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Original poster

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

486 replies

DrSheppard · 04/07/2023 08:07

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?

OP posts:
BodegaSushi · 04/07/2023 16:04

Work2live · 04/07/2023 16:02

The “you’re probably in the wrong job” posts are so tedious.

I’ve worked in numerous jobs, office work, manual work, service industries, and caring to name a few. They all had their own advantages and disadvantages but I didn’t like any of them. Even the jobs with a ‘purpose’. Because I don’t like being on anyone else’s schedule. It’s a fundamental part of my personality that also extends into my personal life.

I’ve tried freelancing in my chosen field and didn’t enjoy that - the nature of my career means dealing with some nightmare clients and chasing late payments. I found the lack of a reliable paycheque stressful. And I was still working to my clients’ schedules.

My life would be much happier if I could get up and go to bed when I want, spend my days reading, exercising, and pottering about with my dog (NOT reading things I don’t want to read, training other people, or walking other peoples’ dogs).

But nobody will pay me to do that.

I have to work to pay the bills. And I don’t have endless time/money to spend trying to find my calling. So I’m making do with a job that pays me well, that I’m good at, and that I don’t absolutely loathe.

Apt username Grin

Work2live · 04/07/2023 16:05

BodegaSushi · 04/07/2023 16:04

Apt username Grin

Show quote history

Ironically this has been my username for a really long time! 😂

BanditsOnTheHorizon · 04/07/2023 16:08

Yup me too. I enjoy my job, it pays well, is flexible and I have a good work/life balance, but if I was given the change to not work, I'd rip your arm off.

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Vintageteatowel · 04/07/2023 17:05

Even more frustrating is the fact that I pursued a career in a “meaningful sector” because I thought it would give me meaning. After realising that no job would give me that I wish I had just gone for something that paid well. I have ended up in an ok job with ok pay but I have to stay in it now to pay the bills.

ilovetomatoes · 04/07/2023 18:23

I’m exactly the same have never enjoyed any job I’ve done. I like the money and the status and having something to talk about. But now I’ve been made redundant and am devastated. It’s knocked me for six.

Oblomov23 · 04/07/2023 18:25

I like most of the things described. I work in the office 3 days, 1 at home, suits me perfectly.

gemtart · 04/07/2023 18:26

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

It would be funny if OP earned more than you and was in a position with much more responsibility (I don't judge people by their salary but people like you tend to). I know a fair few c-suite execs who hate working, one of them whose name you might know. Wonder if your crowd would dare to call them snowflakes to their face lol

DemBonesDemBones · 04/07/2023 19:29

I always felt this way before I became a stay at home mum. I am degree educated and had professional jobs that I didn't care about at all.
Now all the children are at school, I work 3 days a week ion checkouts at Asda. And I LOVE IT! Seriously, it's the best job I've had! I get to talk to people all day long and the shifts absolutely fly by because I'm genuinely having such a lovely time!

DemBonesDemBones · 04/07/2023 19:32

Sorry about the spelling and grammar, genuinely so overexcited!

Hopingforagreatescape · 04/07/2023 19:50

I work in an office and find my colleague's seeming lack of interest in anything outside work really odd. There's no chat about current affairs, no chat about what's on telly, basically admitting you're human is a no-no. But they are very interested in what biscuits to buy for the board meeting, or who will be appointed the next Director - things which don't interest me in the slightest. The words "corporate" and "policy" make me recoil sadly, but I'm not qualified to work anywhere else and don't have the financial wherewithal to retrain, even if that would be allowed at my vast age.

70sTomboy · 04/07/2023 21:04

I really cared about a previous job, threw myself into it and my 'career', but it bit me right royally on the arse. I won't make that mistake again. I go, do my job and fuck off home. I resent that my dwindling number of years ahead will be spent working.

If I could have a basic income that covered the bills without working, I bloody well would pack it in tomorrow.

Blending25 · 04/07/2023 21:34

God, get a grip...if you don't enjoy your job find another....employers everywhere are asking for staff....

randomfemthinker · 04/07/2023 21:34

Working is a waste of time unless you fully enjoy what you do over the circumstances and/or paid a lot. Here at NM people who don't fit into it over the standard 40 hour week are given a hard time over those who do fit better with it and have the right suited job. I'm neurodiverse and struggled all my life with workplaces, from the co orperate stupidity to the direct - or indirect - bullying. With artificial intelligence and other tech on its way, I think in future times (over the human race lasting) people will look back over glorifying this odd slavery and wonder why we did it. Or at least over standard time norms. Personally, I would rather spend my time doing something better.

