to feel like I'm in prison?

[TheSunflower5927]

I 36 and I hate working. I've tried changing jobs multiple times but I dont get the enthusiasm other people have. Work full time. All my friends and family dislike their jobs too. The only people that seem to like their jobs are at work. Full time working just takes up so much time the weekend seems too short.

If I didnt work could happily fill my time with fun things to do that arent work

Working full time feels like a prison sentence. Dont know how I can go another 30 or so years it feels like I've got 30 years of my sentence left.

I know it’s not possible for everyone but is there anything you particularly enjoy that you could find in a job? Is it that you just dislike the job you have, or that you dislike working in general?

Like my sister always had call centre jobs and hated those, but she now has a job helping people back into employment, going out to businesses to chat with them about vacancies and staff, engaging 121 with clients looking for work and training etc and she loves that. Yes it’s still work but it’s enjoyable and doesn’t feel so monotonous, every day is different.

I have a job that I do really love, I have different clients and cases, every case is different, every day is different, I’m talking with different people and agencies, problem solving, travelling across the country for visits and meetings, I love it. But if I had a job where I was going into the same office all day every day and doing the exact same thing day in day out I’d probably feel the same as you.

What do you enjoy doing? What are you great at? Is there anyway you could transform those activities into some form of job?

If you didn't work you wouldn't be able to afford to fill your free time with fun things.

If you've tried numerous job changes perhaps you can focus on the financial benefits of working.

Dislike working in general.

I might buy a tent and live in the countryside to not work

Really OP? We could all find more fun things to do with our time.

Some people love their jobs, some like their jobs, some hate their jobs. If you hate your job, why? Is it the actual tasks? The company? The people? If so, these can be changed.

if it’s just because it’s ‘work’ and you’d rather be doing something else, then sorry, but you need to suck it up.

It’s called ‘work’ for a reason.

We work to earn money, to get out of the house, for independence, to better our lives. To pay the bills.

no one else is going to do this for you.

@PawPrintsInMyPansies but sucking it up is the reason most people dont like their jobs the reason for UKs poor productivity?

Do you have evidence of that?

there are numerous reasons for poor productivity.

saying you don’t want to work, comes across as lazy tbh.

@PawPrintsInMyPansies 70% voting not being unreasonable is evidence

Most people work to earn money to do the fun things (and also the boring things like eat, have a roof over their heads, heat and light their home, etc).

Even when you have a job you enjoy and doing something you're passionate about, a lot of the time it just feels like work - and making a passion work can often stop you enjoying it.

What jobs have you had and what did you like/dislike about them? Are you trained or qualified in anything?

ETA - you can go and live in a tent in a field if you want to! But if you don't work how will you eat? How will you wash? What will you do with your time and will that be possible while living in a tent and dealing with all the difficulties that come with that?

@SnapdragonToadflax but is that a major society issue, most people in jobs they dont like, really busy working

and a lot cant even afford the fun things anymore due to the disqusting UK wealth inequality

I have also fallen out of love with work. I would quite happily never work again, but unless I win the lottery I am going to have to. I understand what you mean about feeling trapped. I can't afford not to work, and even changing careers to something more enjoyable would mean a paycut which would mean I couldn't cover my expenses. So I will be in this job until I'm fired/made redundant or my children are financially independent.

@Flumoxed thank u this is exactly how I feel its the trapped feeling making it feel like prison and along cost of living crisis its made it very difficult

So what’s your solution, OP? If we all did things we loved/liked, who would then do the crappy jobs?

people work primarily for money. Yes, it’s great if you love your job, but at the end of the day we work to live. Not live to work.

My exH says this. He didn't work for most of our marriage and it was one of the reasons I eventually divorced him. He is now responsible for his own rent and expenses and has worked for the last 3 years but now has quit his job and says he doesn't want another one as he hates working. I am watching this with interest. He will evenutally run out of the money he got in the divorce and I am curious as to what will happen then. He is definitely not the sort to live in a field, he likes a "nice" life!

People have always disliked their jobs. Do you think chimney sweeps and coalmen loved their jobs? Kitchen maids? Farmhands? Even wealthy landowners and politicians in the past probably had many days where they couldn't be fucked.

Could you explore further education to lead to more interesting jobs?

Maybe its the fact its 5 days a week as to why I hate it so much it feels like too much but cant afford to drop

Trying to not die of hypothermia by Sunday teatime sounds like awfully hard work to me.

So op I presume when you buy food, clothes, pay mortgage/rent, insurance, use a car, go to cafes/restaurants, cinema etc.

All these things rely on people working in jobs, Why are you more special than them?

Food?
Clothes?
Warmth?
Whose countryside were you planning on living in? Most of the UK belongs to someone and many places discourage wild camping.

A bit of me wants to say to you, 'grow up' but there's another bit that wonders if there's another way to find your path. Think about what you love doing and how you might monetise that in some way, maybe.

Have you ever been in prison OP? Because having to work full time is really nothing like being in prison.

What could you sacrifice to work four days? I used to work four and then had to put two kids through uni. As soon as they're done I'm back to four.

Yeah, adulting sucks but we all have to do it, so some degree at least! Can you reduce your outgoings or increase your earning potential so that you need to work less days / hours?

It is possible to reduce the time you need to spend working (across your lifetime) by working very hard early on to get to a position where you have more flexibility and control over your schedule.

Or, perhaps becoming self employed wpuld suit you better? It's easier to become engaged in a project that is 100% yours, perhaps set up a business doing something you enjoy?

Unless you win the lottery or have a huge inheritance you don't get to have a free ride but it is possible to find some meaning/ pleasure in even the dullest of jobs if you take pride in doing things well, you get out what you put in, in terms of effort though.

Taking my previous tent comment too seriously...

I hear you. Up until the past few years, I changed jobs/roles every couple of years. Anything over that and I felt like a caged lion. There was a desperation that would build and I'd just need to get out.

The only reason I've lasted in my current role is that it's low stress, wfh and I wouldn't find anything better for the same pay. Plus I'm 55 now so kind of counting down to retirement!

I don't know what the answer is. I wish I was someone who enjoyed working. There have been some roles I've enjoyed for a while but it always wears off. If I won the lottery I would quit tomorrow.

When i worked full time pre having kids, I remember there would be no time for bloody anything else. I hated it. I think most full time jobs are nonsense and plenty could be done in a shorter time period and people could enjoy a better quality of life. Also full time used to mean 9-5. Now it's usually 8.30/9 - 5.30/6. It's mostly unnecessary.