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?

I literally was drained reading your work span. Congratulations, you figured out what works best for you. I noticed that I get bored easily and need a change after one or two years of working for the same company. Just the thought of work drains me. I feel bad that I feel this way.

I literally was drained reading your work span. Congratulations, you figured out what works best for you. I noticed that I get bored easily and need a change after one or two years of working for the same company. Just the thought of work drains me. I feel bad that I feel this way.

@Deloresdee2000 just saw a msg for this post drop in to my email. So in the last year I stopped working as a volunteer gardener and started cooking again for another project. That was over last winter when the garden didn’t have much going on. Still doing the window dressing. My husband is retiring soon and is going to do some voluntary work with animals though he isn’t sure what yet. I started working when very young and still at school in holiday camps. So though only weekends I did start at 13 as you could back then. So was 13 to 55 with two maternity leaves, one of 5 months and one of 9 months. I never did do what I really wanted to which was join the navy, that’s my biggest regret work wise.

Me too! I change jobs frequently. I’ve started contract work now so it’s actually the norm and neither party expects long term commitment!

I started out with such an enthusiastic attitude. I was determined to do well, worked overtime, and was brainwashed by the whole 'work ethic' message. After 30 years, I feel beaten down by the workplace. I coffee badge, don't work a minute overtime, and keep recalculating the earliest date I can feasibly retire. My friends are in the same. Maybe it's a reflection of the typical workplace, and not on us.

I've Never had a job I liked much.
It is ( probably) me, but the work place is very toxic these days I think and that doesn't help matters.

Sat at work reading this, spent the last hour applying for jobs as I absolutely hate been here.

I'm trying to find a positive in that I’ve gained experience and clarity in knowing I don’t like working in this sector (residential child care) so trying to pivot.

Would love to be a stay at home dog mum!

The kids can stick around too.

Now hats off to you, that must be tough.

I,ve read this post and followed it for so so long and it’s made me realise it’s not just me who hates being controlled by a job.
i,m 50, 3 kids, and have had one job which lasted 20years then after that various jobs which were just not suited.
i,ve been in my current one for 6 months and am already looking for somthing else, but one thing I realised is that I hate being controlled by the jobs. Eg, asking for leave days, asking to leave early if a kid is ill, just things like that.
Is there such a thing as working for yourself? What would you do?
I,ve thought about what I,m good at and wondered how I could make that into a salary for myself . But there’s not a lot.
dosent help that my current job is full-time and I,m out the house form 0715 most days.
Thinking back, I,ve probably hated being in a job my whole life, or at least since I could start working at 16..
Thanks for reading 😀

@material

I can relate with your post . I'm now seeking bank work so I can choose when I want to work . I got sick of having to beg for holidays , sick of my shifts being changed without being asked , sick of being interrogated about being off sick with flu and then being warned I could be sanctioned . I just want the freedom of choice.

It’s exactly like you said being controlled like a job! Most of the interests I have I couldn’t turn into a job and be my own boss so I’m hoping to either win the lottery some day soon so I no longer have to work!

I definitely think the pressure has ramped up but I have been fortunate to have been out of the workplace for quite some time now. The jobs I have had in the past have allowed for little creativity. I've also been very bored in a couple of them and clock watching. Thrown together with others not by choice most of the time and then the politics and drama that often follows. There is also a lack of respect for the individual seen as a number or object and not a person and individual in their own right.

I think there was another thread running along the lines of jobs you thought would be good/fulfilling but didn't turn out that way and that was quite an eyeopener.

And because I have been out of the employment for quite some time and given my age, I think I would find it difficult being told what to do and having my time taken away again. I have learnt as I've got older that time is precious. I realise am in a very fortunate position. I get fulfillment from other things such as supporting family members and interests (a few of them creative). There is very little that work would provide for me except financial reward and I try to live as simple a life as possible to avoid having to return to work.

