AIBU to have ‘gone off’ working?

[haribofiend]

Okay so I realise I am unreasonable!

But does anyone else feel the same?

I’m not a lazy person, have always worked v.hard, too hard at times, if anything!

But lately (since Covid / lockdown, but maybe it’s just a coincidence) I’m so fed up of it. I’m not in the wrong job - I like my work well enough… but not as much as I’d like leisure time I find I’m wistfully looking forward to retirement, and I’m only 34!!

I’m a bit shocked at myself tbh. Is it just me who’s had this change of heart lately and needs a big old boot up the bum?

@Thehokeypokey what is it about public sector and no planing it’s all so substandard I just can’t understand it 😬

That's why they pay you.

If they didn't, not many people would do it.

Oh me too…. I am having a work crisis. Late 40s and all my motivation is gone. But I need to work - I have a DC to support, a mortgage to pay. Otherwise I think I would just sell my house and have a complete break.

I have as well. It's a combination of things:
Home learning, which didn't stop after lockdown even though both my DCs had some school, because of sending home to self isolate, quarantining when infected, and DS school excluding him because he has SEN and became really overwhelmed before Christmas (and he says "they didn't want me in because I would grab all the food at the party and run off").
Ditto home learning/having DCs home meant you couldn't settle to a task.
Then on a longer term perspective not knowing where I would be (office/home) and my office computer not being replaced (because no staff in to do it) so being tediously slow after not having upgrades over lockdown.
More personally, not having a permanent school/having an EHCP which needs multiple reviews/messing about/seeing new schools for DS.
Leisure things being cancelled or not available at the same time meaning that (though they are great for this) I have had to move work around.
And just a shed load of feeling unsettled.

I started this feeling at 26/27

The one thing we truly are limited on is time. And unfortunately the capitalist system means we sacrifice a lot of our time, in order to get some money to live in our society.

I earn a decent amount and still think the amount of time I have for leisure and to use my money is insufficient. I can't imagine how awful it is for people earning just enough for the basics in my life, and potentially working more hours to achieve that too!

That's just life.
If you are lucky to be able to afford it - consider part time or flexi time (weekly contractual hours compressed into 4 or 4.5 days?) or be quite frugal, pay off mortgage quickly, save/invest and hope to retire early (late 40s? 50?)

@jamie85

Thanks for the suggestion about a false commute, a 25 min walk around the streets just before work time, among traffic with noise and bustle to get into 'work mode'. Shall give it a go tomorrow. Thanks

I walk the school run most days and always think I need to make more of it - instead of taking the 15min direct walk back, I should put a podcast on and stretch it to 45mins.

Will try tomorrow.

@DolphinDreams

I wonder how many of the posters have had Covid, like me? Are energy levels just different after Covid?

Interesting. 2x covid for me.

48 and genuinely intended to start this very same thread today!

I'm in a socially-useful (therefore theoretically motivating / fulfilling) role with a reasonable salary, pleasant colleagues, 4 days a week with lots of flexibility etc etc.

I simply CANNOT BE ARSED with any of it. Zero motivation / interest / engagement. Doing the absolute bare minimum and resenting every single email that drops into my inbox.

It's not good but short of winning the lottery or taking a massive pay cut, I don't know what the answer is. Very relieved to know I'm not alone though!!

I've not had Covid, btw. I'm very fit and healthy, not depressed, and have loads of enthusiasm / motivation for the other, non-work-related, things in my life. I just resent every moment of my job.

Been reading every post on this thread today. I have felt this way for years- it has climaxed since Covid. I am starting 20booksto50k and am going to do a script writing course and just aim for my life goals. I will work in any old random job by the time youngest DD starts school- if she even does, the state of the education system is a big pull towards a simpler life with home education at the heart of it.

Yup, this is me too. I am so frustrated by WFH, as my job was previously quite varied, in that I had to travel to other sites sometimes, and to London fairly regularly. I dont think that aspect is ever really coming back, and for some reason senior management are totally happy with that, and VERY resistant to ever going back to Feb 2020 way of working.
I just don't think it can be healthy, to do every fucking thing on a screen.
Most days I look at my work computer and just think, how can that little square thing sat in my box room be my entire job. It's a bit surreal. But there are so many people where I work who love it.
I totally agree with the PP who talked about the knock on effects of every shop taking the opportunity to have only self checkouts, and the shit bus service. I would add to that the endless bloody road traffic around my house that used to just be there during rush hour and is now all day long. I add to the traffic myself by sometimes getting in my car to drive to the gym in my lunch break, or to pick up something from the supermarket, when previously I would have gone to the gym in town after work, picked up something from the supermarket there and taken the train home.
I would like a new job but am worried it would be more of the same. I have even considered changing career entirely to do something that can't be done from home at all because I have had enough. I was finally past the young children age, and freeee to be gone at all hours without worrying about childcare, feel like I have been clapped in irons, and I too struggle to find meaning in my role, or be productive.

