Age 56. Can't be arsed at work anymore.

[Whosaidthattt]

I'm a tired 56 year old. All these 'initiatives' and 'CPD'- I just can't be bothered anymore. Been there, did that 20 years ago. I have NO INTEREST in pretending to be excited/motivated by these 30 year olds and their enthusiasm! I get that they are young and excited about how they can change things but I just can't be arsed. Hoping to retire at 60 but that means another 4 years of excited puppies bounding about with their ideas. I'm not sure I can take it (or even care). How can I get through this final part of working life?? Help!!!

For me, who's been in my field for 23 years, I get extremely snarky when a "graduate trainee" is parachuted straight from university into a management role and is telling me how things are going to change for the better round here, and brings in initiatives that plainly don't work. We all go along with them, of course, but quite often they are quietly shelved.

Usually the older staff don't have a university education and worked up from the bottom, so these youngsters think they are superior for some reason. It causes constant tension.

I'm nearly 47 and I've got one more grade to go up to then I'm coasting to retirement.

This country isn't built for older people. Even at 47 I feel my views are disregarded. By the time I'm 60 I'm sure I'll be too useless for society to bother with. Here, Grandma, have a cookie -style attitude. Grrr.

I’m changing my job to something I think I’ll enjoy. Kids are older and I need less money to live on, so why not? If you need to, draw down a small part of your private pension to supplement a lower wage.

Maybe they would have worked if the 50/60 year olds back then would have participated.

It’s the ciiiircle of life 😉

You sound like you need to move job, as you sound jaded and clearly lacking enthusiasm for the role. The job market is so tough for young people right now (I’m getting hundreds of applications from young people with masters degrees) there’s no point hanging on to a job you don’t enjoy.

Could you speak to your employer about moving to another role? Your line manager must have noticed your lack of enthusiasm, unless you hide it well.

Also, why are you so tired? Are you on your feet all day? Do you have health problems or disabilities that are making work tough? If not, perhaps your diet, exercise and lifestyle need an overhaul? Or perhaps you’re suffering from depression or have lost confidence, which can be common post-menopause.

What are your interests? What are you looking forward to doing when you retire? Why not look to move to a job that’s as close to that as possible.

I know we’re all different. But I’m a year older than you, though never think about my age. I absolutely love working with young people and love my job. I actually need to move to a better paid job, as I rent my family home (lone parent) and rents have skyrocketed. But I love my job so much if I leave for more money, I’ll miss the job and my amazing colleagues. I can’t afford to retire but I wouldn’t want to. I have more energy than I had in my 20s (when I went out all the time) and 40s (when raising young kids).

I'm 35 and already feel this way!

Age 50. 2 kids at uni. Can't wait until they're done and I can afford to earn/work less. I am so blunt, (possibly rude) about the work BS I can't be bothered with. Hope I don't get sacked in the meantime....

'Good for you! Can I ask what your new profession is?'

I retrained from a corporate job to a registered nurse. I'll be working privately, sorry I feel like keeping it a secret as to which field, I know it's silly as we're on mumsnet.

Even if I'm not hugely successful, I am okay with just earning a bit. As husband has a decent job. So I do realise that in lucky in that regard. But my goal IS to be fully independent as you never know.

@Evaka

Are you me???

I'm similar age. In finance. Our lot restructure every few months. It's terribly exciting 🤣.
I fucking hate it. I roll my eyes as I've been around this block a zillion times. I couldn't give a holy shite.

I was made redundant earlier this year, getting the news 10 days before my 55th birthday, I was very concerned as my earnings are over three times that of my husband. I was very unhappy in that job, having been there 28 years, but we had been acquired 6 years before, and it was a slippery slope. My mental and physical health were suffering,

I started looking for a job, was told to look for short term contracts as I wanted too much money…… then I received a message completely out of the blue. I was asked to do a 1 year maternity cover, and they were prepared to pay my previous salary (fewer benefits) but for a much lower level job than my former role.

After 2 weeks, I was concerned about the low work load, did they really need me? I know this was partly as I was having a handover from the person going on maternity leave.

I had only been there 2 weeks when I was told that they hoped I would be a solution to their forthcoming retirement issues. My direct line manager is looking to retire next year, and his boss a year after. I was previously doing his job, although not with a client portfolio, but at a company about 10 times the size.

it has been a real mind shift to step back from the “wild Wild West “ of my previous employer, to the nurturing role I have now. Time to do things properly. It is amazing. My autoimmune conditions are improving.

Despite previously working from home, and now having a commute of 40 minutes to 1 hour 40 minutes, I have more time, as I am encouraged to go home when my hours are completed, sent packing at 4 pm and 4.30 regularly.

I am appreciated, and thanked, regularly told how my big firm experience gives them a new perspective.

