Anyone else just hate working, no matter what the job is?

[DrSheppard]

I'm in a pretty good job right now - the people are nice enough, the pay is very good, the subject matter is relatively interesting and it's flexible (can mostly work from home). But each and every day I struggle. I've felt like this in every job I have, and I've had a fair few! I dislike the routine of work. I dislike meetings and emails and workshops. I hate going into the office especially - I hate the glaring lights, sitting at a desk all day and the feeling of being boxed in. Even in the best of jobs I've had, this feeling never goes away.

I just don't care about work, frankly. I do what I need to do and always get great performance reviews, but I have zero investment in the outcome of what I do. Every day when I log off I breathe a sigh of relief, but the thought of doing this for the next 30+ years is awful. Sometimes I think about retraining but I really don't know if that'd 'fix' it, since I'm already in a well-paid and comfortable role and I've already dabbled in a fair few types of roles. Does anyone else feel this way?

If you provide daily care for him you could claim Carers Allowance and you’ll be exempt from the searching for work bit. Your UC will be reduced by the same amount.

I like working. Not sure why I just do. Had lots of different jobs doing different things and although I don't get paid as well now as I used to, I love going to work. I have 9 years til I retire and I'm looking forward to that, but I know I'll be working again in a month. I was always brought up with a 'work for what you want' attitude, so I do.

I love what I do too.
My work is calming, I can lose myself for an afternoon working.
I love Those wet weekday afternoons, torrential rain pouring outside while I work-hours pass as I am in the flow.
I am in my 60s, and have absolutely no plans to retire. Thankfully I am very fit and well, I hope I am still working into my 70s.

Can I ask, the posters who love their jobs, what do you do?

I work in a leadership role in a local authority. My job involves using specialist skills to help services to transform - largely to do more with less money due to ongoing budget cuts.

I get to continually learn and apply new theories, tools and techniques to achieve better outcomes for local people and the organisation which is really rewarding.

I am self employed- I make and sell craft items- within a particular niche.
I sell online, my profit puts me into the higher tax bracket.

Ownership is the way. Owning your own business=more stressful but way more satisfying and rewarding

But you need money for this….

That's working.

@SecretVictoria sometimes you just need specific skills. For example you can buy a business for £0, the deal being that the previous owner gets 20% of profits for the next 5 years. Or (like me) you can be self employed under someone else's brand, and pay them a percentage of each clients service. No initial outlay at all.

@DrSbaitso yes but it's not working forsomeone else. It gives you a different kind of motivation to get up in the morning, and a passion for the thing you're doing to make money. Because it's all yours, you have complete control over everything that happens

I've thought about starting my own business but quite honestly am afraid of all the legal and tax stuff!

Surprisingly, I find enjoyment in working and have no strong urge to retire, even though I'm in my mid-50s. I thrive on being busy, and my hobbies alone wouldn't be sufficient to fulfill me. What I dislike, however, is the mundane Monday-to-Friday routine.

Throughout my career, I have had a diverse range of jobs, often changing fields due to my tendency to get bored easily. While this has resulted in starting from the bottom and taking a salary hit each time, it keeps me motivated and engaged, which is exactly what I need. Fortunately, I don't aspire to reach the top of any particular career or earn a six-figure salary, so I consider myself fortunate in that regard.

Between the ages of 18 and 30, I worked in an office-based job, which was the most miserable period of my life. I eventually left to become self-employed, and those ten years were some of the happiest I've experienced. Being able to set my own working hours, take time off when it suited me, and still earn great money for less than full-time hours was incredibly rewarding.

However, after a decade of self-employment and extensive travel, I started to feel the isolation that came with it. I decided to go to university and pursue a degree and then a master's, dedicating five years to full-time education.

While I'm no longer my own boss and work for an organization, I genuinely love the profession I've chosen, which outweighs the drawbacks of being an employee.

Furthermore, I have some flexibility in my current job. I work condensed hours, completing a full-time workload in just three days. This allows me to maintain a work-life balance. Additionally, I have options, such as doing agency work, which offers more freedom in terms of when and where I work. I've had experience with agency work before, and I found it liberating because I could easily leave a place if I didn't like it and move on to something else. Of course, there are downsides, such as reduced job security and the need to manage my own pension provisions.

My chosen career path means I'm not as financially secure as I would have been if I had stayed in the same job for over three decades and climbed the corporate ladder. Nevertheless, I've had a remarkable life and a genuinely fulfilling work-life balance. That's why I have no desire to retire just yet—I've consistently lived life to the fullest along the way, rather than spending my entire life working tirelessly and waiting for retirement to pursue the things on my bucket list. Hence I am happy to continue working for the time being.

Hasn't stopped Amazon!

It's seriously simple- if you are a sole trader and not a limited company.
I have been self employed for 18 years, tax returns are easy.
Just keep a note of income and expenditure over the year, you can enter the lot as single amounts, no need for a breakdown, although I keep that for my own records, in case the tax office needs more information.
I find the telephone support staff at the HMRC really helpful if I have a query, it was them who suggested I don't need an accountant, and they were right.
Don't let the admin put you off becoming self employed, that part can be easy

Lol

Thanks @speakoutI know you're right!

But it's still working. So you do enjoy work, it just needs to be the right kind.

Sadly, neither of those would be an option for me, but thank you for replying and hopefully someone else might be able to do something like that.

Thanks for this thread. Most days I think when can I retire? My job is ok but just the idea of doing this or anything day in day out for the next 25yrs is depressing!

I am trying to think of my current job as a "good enough" job as Barbara Sher talks about in that it gives me money to go and do the things I really want to do.

I've had various jobs and also ran my own business which has its own challenges - lack of security, not wanting to take leave when busy etc and it was in something I was really passionate which kind of ruined that for me so now I keep it separate work and passion I mean.

I also think finding meaning in jobs doesn't work for me for a long period of time and I've done jobs that others always describe as "rewarding" such as mental health, counselling and support work similar to that mentioned upthread.

Thanks for the FIRE info going to look into it!

What really gets me down is the office politics: snide underhanded people who do the minimum amount of (sloppy, inaccurate) work but somehow are in the 'inner circle' and get promoted or treated better than others who really work hard, but don't publicise themselves, and who are treated like nonentities.

I really feel for you! I'm in the fortunate position to be able to semi retire a few years ago, I'm now 64. Obviously would like to be a lady of leisure, but needs must, I do temp TA work in primary schools, finished my last contract at Easter and won't return till September. I've worked in education and family support for over 40 years, low pay, stressful roles, and I resent every minute I have to work!

Or worse, the minute these types encounter someone truly competent (but unskilled in political dark arts) they undermine, stick the knife in and hound them out. I’m convinced this is what happens regularly to good, principled doctors in the NHS.

Yes. Loved being a sahp

Hate being couped in an office.
Hate speaking to people but equally hate being too lonely.
Hate ' work rules'

I now wfh for a family member on an as and when basis. Good salary for very little input.
I could afford not to work thankfully just about but the extra is always lovely

I much prefer just organising our home and family life.
Or if i fancy an hours kip when kids are at school then i can.

I love it. And can hand on heart say I've only ever felt bored maybe 5 times in the last 2 years