Thank you for responding. I wish my ambition was higher. I am a home body person and love being around family. I seeked therapy because I would have anxiety attacks in the middle of work shifts. I miss my family when I'm away at work and cry sometimes when going, I feel exhausted and overwhelmed and I'm 42. I did become a mother at 17 and ended up being a single parent of six. I am constantly trying to figure out what direction to go in to better myself for my family. My four boys are grown now. My two girls are in elementary. I am praying that God guides me to a job that I love and get fulfilment from while helping people. God bless you and your family...I love your drive @Butterflycircle

Wow can I ask what you do?

Yep and I need to muster the energy for the next promotion. Need the money and pension. I just want to potter around at home with my chickens. Work gets in the way of my life.

@Deloresdee2000 I'm sorry you're feeling like that. What is it that you do for work? Odd question but what did you love or what did you want to be when you were 7 or 8?

I chucked in the towel for a bit and spent years back at uni studying things that aren't that useful for getting back into work and that require being in an actual physical workplace. I'm now kind of wishing I had done software or website development or something like that, that I could do from home and earn OK money and not have to manage people. I like the social aspect of work having always worked with broadly decent people but I hate the getting up and out on a morning, and meetings, and being responsible for things that I'm not good at and having to seem to care about things I don't care about, like corporate bollocks.

Maybe it's a reflection of the typical workplace, and not on us.

I think it does reflect that many aspects of typical workplaces are just shit, and we have to contort ourselves into litle shapes that we're not in order to do it, day after day, week after week, year after year.

It's a great thread, at least we can see we're not alone in feeling trapped in an unsuitable capitalist hell. I dream of a little house by the sea...

@Mmhmmn I was very passionate about art, reading, poetry, spent my days in books and drawing, I wrote so many songs and poems back then and still write songs. I also love listening and helping others. Sometimes I feel as if I'm so gullible and naive to this world that I should stay inside my house. That's where my peace is. @Mmhmmn

I hate working - its always understaffed, too much work with bollockings all the time for missing impossible deadlines, and some jobsworth leaning over you demanding more. Middle-class private educated people may tell you how much they love thier job but that's because for them its a CHOICE, an OPTION for money, where they often have autonomy, very flexible hours for very decent pay or that the money is a bonus - they already have an inherited or paid for home and regular income from parents, inheritance etc. For the rest of us work is mandatory REQUIRMENT or else face homelessness or worse. It is no wonder some people just commit horrible crimes so that they can just go to prison and not work for food and accommodation - if that sound far fetched - feel free to google "people who commit crimes to go to prison because its the best option to get food and board"

I think we all have an obligation to work in some form- doing only self serving tasks wouldn't satisfy me.
But work can exist in many forms- voluntary work, looking after children at home, paid work- all provide a valuable input to society.

It would be unacceptable to work in a place I hated long term. Life is short although I have worked in some places I didn't enjoy I was always making plans to make a move.
I was a SAHM, no family support and an OH that worked away a lot. So childcare was verjy difficult. So I started a small business at home. Modest to start with, part time, but my youngest is now 24 and I am still self employed, work full time, earn a good salary, love what I do and have the flexibility to down tools and have the day off, I attend 6 morning yoga classes at my local gym.
I do work 40 hours a week or so, but my work fits around my life, not the other way around. I have always loved early morning for instance, so I often work for a few hours at that time before a 9.30am yoga class.

A few months ago I would have answered yes to this - but for the first time in my life I am working somewhere with nice people, no politics, feel valued and appreciated and have enough of a free reign to work creatively and it's made such a difference! I never knew work could be this way and am loving it. Unfortunately it's a temporary job whilst they work out what staffing they need long term so whilst I'm hopeful it may go permanent I'm expecting I may have to find something else if it doesn't which fills me with dread.

My job is ok on paper. £30k salary, work from home, my boss is lovely and really flexible, but I have no satisfaction at all.

I'd love to retrain as a midwife but can't afford to have 3 years out of work. So I'm stuck.

Yes I feel like this but then i've already been doing it for 40 years and have just had enough. Every job I've had has been stressful, dealing with horrendous situations, people with significant needs etc. I'm just burnt out and need to retire.