I have 8 months left of my 1 year contract. I have been put in charge of an 18 month project. The recruitment agent tells me that I will be taken on permanently (although I have said I need that contract before I am really convinced)

best thing that every happened to me. Please look for another job.

Nah, it's contempt for corporate memory. Disrespect for older people's learning costs businesses a fortune.

Don’t want to derail the thread, but what’s your problem with gender pronouns?

I said “fuck it no more corporate bollox” at 52. Sold everything, beat Brexit and moved to the sun. Life is good, simple but good 😎

52 and feel the same. I can just about afford to retire at 55 although 57 would probably be better. I am almost at the point of counting the days.
I used to love this job.

Is there a mentoring scheme, volunteering scheme, something you’ve always wanted to do/change you can pitch as a project? Coasting is pretty debilitating - it’s worth casting around to see if you can do something to make life a little more interesting.

I began another career in my late 40s. I stayed there until I was 63 and really only left as I didn't see any viable routes for further progression. I loved my 15 years in that job and didn't want them tarnished by resentment setting in. I enjoyed mentoring younger colleagues, loved the clients and the work and it wasn't the kind of job that someone who couldn't be arsed should be in.
I left on a high to concentrate on self employment and in my late 60s work the hours I want to.
I've done a couple of jobs where I was truly unhappy but I don't think I've ever just felt indifferent.

I know just how you feel OP. I was lucky enough to retire three years ago at 59. The last couple of years were getting pretty unbearable tbh and I got exhausted by the constant changes , re organisation etc etc. I was continually looking forward to retirement and got quite obsessed with ‘what I am going to do when I get the time’, this started to get me down too, felt I was wishing my life away! I decided that I would stop obsessing and try to start doing those things while I was still working, I don’t mean expensive holidays or anything like that, I just mean I cultivated some hobbies, tried new things when I wasn’t working and basically made the most of any time off I had and didn’t put everything on hold for when I retired. Of course I didn’t always feel like doing things after work, but I did push myself to do things for me.
I am glad that I made that effort as when I did finally retire I had plenty of things I was interested and involved in so I never feel bored or at a loose end now. Good luck OP , time will soon pass even if it feels endless now , carve out that me time if and when you can.

I would consider a different job until you retire. Something completely different that maybe you would enjoy?

Yeah. Don't make yourself visible

I find it tragic that so many women on this thread hate their work.

Life's too short! Do something you enjoy! Be self employed and start small by running it alongside your day job, even as a hobby.

Best way is to work out what floats your boat, get some training (evenings, online courses, local colleges) and develop a plan.

I was working part time for around 20 hours a week in my 40s. I knew I could earn more per hour self-employed so I took the plunge.
That led to other things, with more training, and a couple of other income sources.

I know so many people who've done this whether it's become yoga teachers, counsellors, artists, etc.

Any chance you can go part time - might help you get through the next few years.

I’m self-employed and it’s been a good (if not very well-paid) career but I’m also feeling a bit exhausted in my mid 50s. I’d like a change and maybe a part time job but all the DEI, forced pronouns/pride and pointless “training”, bureaucracy, targets and reviews etc puts me off.

It’s amazing that most people I know hate this stuff and feel it gets in the way of doing their actual jobs and wastes time and money. Yet governments and captains of industry are always handwringing and scratching their heads about why productivity is so low. Because workplaces are crippled by endless pointless training courses run by self-appointed grifters, diversity initiatives that achieve nothing, deckchair-rearranging that wastes time and achieves nothing, all just so that companies and organisations can tick boxes. I mean duh. If employees are spending most of their time on this shit of course not much gets done.

I also find that no one listens to me despite 30 years of experience meaning I do actually have valuable insights. I can tell if a project idea is ill-thought-out, I can tell exactly why it won’t work and I can usually fix it. Because I’ve been around the block and I know what works. But I get totally ignored as an older woman and freelance, what could I possibly contribute compared to young thrusting guys full of ideas. So I sit around while they fuck up and waste time and then often as not come to me to fix it after wasting loads of time and money. It’s exhausting.

That’s the best answer. The others are “ well retire early and use your pension pot “ blah blah. I’m sure if that was an option OP would have done it.

If you're self employed can't you avoid all that crap and choose places that fit with how you want to work? It sounds more as if you're freelance rather than being truly independent and calling all the shots.

They’re absolutely unnecessary and should not be mandated. Many many people do not subscribe to gender ideology.
l
Most of manage to get through life without announcing we are she/her/whatever.

Our company tried to make pronouns mandatory and 75% of the UK staff refused

I'm late 50s and can't wait to retire. Fed up of the roundabout of restructures and objectives. I do like what I do but I'd just rather be doing something else. Like travel, Pilates or meeting my friends for afternoon tea.

Life is so short and yet we're expected to work until we drop. I hope to go part time when I get to 60 and then it'll be the long wind down to 67. In the meantime, I'll keep doing the lottery and praying for a win.