind. But is that really my belief—or is it the deeply ingrained work ethic taught from childhood, where the more you do, the better a person you are?
In her widely discussed book “Cheers to Work: On the Culture of Overwork”, Zofia Smełka-Leszczyńska emphasizes the difference between enjoying your job and being convinced by your employer that it’s “an amazing adventure.” And there’s something to that. Phrases like “we offer a family atmosphere” and “self-fulfillment” are now standard in job listings. But let’s be honest: a company is not a family (unless you literally work in a family business). Work can bring satisfaction, it can even be fun—but ideally, there should also be a life beyond it.
Urszula Jóźwiak: Young people don’t see work as just a source of income
Every generation sees it differently. Millennials (born 1981–1996), though ambitious, want to maintain a work-life balance. Gen Z (born after 1996) does this even better but has a different “flaw”—they want to change the world. And that’s great! Research conducted as part of the “Trustworthy Employer” competition shows that young people don’t see work as merely a source of income.
They seek self-fulfillment and purpose, and they want to work for responsible, eco-conscious companies that treat both employees and the environment with respect. What’s more, they understand that work hours are work hours—and after that, the phone stays silent. And they’re very consistent about it. You know what? They’re right. Although compared to Millennials and Boomers—who are just beginning to learn work-life balance—they may appear as if they don’t care about work at all.
Urszula Jóźwiak: I’m slowly beginning to grasp this elusive work-life balance
I remember when my mother-in-law (a wonderful woman who defies all stereotypes—and no, I’m not saying this to score points; the odds of her reading this are slim) told me that she used to leave work at 3:00 PM—period. After that, it was time for kids, home, and enjoyment. Today, she watches me and my husband typing away on our keyboards in the evenings, answering calls on weekends, and she just shrugs: “That’s how it is now.”
We ourselves are also trying to find healthy boundaries.
I really do enjoy working. But I also enjoy doing nothing. I love running, learning—and then doing nothing again. And slowly, I’m beginning to grasp that elusive work-life balance. How about you?
Who is Urszula Jóźwiak?
Urszula Jóźwiak holds a degree in Philosophy from the Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University in Warsaw and completed postgraduate studies at the University of Warsaw. She is the President of the XBW Ignacy Krasicki Foundation and an expert at the ESG Institute. She is also the publisher of RaportCSR.pl and Raport ESG—Poland’s first magazine fully dedicated to ESG issues.
She is the creator and organizer of the ESG Congress, Poland’s first roundtable bringing together all stakeholder groups to discuss ESG topics. For years, she has also coordinated the “Trustworthy Employer” Forum and Competition.
CER Opinions > KJJ > Source: Agencja Informacyjna >> 18.03.2025
