Is there a job you’d do for free?

The quick answer is probably not. If I had access to sufficient funds to live without financial worries, there’s so much I’d love to do, and many other ways I’d like to spend my time than doing a job.

First off, I’d go back to University and see how far I could go up the academic tree with Psychology, or History of Art, or Literature (and knowing me, once I’d run through those options, there’s probably plenty more just waiting to draw me in). I believe I’d be completely content to spend the rest of my days as a student if a need to pay the bills wasn’t necessary.

Then there’s travel. I’ve pretty much accepted that travel – of the long distance variety – is now behind me. Putting aside the environmental considerations, there’s also the fact that I’m old and arthritic, so remaining in a small, cramped seat for hours on end is not conducive to arriving somewhere well enough to make the most of it. But if we assume the reason I’d be able to do a job for free is that I’d enough money not to worry the cost of things, then I could travel slowly and gently and (let’s be honest) in some degree of comfort, if not bordering on luxury.

And by combining just these two from a relatively extensive list of things I’d do if I didn’t need to work, I believe I’d have a pretty full and wonderful life 🙂

The obvious question to ask is what sort of life would it be without purpose?

One way to resolve this would be to volunteer time to a cause you care about – while also hopefully being unbothered about the mundane nature of the work likely to be asked of you.

Putting volunteering aside for now, my experience is a major drawback of having to work is the fact it takes up a vast percentage of my available daily hours. Despite how much enjoyment or satisfaction I might gain from any job, leading a regimented existence, day-after-day, week-after-week, month-after-month, year-upon-year, can lead to frustrations as the list of things missed out on builds up.

But were it possible to work in a genuinely flexible manner – without having to also be “on call” – then I might be willing to change my “no” to a “yes”.

Except…

How many employers would be willing to employ people on this basis? Indeed, how many jobs could realistically be done in this manner?

Those individuals who get off the hamster wheel of employment and move to self-employment, find they need to work longer and harder. Now, because they love what they do, that’s a trade-off they’re not only willing to make, but are happy to so do. But, if this were me, it still wouldn’t address the problem of all those things I’d love to do and those other ways I’d like to spend my time.

When it comes down to it, the only “proper” job which could change my “no” to a “yes” would be writing. But if I’m not being paid to write – is it even a job?

Is there are job you’d do (or would have done should you now be retired) for free? Does the fact I answered “no” suggest to you that I’ve not found my true purpose?

© Debs Carey, 2025