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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I absolutely hate working and believe it to be the worst thing about being an adult. AIBU?

389 replies

IntoTheSunset · 01/12/2015 17:16

I'd like to allay any concerns that anyone might have about my work ethic firstly. No one has ever complained about it in any job I've had. I realise that people have to work. I just find it depressing that I will likely have to continue working into my sixties and beyond. I'm 42 and would gladly retire tomorrow if I could. I also don't like how a person's place in society is defined by their job ahead of anything else. Do any MNers feel similarly?

OP posts:
molyholy · 01/12/2015 19:11

I work in an office 9-3 mon-fri. Job is easy but dull, my boss is amazing. Wages are fab. I am allowed paid time off at the drop of a hat. 2 weeks off over christmas fully paid and no need to use any annual leave. BUT having said all that, I would still very happily pack in work at the drop of a hat. I would be a kept woman if dh got a job where we could afford it. I would be a domeatic goddess given half the chance. The drudgery and monotony of the working day fucks me off. There are a million better things I could be doing.

toffeeboffin · 01/12/2015 19:12

I feel the same.

I moan all the time about working and am desperate to win the lottery.

It's such a bind. Getting up in the dark, commute, blah blah work, coming home, dinner, bed. Repeat. Yawn.

FWIW I have always had a job and feel very bizarre if I don't i.e. when on mat.leave.

MarshaBrady · 01/12/2015 19:15

That should be ie self-employed not I'd.

I'm employed on a contract atm but where I work will be introducing the ability to work from home soon. Will be really good to have that option.

toffeeboffin · 01/12/2015 19:16

Come on DioGratias, what do you do? Just a clue.

You are an highly paid, incredibly intelligent genius aren't you? Grin

lorelei9 · 01/12/2015 19:17

If I could find home based work, I'd definitely carry on working for longer - I always have half an eye out for home based work but it seems like hen's teeth in my line of work, sadly. Getting hte 2 days I've got in my job has been amazing.

toffeeboffin · 01/12/2015 19:18

If I won the lottery I would travel, buy property, dine in fancy restaurants and have more children.

Instead I am re-wrapping all the presents under the company Christmas tree!

JugglingFromHereToThere · 01/12/2015 19:18

Completely with you OP. I'm 50 and have yet to find a job I really enjoy. Fortunately I've been able to dodge work quite a bit by being a student for a long time, traveling a bit, and being a SAHM. But I've still worked for many years as a student nurse, a teacher, and an early years practitioner.
I put a lot in when I am working and love the children and their families.
But I'd still rather be doing something else. It's the work politics that gets me most I think. I've not always been treated well by management.
I preferred being a kid. I'm looking forward to being a granny one day and doing lots of baby sitting.
I'm P'eed off they moved the goal posts from 60 to 68 for my pension.
I guess I might yet find something I enjoy. I'm interested in training in counseling as so many people need someone to talk to.
I enjoyed a year in Japan teaching people English on a free-lance P/T basis.
Glad to see I'm not the only one feeling like this!

Barbarasmum · 01/12/2015 19:19

What's it got to do with you? Well - OP did ask. I would struggle living in a community where I didn't contribute other than via a partner's taxes. I work, I volunteer, I dread retirement - who (who really needs it) is going to benefit from me having a really lovely garden and free childcare for my grandchildren...?

PoorFannyRobin · 01/12/2015 19:20

I was employed outside the home for decades (literally). Many aspects of my employment history were quite interesting, rewarding, and very fulfilling in specific ways and I did, for the most part, do a good job at it. But I always felt that it was an unnatural aspect of modern life that human beings are forced to leave their homes for a specific number of hours a week, travel fairly far from home enduring the stresses of enduring public transportation or driving at 60 mph (or sometimes only 5 mph!) in all types of weather, placing children in daycare, and being allowed exemption from this only at specific times. Everyone is different, but I love being at home!

PennyPants · 01/12/2015 19:20

I like my job a lot, but I don't earn much as it is very part time so we don't rely on my wage for anything and I could give up anytime.
But I will probably stay until Dh takes early retirement at 55, the plans are in place.
If we became wealthy enough to both retire overnight we'd both be gone like a shot.

CaitSith · 01/12/2015 19:21

Sorry, another one who loves my job! Buy I'm aware that I'm very lucky. I get to work from home with nursery within walking distance, never work evenings or weekends and get paid a decent salary.

If I won the lottery I'd maybe go part time if I could, but I still don't think I'd quit completely.

Picturesofmatchstickmen · 01/12/2015 19:24

My job is hard, long hours and physical, I find it exhausting even though I enjoy it and I just do not know how I am going to do it for another 20 years, but at 40 I don't know if It's realistic to have a complete career change, no savings, 3 kids, massive mortgage etc. I'm not qualified to do anything else, but I would love to slow down

JohnCusacksWife · 01/12/2015 19:24

You are so right, OP. I know I am very fortunate only to work 3 days a week and still earn a good salary but I massively resent the amount of time work takes up. The fact that I lose three precious days a week to pointless beaurocracy and office politics really gets me down at times.

