To not be arsed to work anymore

[AurielleBaies]

I just can’t do this for years and years and years. I’m actually unemployed right now and the happiest I’ve ever been. I’m actively looking for a new role but it’s all bullshit, massive JD’s for mediocre pay and mainly 5 days in the office. There is just so much more to life, why did humans create this way of living?

At 32 your in your prime and young enough to change direction. Get a fulfilling job and make your lifestyle fit your income. Alot of people get on the hamster wheel of buying crap they don't need, keeping up with other people and have an empty feeling. Do something satisfying but do something, many don't which is why the developed world is stalling

Sorry you're

I know. I just don’t know where to start. There is so much noise and pressure.

A lot of people working in offices do essential stuff.

Where do you think 999 call handlers.work?

Well that's not what your post said, is it?

Made up jobs exist because we have a huge population. There isn't enough "basic or traditional jobs" so the human race would teeter off again.

I think maybe you need a career change though

OP this sounds like a you problem. There are plenty of jobs that make a difference and help people, do one of those.

This might be a useful break for you OP to work out what you really want to do, how you would like your life to be and what steps you can take to get it into a shape that's more appealing for you. Working in an office is boring, mostly, there's a lot of bullshit, and loads of office jobs are going to be replaced by AI soon anyway. Think of something else. You need to do something though, because daytime telly is the pits.

Your skills would be great for freelancing. Get in touch with your local authority and sign up to business start up/support courses. There are loads in this area. Try looking at different sectors on linked in. E.g.in the charity sector, many small orgs won't have resource for ft marketing role but might have project funding for marketing. You could build a portfolio of projects/clients.
I often think as you're doing and wonder at all the people typing emails and goung to Teams meetings and think, is this really what it's all about?

Would love to. I’ve been applying to different sectors with no luck, the job market is awful right now. Can barely get an interview in the industry I’ve worked in for the past 10 years. I just don’t know where to start.

You need the administrative workers to organise the physical labour. You also need shopkeepers and farmers and emergency workers. How would a hospital run without admin? We all need to work to survive and we work cooperatively because it's a hell of a lot easier than everyone having to fend for themselves.

I’m talking mostly about my silly marketing jobs that mean nothing, not actual important stuff.

Agreed I think freelancing would help me feel a bit more control of my life. My concern is that I have no portfolio, all of my work is on company laptops that I’ve handed back over the years.

Those jobs are just a drop in the ocean amongst all the other jobs and not what you posted about. You said you often think about what would happen if everyone stopped working. Totally different scenario.

If you cant find a job that is your passion, then yes it is shit. I'm lucky, after decades of shit jobs Ive fallen on my feet with work I care about. But it is so hard to give most of your life to something that doesn't mean anything. Especially when you have to give up so much time, hobbies, seeing your kids. And we have to work into our late 60s and 70s! Its crazy. Can you retrain into something that excited you at all?

This is a great use of AI by the way! Use chatgpt or something like that, list your skills, your passions, and get it to suggest other career roles and what training/experience you are missing to achieve them. Then get it to set out a one year plan to achieve it

Yes that’s exactly it. I did used to be so passionate about my industry (fashion) but now it just feels meaningless. I’ve had some really toxic working environments that have left a bad taste in my mouth.

Im not sure I could afford to retrain atm, we are saving to buy a flat and I just need to get back to work to top is back up again. I am trying to pivot sector though, unsuccessfully so far.

Same for getting a portfolio together. Type in everything you can recall about the work youve done, ask it what the framework should be to demonstrate experience for a role, then you can see what bits you need to fill out!

Yes great idea, thank you. I have accomplishments on my CV listed so I’m going to add those into a fancier looking portfolio - I’ll ask AI to help me fluff that out. I think I can bulk it out. Maybe do a few case studies too.

I think women are more prone to feeling this way, because whilst equality in the workplace has significantly progressed, equality in other areas hasn't. Running the show at home, childcare included, is still mainly a female pursuit. The reasons aren't cut and dry either - when I worked, I wanted to run the show at home (my husband was happy to organise child care, I just didn't want him to. I wanted to oversee it).

I think your question of how did we get here is an interesting one. Because you'll have utterly frazzled women queuing up to tell you that they'd simply hate not working. It's socially unacceptable now to be a housewife, but progressive to be a househusband.

Then set about making it happen. I did at one stage, through necessity in my case. I wouldn't say it's any better or worse than other types of life. There's still stress, just of a different kind (financial worries, there's no real room for accident or emergency). But it did work. And if it's a lifestyle that you think will make you happy then perhaps it's the best option for you.

You don't have to engage in all the social status willy waving that goes on in society. You can quietly live your life as peacefully and calmly as possible, focusing on frugality and minimalism. That's where it starts, with only buying what you need. If you can make do without it you don't need it.

Now I'm in a different situation I've returned to more of a capitalist lifestyle. Mainly, as others have said, to fit in. It is nice not to worry about money though.

If you don't want to do an office job, do something else! I switched from a professional corporate role to a sector where I'm always on my feet and dealing with the public. The pay is much lower, but I'm much happier!

You talk about’ silly’ jobs and that there is ‘ important ‘ stuff/ jobs.
I worked in public services for 30 years. You could do something like that? It was not admin - it was face to face with people.
for example I worked with vulnerable adults. i also worked in paediatric intensive care - supported families following catastrophic RTAs. it was hard , rewarding, stressful, heartbreaking, and never ever ‘ silly or boring- maybe you are looking for a vocation , not a job - could you retrain?

Also as
Whyarepeoplesuchwankers
says you coikd choose to work a few hours of the day and adapt yout lifestyle to one that was more frugal ?
I now just do a bit of cleaning and work with animals rather than my old career.
v frugal mostly- but its a choice.

Could you go part time? If it’s the amount of time in a boring job that’s the sticking point, could you do part time hours and train for something more interesting on your day off? Short term pain, long term gain?