Mimilamore · 04/07/2023 21:35

I was exactly like you... I have retired now at long last and live the freedom this affords me. Hated the meetings, the procedures, the protocols, the having to be on somebody else's agenda.

RLT24 · 04/07/2023 21:51

Yes I hate office working and the entire ‘corporate environment’ of meetings and teams and pretending to be interested in the company you work for etc, working massive amounts of overtime when it’s required and when it comes down to it you’re just treated as a number.

When I used to work in the office full time I’d walk through the train station with hundreds of others doing the same commute and I felt like a lemming. Working from home didn’t make me happier either.

I’d like to retrain and do something where I work for myself, I’m thinking maybe one day I’d like to be a part time childminder.

RedRosette2023 · 04/07/2023 22:01

Me too OP. I worked so hard and trained for 6 years. Now 19 years experience. It’s so dull. I’m paid well and have a flexible job, but I threaten to quit atleast twice a week (to my DH). I just feel I’m missing my children’s best years doing something of no value.

RampantIvy · 04/07/2023 22:02

No. I love my job.

YourFault · 04/07/2023 22:12

Bone idle

Allwelcone · 04/07/2023 22:18

DragonflyLady · 04/07/2023 11:21

My last job I grew to hate, so much bureaucracy and focussed on Ofsted rather than the students. I had qualifications coming out of my ears to be able to do this job and it was once reasonably paid, but no pay rise for a decade meant that I had to get a second job. I now have a number of different jobs which I do for no more than three hours at a time and I love them! My self employed bit I earn more per hour than I did in my previous role - and they’re quite menial jobs tbh. My employed bit earns me the same per hour as my previous job but again is a menial role for which I need no quals and which has no stress, but is much fun!

Ooh please tell me more about this approach, what type of "menial" do you mean? Sounds interesting
I hate work too
Having to be there every day
Terrible managers!

Londre · 04/07/2023 22:38

I was a housewife for a year and loved every moment of it. DH was happy with it and it was the best time of my life. Back at work, in a well paid job with good flexible and hate it! I know how you feel OP. Only 40 years until retirement if they don’t change it again!

Mummaoftwo2016 · 04/07/2023 22:47

I dont work for money. We could live on one wage but i work FT in a career ive worked hard for. Ive moved career paths in last year and couldn't be happier as i do what i enjoy 80% of the time.
You need to look at what you enjoy - see if you can train in something that would include that.
I enjoy learning about medicine. Im 34 and started my career at 16 by getting a job in a chemist. Yet at 16 i wanted to be an air stewardess. I now run clinics helping people with medicine and alot more and it was something i never imagined at 16 i would of gone into.
Maybe get some hobbies etc outside of work also. If youre not happy in general you wont enjoy anything

Fanlover1122 · 04/07/2023 22:50

resistingreality · 04/07/2023 09:28

I felt like that when I worked in corporate jobs - I just couldn't see the point of any of it and couldn't work out whether everybody else could. I changed careers and now I feel like I have a purpose, in the sense that I care about what I do (not all of it, some at least). A writer called David Graeber wrote a book about what he called 'bullshit jobs.' Jobs that might be reasonably well paid but are quite pointless and nobody would really notice if they disappeared. Not saying your job is bullshit OP but I think there are a lot of bullshit jobs out there and working in one can be soul-destroying at worst and not at all fulfilling at best.

I have one of those bullshit jobs. I have totally had a re- think about how I approach it.....as I used to think hard work translated into pay rises and bonuses....

now I realise it’s just being easy to work with, do everting you do perfectly - but do less so that you can do it perfectly. Smile and agree to everything the boss says - collect the six figure paycheck, live life and laugh 🤣

OneCup · 04/07/2023 22:54

That's the way I felt about school, the stupid rules, some boring subjects, annoying people, the schedule, the building etc.
My job on the other hand gives me a lot of autonomy and annual leave so it feels more bearable!

Koalasparkles · 04/07/2023 23:02

Are you sure you're just not in completely the wrong line of work? If you hate sitting at a desk and feel boxed in, then surely a "doing" job on your feet or outside would be much better? Does your work having meaning matter to you and your current work just doesn't?

As much as I complain about my job and it feels dead-end (in a career sense, but not in an actual sense - it is a v important and much needed job) - I have never dreaded going into work and counted down the minutes like I have with other jobs. Obviously everyone would love to just do what they want rather than have to earn money, but as far as jobs go mine could be a lot worse and I think you probably just haven't found the job that you can live with in the same way.

NotAboutToGoBackAndForth · 04/07/2023 23:06

I’m with you.

When people ask me what my dream job is I just laugh. I don’t have a fucking dream job. My dream job is to never have a job!!