I'm amazed at the number of people that say they love their jobs so much they'd hate to be retired. is there really nothing else they would rather do than work? My list of more pleasurable and productive alternatives is as long as my arm.

And I think it should be a rule of the lottery that you're barred from entering if wouldn't give up work! Leave the money to those of us who could put it to good use!

Awoof · 01/12/2015 19:28

Another one who loves my job!
I don't get paid much but I work with a fantastic, hard working, hilarious team so it never feels like a chore really.
I think I have relatively low contentment levels, if that is a thing?

AcrossthePond55 · 01/12/2015 19:28

I worked for 35 years at my career. It was very fulfilling and for the majority of my time I worked with lovely people. I retired in my mid-50s after DH retired and after he had a terrible health scare. After a month of retirement the light bulb went off and I realized I worked all my life for this. Retirement is wonderful. It's the next best thing to being a child again. Our time is our own. We go and come as we please. We take naps. We sit in the sun (or the rain if we choose). We can be as busy or as idle as we want.

I wish my whole life had been like this. As my BFF and I used to say "I wish I had been born rich instead of so damn good lookin'". Grin

Greengardenpixie · 01/12/2015 19:29

I'm lucky. I feel i have the best of both worlds. I am a teacher and work 3 days a week. Love the 4 days off that I have. It makes me really appreciate them. I was in a school i hated with poor management and it was incredibly stressful. I moved to a different school and have found the enjoyment I once had. Sure i have days that are very tiring and the paper work etc but for the most part i really love teaching.

sandrapanda · 01/12/2015 19:30

I was a SAHM for 8 years and decided that I wanted to do something 'worthwhile' since all my dc were now in school. So 6 months ago I got a job which I thought I'd enjoy. Although I enjoy the job I have quickly realised being a SAHM was 'worthwhile' and I was much happier being at home. So last week I handed in my notice and I'm literally counting down the days.

TheTigerIsOut · 01/12/2015 19:30

Hmm... Not sure, my personal idea of hell is not having a job, it is not so much the need of an imcome but the satisfaction to face and sort a number of little challenges a day.

I am going to work until they drag me out, honest!

LucasIsMyMuse · 01/12/2015 19:31

I would like my job a lot better if I didn't have to do it. For me the drudgery comes from not having a choice rather than what I do.

cruikshank · 01/12/2015 19:34

And I think it should be a rule of the lottery that you're barred from entering if wouldn't give up work! Leave the money to those of us who could put it to good use!

Completely agree with this. People who say it won't change their lives don't deserve to win millions - what's the fucking point, you blinkered morons?

I do like my job, as it goes - it's socially useful, I have great colleagues, fab management etc etc ... but, still, if I didn't have to do it I'd be out that fucking door like a madwoman. There are loads of things I can think of to do with my time - travel, read, write, study - all sorts. There must be a certain poverty of imagination in people who would get bored without working - there is an entire world out there, beyond your desk.

whois · 01/12/2015 19:36

I don't mind work, on average. Some days are shit, some are great, overall ok. I do get satisfaction and fulfilment out of work.

If I won over 15 million I would stop work - because then I would have e ouch money to occupy myself physically and mentally doing all sorts of exciting things, and enough to pay for friends to come do fun stuff with me.

But since I need money to live on, and I appear to like to have more money rather than less, I'll put up with going to work.

Jux · 01/12/2015 19:36

I love working. I have always loved working. I haven't always loved the work, and when I was in my 20s I decided that no matter the salary, I would only do jobs I enjoyed and if I stopped enioying a job I would find another.

This is what I did. Sometimes I earnt vast sums and had masses of disposable income, and sometimes I was very very broke. If you enjoy your job, it doesn't matter so much that you have to budget like mad and do without things which you had always thought were essential (but aren't, moisturiser, shampoo, even food sometimes).

I wasn't able to work (ms) for many years, but recently started pt on a voluntary basis. I still love working; those years not working were among the most miserable of my life! I would happily work until I hit 120! Grin

Jux · 01/12/2015 19:41

And if I won the lottery I would still work. Not through poverty of imagination, but because I would put quite a lot of my winnings into the company.

GoblinLittleOwl · 01/12/2015 19:45

That is sad.
I enjoyed my job for most of the forty years I worked, and now I very much enjoy being retired.

What would you do if you didn't work? Can you find a job that encompasses that?

Nowadays virtually everyone has to work so accept the inevitable and find a job that gives you some pleasure; better than wishing your life away, said little Mary Sunshine.

.

LaurieFairyCake · 01/12/2015 19:45

Woah, woah, woah - I'm not a blinkered moron! Shock

I wouldn't give up 'work' if I won the lottery as id just start a charity with the money and create more access to what I do already (child counsellor/psychotherapist) and continue doing it. I counsel mostly children who have been abused or neglected - it's worthwhile and enjoyable.

And I have fuck tons of hobbies! I make so many things (candles!) - and I'm not rich so of course I'd buy myself a house and a car.

So let's not judge so much