Does anyone else hate working no matter the job?

This is me the last 10 years or so. I used to love to work, been working every since I was 13 (started as a summer camp counselor). Went to college and thought I would eventually work up to a high paying job doing interesting things. Didn't happen. I have financially struggled most of my career, and most of my jobs which haven't been in the area that I received my degree, have gotten boring and monotonous after a few years.

Now I dread getting up to go to work, I only look forward to chatting with my coworkers and eating lunch in the cafe. I'm 55 and sadly still have at least a decade more to work. I've been in my current job for 6 years and I wonder how I will mentally do it for another decade. It's slowly sucking my soul out of my body.

It doesn’t matter if you’re happy or not. You need to work to live so you just need to crack on. That’s how I always looked at it.

I think lots of us feel this way sometimes.

I feel proud of my work which helps …. I would also feel proud doing one day a week like 👍

I have made myself a five year plan which helps - I’m working 5 days to pay off the mortgage/ fund a holiday ect

try finding a side hustle to give you new drive. I started a booktok account two years ago, just for reviews and recommendations, but started selling books back in may - and I have made well over 1 thousand pounds in commission since .

Same

I think a lot of people feel like this but for some reason, it’s frowned upon to say it.

Anothercake....What do u do?

I have come to realise in my late 40s that I am only interested in making money for retirement.

Bored and tired all the time

Mine is actually ok mostly but I hate having to be sat in front of a laptop between 8-5/6 every day. I feel drained afterwards and struggle to do anything other than sit in front of the tv or read afterwards. When I’m not working I get more exercise, get outside more and generally have more energy. Just 9 years 10 months to go

This is so true - it’s not the job or the people I dislike, but I resent having to spend so much of my day/week/year/ life doing it. Plus the bullshit office politics does my head in.

I think part of it is that I’ve working on and off for 25 years now, so it’s not new or exciting, just the same crap. But I’m still far enough away from retirement for it to be a pipe dream still.

I also have an elderly parent with increasing demands, which feels like a part time job on top of my actual job.

Weekends are far too short, and my brain is mush after working and commuting so I don’t have the energy for much else.

Sadly, I’m in early 40’s with a shite pension, so I’m going to spend the next 10 years throwing as much as I can at it, and then in my 50’s drop down to 3 or 4 days a week.

I know what you mean though OP, I have so many other things I’d like to be doing instead. Bring on retirement.

Yes I feel the same. Had a period when I didn't work and it was the best time of my life. I'd never been fitter, healthier (mentally and physically), or more content with life. In a way I wish it hadn't happened as I'll likely never get to do it again, and now I know what I'm missing out on 😩

I know the majority of people need to work to some degree, or society can't function, but surely there's a better balance than 40 hrs a week with only 5 or so weeks off a year!

I've disliked some jobs I've been in (boredom), but not working as such. At times I have genuinely loved working, and I was genuinely excited about my work. I'm older and much more tired and cynical now, but still don't hate working. It's nothing to do with pay and benefits, I was way more enthusiastic about work when I was paid peanuts at the beginning of my career.

@AzureCats That's how I know I just don't like working. It tires me out and then I have no energy for my actual free time and life.

This sums up how I feel. My hours are only 25 per week so I should have plenty time to do stuff in the afternoons but by the time I get home I'm knackered and completely "peopled out" and just want to do the bare minimum . My hourly rate works out a few pounds more than when I was working 35 hours and with paying less tax I'm not that far off what I was on before, if I'm careful but I'm still existing payday to payday and as @piglet879 says, I’m wishing my life away constantly.

Me too but it's why I do agency work so it's never the same and always an end in sight. That said Ive had some very lean months. I think my plan is to train as a dog groomer to fill in the lean periods.

I like working. But I’m in a well paid job that doesn’t require much actual work at all.

It's a trade of your freedom and time for money

Most jobs probably 80percent plus
suck, that's why they have to pay you

I’m a nurse, work full time and always have and bloody hate it. I’m 48 so stuck in that hellhole for another two decades. Makes me miserable every minute and I’m wishing my life away constantly 😞

I read recently "I would hate anything even a fun hobby if I was forced to do it for 40 hours a week" and I think that sums it up for me. I like variety and most work leaves little scope for that.

I literally work on the coast/by the sea 30 hours a week and I still bloody hate it. That's how I know I just don't like working. It tires me out and then I have no energy for my actual free time and life.
I used to be able to push through but atm I have little energy apart from scrolling and weekend small walks.

I spent a couple years travelling and unemployed and at first my mental health was great but then not having a purpose (even with volunteering) really wore me down. It's an awful catch 22.

I always find MN leans towards loving their jobs and these threads get taken over by them. Us job haters unite on Reddit in my experience. 😂

I never liked work even though it was well paid. I’m early retired now & have never been happier. Free to spend my days how I please. Get a plan in place to retire as soon as you can!

I used to think we were all nuts for thinking working was something worthwhile and being sniffy about people who would prefer not to work. I thought it was something sold to the working and middle classes to keep us occupied while the rich enjoyed life and never worked if they could help it. I still feel a bit like that but I love my job nowadays, I work for a lovely firm remotely with flexible hours and we have a small team that really support one another - there's none of this management bollocks where we have to do stupid things to prove we're part of a team either. I do think it depends on where you work. I like to have my own money and feel my brain is being used for good. Would I give it all up tomorrow if I became really rich? Possibly, but I'd still do something else to be useful and I'd miss the people I work with.

I don't hate it but I'd rather not do it. If I didn't have to work I definitely wouldn't.

I work largely self employed now in a way that suits me, which is also a way I couldn't do when my kids were young. That is, intense bursts with lots of time off in between, and a different working pattern every day even during the full on times. I find that keeps me just about enough on my toes to make it interesting. But, most jobs aren't like that so most of my working life I've been bored to fucking tears, ground down and in reality a bit listless even outside of work. For thirty years!

One job I liked was in a factory working 6am-2pm. The job itself was boring but the people I worked with were a good laugh and finishing at 2 meant it felt like I had a lot of time to myself. Getting up in the morning was brutal though.

I do enjoy the satisfaction of earning money but I think the 40 hours/5 days for 45/50 years model is a poor bargain for most employees, overall, so it's a bit dispiriting.

I loved working ( also qualified as teacher, but burnt out within 10 years!)

Mid 50’s now, am struck with cancer, can’t work and wish I could!

I can’t say I do hate working. I have never been as miserable as the couple of years I spent unemployed. I need people, community and mental stimulation. It probably helps that I have long teaching holidays, but even by the end of those I am ready to go back to work.

I have discovered a surprising amount of ex-teachers in the smallholding/farming world, on the grounds that animals are much less stressful to work with than large groups of other people!

I like the animal side of my job. A few of the humans the ones that think that they are superior to the rest of us could be improved, and the work hours less so that I could have more of a life, but I know that I couldn't manage on a part-time wage.

I quite like my job (TA) but currently not liking being in education due to behaviour in school and lack of staff to deal with it all.

I find getting out to work helps me stop worrying about stuff at home.