From my POV, working 40 hours a week instead of 15 is a conscious choice. I could probably start my own company or source of income and get away with working 15 hours or even less a week, but I'm not going to.
One, working for a boss is secure - I know what I'm gonna earn by the end of the month, no stress there.
Two... I honestly wouldn't know what to do with the remaining time. I'm not an artsy hipster that spends all that free time being creative, I'd probably spend the extra time playing video games and growing fat. I for one need the structure in my life.
This is quite true. Some of my friends and family work for themselves and I could not possibly cope with the stress of having to win jobs or worry if I was going to get paid at the end of the month. Despite the romantic ideas of working for yourself, it appears to offer LESS flexibility instead of more - they're always working! Instead of "I can work when and where I want!" it turns into "I am always working, anywhere"
I could happily find things to do in my spare time though. Like playing an instrument, or reading.
I coped by adding a column to my spreadsheet: satisfaction. I charged more per hour for instance for family time, than for engineering time. So trading one for the other was obviously wrong. Still, the spreadsheet total has to meet a bar. I ended up working about 30 hours per week.
One, working for a boss is secure - I know what I'm gonna earn by the end of the month, no stress there.
Two... I honestly wouldn't know what to do with the remaining time. I'm not an artsy hipster that spends all that free time being creative, I'd probably spend the extra time playing video games and growing fat. I for one need the structure in my life.