Feeling depressed about new job

[Feelsolowtoday]

Just that really.

I started a new job last month - school hours which fit perfectly with childcare and quite decent pay. But I'm miserable.

It's an office admin role, which normally I would find easy as I've been an office manager and a purchasing specialist previously. The people are all lovely and it's a good company to work for, but I just hate it.
I resent doing anything (almost in a childish way!) - basically I wish I was at home writing and being creative. I have lots of office experience, but for some reason I can't do it anymore. I feel like I've developed some sort of block.

We need the money so I have no choice but to carry on. And I'm not experienced or good enough to earn enough (any) money doing freelance writing or something else (I'm also a trained actor).

Do I just need to suck it up, put on my big girl pants and get over whatever this is? It could be perimenopause, midlife crisis, unrealistic expectations..who knows!
Sorry, had a little sob this evening, my poor 8 year old DD mopped up my messy tears, so I feel doubly guilty and pathetic.

Give yourself an ultimatum. I will do this job for x number of years whilst looking actively for a new more interesting job. Then I will quit and start something completely different. That will help you feel less trapped.

Thank you Splash. I really don't know what's wrong with me. Feel so lacklustre and low, when really - I've done far more boring jobs than this!
That's a good plan.

I totally know how you feel and I empathise so much. My 'enthusiasm' for work has diminished drastically in the past six months or more (I am peri officially and on HRT). But if I have the day off and am sat at home I can bash out 6,000 words easily on my creative writing projects and actively enjoy it - even the frustrating bits where I am searching for a word or am not just in the sweet spot where it just endlessly flows.

I have no other source of income however and am single, so the daily drudge has to continue. I keep wishing for a lottery win! It's nothing to do with my job really - mainly people are lovely, although it can be a bit relentless - but everything to do with not being to shake this feeling of just not wanting to do stuff - like a horse refusing a jump. My get up and go for this type of thing has got up and went!

I would also say that it's a miserable time of year and starting anything new is always tough - so throw that into the mix as well. I think you have to give it six months, but nothing to say you can't seek other stuff in the meantime. And start giving yourself stuff to look forward to - one week of work equals a trip to the theatre or similar. I have to bribe myself to do the bits of the job I don't like - thank heavens dry January is over, sorry liver but we will get through it together!

Wherever you can lean into the creative side of things too - even if it's listening to a bit of a podcast when travelling to work, or putting on a radio play in the background when you're doing house stuff in the evenings. As I say, sending you so much love and understanding - I too am in the weeds.

Very understandable, my dislike of my job (or rather, my workplace) has reached an all time high, but I’m a single parent so I don’t really have a choice.

It doesn’t help that my boyfriend works flexible hours and my DD works very PT, so I feel constantly surrounded by people who can do things I can’t because my responsibilities are different. Every time I know he goes to the gym on a random Wednesday morning I seethe with jealousy 😭 I wish I could have a random weekday for my hobbies and myself too.

I am hoping once DD finishes uni and starts contributing towards bills I can knock down temporarily to 4 days/week so I can find my footing and focus a little bit more on myself. I’m at the end of my tether.

Same here, I feel like it should be easy for me but the change has been so much harder! I have sobbed and thought of quitting too. I have given myself the line that if I hate it by end of 2026 I’m going to look into something else.
I hope you settle soon. I blame my hormones and age

Me too. I loved my old job but piss poor management just got too much for me and when I was offered a position somewhere else I took it. They’re a great bunch, it’s a different line of work and I’m learning a whole new set of skills and info but all I can think is that I wish I was still in my old job. Albeit with better management. I’m just not loving it which is sad as it’s a lovely little job.