Anyone else feel disillusioned about working life

[Hatefreezingweather1]

I have a degree and a PGCE but have found myself working in mainly low-paid roles since graduating. I am not posting this to receive career suggestions as I know there are various things I could apply to do, but the main suggestions seem to be teaching or social work.
I thought I had a strong work ethic but I wish I could just work 2 days a week for instance and not have to work full time.
I resent how many jobs have poor working conditions and how many people struggle to make ends meet even whilst working 45 hours a week.
I suppose I do want things easier. It's just the thought of doing this for another 35 years to achieve a modest life, it doesn't seem appealing or Inspiring.
Does anybody not feel this way ?

I think most people will identify with feeling like this about work at one time it another, but the reality is that you have to work to survive. Thus has it ever been for human beings. What’s the alternative?

Most people who work two days a week do so because they have the finances from other sources to be able to afford that luxury. Otherwise, you need to work. Having some acceptance over that will be more helpful for you than being resentful about a basic fact of adult life.

The next step will be aiming towards getting work that isn’t poorly paid and with harsh conditions. You’re educated and capable, so you CAN do this.

For what it’s worth, I work in education. Yes, it’s hard work and can be all consuming during term time, but it’s immensely rewarding, the holidays are a fantastic bonus and it’s never dull. If you can find a line of work where there are clear and definite benefits alongside the general drudgery, that’s the best you can realistically expect while you are of working age.

@MichaelAndEagle

Fair enough but two out of the three would probably be enough.

I'd settle for one out of three but it's continued to elude me.

I don’t think the comparisons with SAHMs in TV shows is relevant. Another poster already pointed out that the SAH role was more time consuming then. I mean, people on here in 2022 complain about the mental load of clicking a button on their home delivered complete grocery shop. Slightly less time than walking to multiple shops, I think.
But also… that wasn’t everyone’s reality. This idea that a woman ran the home full time. Maybe in the Enid Blyton or Downton Abbey families. Not for much of the working class where women have always worked too.

I think you’re right OP, you need to find work you enjoy. I would like to work 4 days, but I don’t (early 50s) mind working 5. My current job suits 5, but I wouldn’t change to 4 anyway because I’m aiming for early retirement over less days now.

l work part time and live quite simply, this works well for me. Time is more valuable to me than money.
You can quite easily learn to live on a little.
l think women today are their own worst enemies taking on one full time paid job and another full time unpaid one, no wonder mental health issues are through the roof, and relationships are breaking down.
Your not lazy OP, if anything you are wise, don' t follow the herdlike mentality , watch Green Renaisance on youtube, these people have created a beautiful way of living, they have really mastered the essence of life.

I think for many people around the age of 30 is a bit of a pivot point. The gloss of work/career (unless you absolutely love it) has worn off, and there is still nearly another 40 years of working life stretching ahead; you've only done 10 and you've already had enough.

I don’t think the comparisons with SAHMs in TV shows is relevant.

Why does everyone keep assuming the comparison is a comparison with the women back then?

The job workplace set up and working week was set up for a man who was not expected to do much else except work .

What the women were doing is irrelevant to this comparison. Which part of that is complicated?

Workplaces and working hours were set up for MEN.

Many of those MEN were not expected to do a whole lot of other stuff.

The office working week has not changed significantly, but women (and men) are expected to fit into it without that back-up.

Obviously the extra stuff isn’t as onerous as it would have been in days gone by, but it’s still a system of working created in a different time and hasn’t been adjusted all that much, even though times have changed.

@ThePrionOne hasn’t it changed?
I wasn’t working in the 1950s for example, so can’t comment from my own direct knowledge.
But this article says standard average office based working week has reduced from 40-48 to 37, and holidays increased from 16 to 28.

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/news/article-2094769/amp/Workers-1950s-worked-longer-hours-tougher-conditions-holiday--happier-now.html

You need to experiment more and love a bit to find something you like. I normally like work, but it depends what I do. Periods I’ve spent in a job have varied wildly (7 years to 2 years) because enjoyment matters.

Work doesn’t have to be a bore or a slog. But you need to push to find your niche.

@Hatefreezingweather1
I feel bad for you OP and this used to be me but now I am quite literally living the dream. I have fallen into a dream working life through a lot of hard work in my 20s but honestly an element of luck. I'm 31. I work 24hrs per week across 3 days and earn 50k for this. My motto is work smarter not harder and I've been striving for this for my full 20s and finally reaping the rewards. I have a degree and x2 pgdips and work in a specialised area that i delibrately moved into as its paid at enhanced rates so i knew i could work less hours. I do my hours and work never comes home with me. Never work late. Also made good money on a couple renovations (that I did alongside progressing career and further post grad study) so I am now doing well on the housing front but it was a slog for a few years. No kids either. Me and husband have a lovely laid back life. I think the opportunities are there if people want to work for them but it requires sacrifice for a while.