AIBU to not give a shit about my job?

[Stringme]

I have always been a high achiever and work in a professional career with security, good pay, high responsibility and endless scope for progression. I get lots of opportunities to develop myself as a leader etc etc.

It’s a job most people consider to be worthwhile and important BUT I just don’t care. I want to do the bare minimum and then log off. I feel like I’m constantly pretending to care about my personal goals, what I want to achieve etc. Everyone else is so keen and thinks the work is so important.

Am I the only one pretending or do other people do this?

@Stringme I'm in exactly the same position!!

This is me. I used to have enough passion for ten people. Since lockdown and now wfh full time I can barely be bothered to do the minimum

I complete all tasks required of me, by deadline. I'm just not kissing arse and working over my hours to impress my my masters. I dont live to work and work to live, why should I?

I watch junior staff navel gaze at managers and suck up, stress out, work longer hours to "impress", but if they died tomorrow a replacement would be in their seat by the following week and they'd be forgotten after a month, why give blood and tears for that.

Nope, my contract is a mutual exchange, you give me tasks, I complete them for money, job done.

I’m not interested anymore either. I’ve calculated how much I need to work and a few years ago, reduced my hours to match it.

I started my career well and got good promotions. But what is required in terms of life-work balance is too much and I decided to step back. So now I haven’t had promotions for years because I don’t want them, but also have done the same job a long time and probably too long so now I’m jaded.

As far as I’m concerned, it’s fine for work because I do my job and do a good job. I have no guilt about it at all, as they get from me what is required and probably more. But it’s not great for me. This treading water and just biding time doesn’t feel like a good use of my time or purposeful. Life is short. But there’s noth8ng else I want to do either. I am lacking motivation sadly, and as time passes, it feels less worthwhile.

Certainly in a rut.

I’m similar to you OP. I’ve progressed to a level in my career I’m happy with, where I have some responsibility but not too much. I have zero desire to ‘progress’ to the next level which would mean endless meetings, responsibilities I don’t want and longer hours.

But I could never say this at my workplace - everyone is always so enthusiastic and eager for promotion (or doing a great job of pretending they are). I seem to be surrounded by high achieving twenty and thirty somethings, and have to nod along while they create a team values document going on about we value resilience, passion, always have a growth mindset etc

Work is work. It is not life

I did a long term temp job with BT, some years ago, I did all the work in about 2 hours and then sat quietly reading a book all day, we all did, I had zero interest in trying to get a permanent job there as so boring but money was really good so stuck it out.

I felt like that in my previous job but I was burnt out, having suicidal thoughts before work and crying every night before work.
I absolutely love the job I do now. More responsibility, less money but I have lovely colleagues, good manager and great children. In my last role colleagues weren't allowed to chat and management were horrendous so I feel much more supported now.
I will never go back to retail, love my childcare job.

If you’d leave your job if you won the lottery then you’re doing the job for the money. That’s probably about 99% of us yet we have to pretend that we are so passionate and have always dreamed of doing such a job and if we could we’d work there for free because we love it so much 🙄 I did have one job once I really loved but I think that might have been more because I had a huge crush on one of the workers there (many moons ago). 🥰

I don't think I'd ever truly enjoy a job. I've done a few that I don't mind but the older I get the more pissed off I get that we're all stuck in this system living in groundhog day just to make more money for a small amount of people. I couldn't care less about annual targets, progression etc I just want to do what I'm paid for and nothing more. It baffles me how people seem so enthusiastic about having the best and healthiest years of their lives slogging away. My time is worth the world to me and as soon as I can afford to I'll be dropping my hours and doing things I actually enjoy!

I'm with you. I thought maybe its because I've worked for over 30 years now. I can't wait to retire early in 4 years but I'm worried the government is going to spoil my plans in its aim to stop people leaving the workforce in their 50's.

YANBU.

We're all just pretending we aren't stuck in a chappy rat race.

The same. I used to bend over backwards, be flexible ,work any hours asked of me. Now I work hard on the days I'm in but dont go out of my way to help when short staffed or offer to do extra. I prioritise my family and I'm so much happier for it.

I'm a teacher and love my job even though the pay is not great and some days are so tough.

I'd say it's time to look for a new job.

Flymetothetoon I was the same in the Civil Service, just did the bare minimum to get the satisfactory grade on my report. I had slogged my guts out for years to get promoted & in the end decided sod it, I went to work just to earn enough money to live & no more.

I do not live to work, although I do find it interesting and intellectually stimulating. The expectation to follow corporate 'values' stuff can do one.

If I won the lottery, I would find other ways of achieving intellectual stimulation, I'd probably be an eternal uni student and learn to play guitar or something.

I think there's some truth in this.

I am actually finding this thread pretty refreshing!

@mycatsanutter I get you but I use the time to do fun stuff so it's not like I'm wasting time

I haven’t voted on this because I don’t know how to. You’re not unreasonable to not give a shit…but I can’t do the same. Wish I could. Really wish I could. I think my life would be so much easier if I just didn’t give a shit and delivered the minimum that’s expected of me instead of constantly having to fight my corner. I think others at work would be happier too. But I can’t.

So, fully support your quiet quitting and wish you could teach me how to do the same!

I think it's fine to feel like that. I adore my job but the pay is shite so I am enthusiastic as I need a promotion. If I was happy with my wage I would chill a bit more.

This is totally me. What doesn’t help is we’re going through a restructure so everyone else in the organisation is feeling the same. You can just feel the complete lack of motivation oozing out of everyone. I spent most of today catching up on Coronation Street as I couldn’t get motivated 😢

I've never understood why people care so much about work, especially workaholics, maybe it's how they derive their self worth.

Yep. Was a nurse for years and for what? To be treated appallingly and end up leaving anyway.
I'm loads happier now that I get to spend time with my children.

However I did do my job well and I honoured my patients, it's management of private hospitals that are always looking at the financials incentives. Horrible.

Go easy on yourself OP most people feel like you.
We have to do things that we enjoy, otherwise what's the point?

@DrManhattan do you work from home ? I didn't and was stuck in a small bitchy office, so so bored and fed up with it all . I spent most of my time mumsnetting , researching holidays and messaging my mates 🙈

I got promoted last summer and have lost my mojo a bit. I stayed in the same area instead of branching out and think that’s my issue. I do want to get it back, as I’m happier when I’m more driven