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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To have lost interest in working after 20 years?!?

161 replies

brownmouse · 13/03/2018 22:09

I've worked for 20+ years. Another 25 to go...!

I'm bored with it! I'n disappointed in my career and just not really INTERESTED in it anymore. And I didn't even VAGUELY achieve what I hadn't hoped. But I also don't want to retrain.

Nothing interests me work wise. I'm sure in my 20s and 30s I was full of passion and wanting to ACHIEVE SHIT. Now I just want to stay at home and vacuum and drink tea and read books and hum to
myself.

I have another 25 years left to work.... I can't work part-time.

AIBU?!? Does anyone else feel the same?

OP posts:
Want2bSupermum · 14/03/2018 00:09

My career has changed beyond recognition from where I was 5 years ago let alone 10 or 15 years ago. I think a lot of jobs are boring as heck. Whats interesting to most people doesn't include inane tasks.

I'm currently supposed to be writing an acquisition memo. It's dull, boring but once it's done I don't have to do it again!!!! It should have been my colleague writing the memo. It wasn't because he is a lazy fuck who is incompetent. He couldn't get the valuation right and I had to clean that up too.

I take solice that writing this memo is the most dull part of my job. Overall I consider that a success.

Onlyoldontheoutside · 14/03/2018 00:17

I have four more years to go until I can claim my work pension but will still have to work part time for a further five until the state pension kicks in.I am 40 years in and mostly so tired but I will have to work to see my DD through college/uni since ex will does not think further education valid

MaudlinMews · 14/03/2018 00:20

Ive worked full time for 34 years since leaving school and havent had a break of more than 2 consecutive weeks in all that time.

I cant believe I have to work another 15 - at least - until i can afford to retire. It's exhausting!

I do enjoy some aspects of my job but what I’d really love to do is play with my cat, read and sit in my garden growing fruit. That wont pay the mortgage though sadly!

TinDogTavern · 14/03/2018 00:22

Same here. 28 years full time without a break. Won’t get my state pension for another 18 years and my occupational pension won’t be enough on its own. Worked a variety of jobs and genuinely enjoy the one I have now but I’m just exhausted with the relentlessness of it all. There will be no enjoyable relaxing retirement period; it’ll be straight from work into old age. It’s utterly depressing.

allthegoodusernameshavegone · 14/03/2018 00:28

You need to find the job you love, money must come second, unfortunately we have paid too much emphasis on money that’s why our kids can’t get mortgages because we borrowed too much and screwed the system

GnotherGnu · 14/03/2018 00:35

My work still stimulates me after 40 years. If you're that bored, you really need to think about making the effort to retrain or trying for something that stretches you more.

nowater34 · 14/03/2018 06:42

I think if everyone could work 4 days a week society would be a much happier place.

I was born in the 80s, wasn’t it more common for previous generations to have more than 1 career?

Before DCs I had a very demanding career for 10 yrs, with lots of pros & cons. I definitely was over it.

Interestingly where I am at the moment at least 3 people in my dept are past pension age (they have gold plated pensions) but choose to work out of love of the job & people & not knowing anything else.

CoalTit · 14/03/2018 06:53

I can understand your being fed up with work. I can understand your desire to stay at home and drink tea. You're a weirdo for wanting to vacuum, though.

elastamum · 14/03/2018 06:58

I feel your pain. I have done 34 years in my industry. Retiring in 6 as soon as my DC finish university. Counting the days.

DietCokeGirrrrrl · 14/03/2018 07:03

I think I'm really lucky in that I genuinely love my job and I think I would struggle with boredom if I didn't do it. That said I've only been in the working world for 10 years so it may all change for me once I'm a bit older! You have my sympathy if you don't like your job, because it's a lot of time to spend doing something unfulfilling.

loulou82 · 14/03/2018 07:05

I'm 15 years in and just quit my dull job after 9 months being in it.

I set my own side business up 2 years ago which I'm so passionate about it has made my day job pure drudgery ever since.

I start full time on my side business on mo day and it feels like Christmas.

I highly recommend a side biz!

Parky04 · 14/03/2018 07:16

Worked full time for 30 years without a single break. Don't mind current job and the people are great but only 13 years to retirement!

Evelynismycatsformerspyname · 14/03/2018 07:19

I think the second best option, after the holy grail of a job that is truly a vocation and you'd do for the love of it even if you win the lottery, is to change career every 10-15 years or so Grin I do find I get disillusioned and need to "reinvent" myself after a while. It's not an option for everyone, hard for sole earners and obviously not appealing to the ambitious, but makes life interesting and less of a drag.

The holy grail of a lifetime career you do for the love of it is vanishingly rare. My dad is the only person I've ever heard claim to have that, and he kept working long past retirement age until he was too frail and ill to manage it, but my mum did the same job and couldn't wait to go part time and then retire, so it's the fit between person and job, not the job itself.

mixture · 14/03/2018 07:22

Same here.

maddiemookins16mum · 14/03/2018 07:25

I've been FT for. 36 years. Sick of it, still only another 13 to go (or thereabouts).

speakout · 14/03/2018 07:29

Or another holy grail is self employment.

I have worked PT self employed for 15 years. In the past few years a new venture which is extremely exciting. I am in my late 50s but I have no intention of retiring, it's too much fun and too well paid to give up.

falang · 14/03/2018 07:31

47 years working here. Fed up and just tired. Another 10 to go.

speakout · 14/03/2018 07:32

57 years working?? How old are you?

falang · 14/03/2018 07:32

Typo. That should have read 37. I'm not that old

Crediton · 14/03/2018 07:34

Have been working in some capacity since I was 13. 42 now. I have a job I love but, coming up on 30 years of working life, I am DONE. It has been great for me, I am introverted and had an unusual upbringing so being out in the world dealing with people has made me less of a weirdo lol. Still over it tho. DP and I scheming how we can retire early. Op your dream life sounds lovely, tea and vacuuming and reading. Bliss!

AnarchyKitty · 14/03/2018 07:36

I've worked since I was 15 and I'm 49 this year. I genuinely love my job but I won't have a pension pot or own my own home so I'll be working until I die probably.
That thought exhausts me.
I'm just counting down until July when I have a whole ten days off!

speakout · 14/03/2018 07:37

I'm 56.
Been working in some way since I was 14. Four or 5 years as a SAHM.
So not done.
Just about to drop DD off at school, quick body pump class, home to get stuck into work.
Lovely day ahead.

BrownTurkey · 14/03/2018 07:38

Yes, I feel I have done my time, however the truth is I started late (perpetual student) and am middle aged, so I really haven’t.

I worry that it is a grass is greener thing though.

Evelynismycatsformerspyname · 14/03/2018 07:40

Meh self employment is a holy grail for very few people - it still has to be the job you'd do for live even if you win the lottery to keep doing it for 40 years. When people say they have a new business they're passionate about I assume they're slightly desperate, or newly recruited and still niave, MLM huns.

speakout · 14/03/2018 07:41

Now I just want to stay at home and vacuum and drink tea and read books and hum to myself.

Sorry but that sounds very dull.