Just been told our contracts are finishing in June I’m so happy I cd cry thank god it’s over thank god fuck what happens next has to be better than this nonsense

How do you think I feel ???? 61 and been at work 44 years in April. Fuck me, I'm fed up !!!! I work for myself and was always fine, loved it in fact but these past few months have been dire. My mojo has completely gone and I feel like I let clients down. I always thought they'd carry me out in a box but now I've got a 2 year plan to sell and retire - sooner if possible. I NEED A HOLIDAY !!!!!!!

@ginislife

How do you think I feel ???? 61 and been at work 44 years in April. Fuck me, I'm fed up !!!! I work for myself and was always fine, loved it in fact but these past few months have been dire. My mojo has completely gone and I feel like I let clients down. I always thought they'd carry me out in a box but now I've got a 2 year plan to sell and retire - sooner if possible. I NEED A HOLIDAY !!!!!!!

I think what people are saying is that you'd expect to be fed up with work in early 60s and very much looking forward to retirement.

However, lots of people on here are in their 30s. We won't be able to retire for 30 years or more unless we invest/ save/ luck out. 30 more years to "look forward " to and we're sodding well fed up. That's what we're facing.

I actually really like my job, and dont mind working from home. But I find myself wanting to yell at my customers "why cant you all just stop acting like idiots and get a life!!" I mean, clearly if all pir customers started behaving I would be out of a job , so dont really want that. But honestly, I had to deal with 2 fully grown ass adults complaining that they are getting "dirty looks" from each other.......I mean.......come on!!! Is that really the hardest thing going on in your life right now, really?!

10 years of work left, thank goodness we can retire at 50.

I felt like this ever since I had ny first dc (who's now 16) . I'm actually finally getting my work mojo back again (age 50), so it's definitely not Covid-related for me!

100% agree. early 40s here and the worst/best thing is I can get away with doing not a lot and still get paid a decent salary. but even logging on to meetings feels like an effort and an affront - even though I am hardly doing anything else! tempted to go and live with my mother and become a hermit (dh and dd may not agree)!

It's almost 5 years since I stopped working at age 51. And I know I was lucky to be able to stop then, no mortgage, pensions etc. But if anyone is able to stop work and is weighing up pros and cons I'd say Just Do It!! Today I've had a fabulous walk on the coast in the January sunshine and a lovely lunch out. The pace of life is slow, relaxed. I just love a potter at home too.

I think covid has let the mask slip a bit, and some people are seeing things as they really are.
In the 1940s Keynes predicted that a 3 day working week would be the norm in the 21st century, due to technological and efficiency advancements that meant we would only need 3 days work to meet our needs.
He didn't foresee the vast expansion in our 'wants'. This was all cleverly orchestrated of course, with advertising etc. We have not been able to escape since. We should only be trading our labour for enough money or goods to satisfy our needs. Everything else is designed to keep us in servitude, and keep a very small number of people very very very rich.

It's almost 5 years since I stopped working at age 51. And I know I was lucky to be able to stop then, no mortgage, pensions etc. But if anyone is able to stop work and is weighing up pros and cons I'd say Just Do It!! Today I've had a fabulous walk on the coast in the January sunshine and a lovely lunch out. The pace of life is slow, relaxed. I just love a potter at home too.
😂😂😂 read the room! No one here is making a pro/con list, we’re all bemoaning that we can’t afford to stop! Glad you’ve got a lovely life but I’ve spent my day very much not on coastal walks, and very much typing things from one PDF into a Word doc for a box-ticking meeting for a thing that will be done without the PDF or the Word document anyway, and I have nothing in my bank account except a cobweb and some pocket fluff.

I had Covid last Jan. I'm not sure it is that for me as my energy levels are OK when I'm doing things I want to do!

I actually don't begrudge Twiglet her lovely days, they give me hope. I don't expect to ever totally give up work but I'm going to try my hardest not to increase my hours when the school runs are over.

I feel like this with work and home life too. Where has my energy gone to sort the house etc. I suspect low level depression and anxiety from dealing with ill husband. Plus boredom.

Yes I feel this massively too... I feel like a battery chicken, chained to a laptop, sitting alone in the spare bedroom until it's dark outside. It's not uncommon for me to be on zoom at least 4-5 hours a day, and sometimes it's the entire day. I'm 39 and absolutely feel like I'm wasting my life. Got promoted to Director this year and if anything, I'm less happy- more meetings, more pressure, less time for me. No idea what I'd rather be doing, but I feel disconnected and lonely most days.

Oh my goodness I'm 30 and I feel you!!
I love my job. I worked really hard for the role I'm in now, and I love my team, my boss etc but I am just so meh right now!!
My theory is we have all taken stock so much of life in the last little while with everything going on, and it just really makes you re-evaluate. In saying that I do volunteer work as well and I don't feel the meh with it, but in fairness it is very close to my heart

We're probably all missing some distractions too. Not even going in to the office, out at lunch, conversation, drink or event... Hardly been doing that which makes the days even more monotonous