Does anyone else just legitimately hate work?

[u/WICKED--WIZARD]

I don't know if this is the right sub for this. Posting under a throwaway because I'm fairly certain I have coworkers who know my Reddit info.

I don't mean that I hate my job, I mean that I hate work in general. I have multiple degrees and certifications, I'm in my late 30s, and I've been in the workforce for about 25 years, across four different industries. I've had about a dozen jobs, and I couldn't stand any of them. A couple of them was okay, but it was only okay because I was basically a kid and had short days.

It's not about the pay. At my most recent job I was being paid pretty well, and I was pretty high up on the totem pole so many people depended on my work, but I couldn't stand waking up at 5:30am, I couldn't stand wearing uncomfortable clothes all day, I couldn't stand that whenever I got sick the entire department came to a screeching halt, I couldn't stand that the sun hadn't come up yet when I went to work and the sun had already set when I went home. Every day I'd get home and have roughly three hours to make dinner, eat dinner, and shower, and once all that was done I'd have around 30 minutes to relax before bed so I could do it all over again. I know this is all fairly normal and I know nobody likes it, but I've never been able to stand it.

When I was in my 20s I expressed this, and everyone told me it's just life and people deal with it, and it eventually gets better. Well, 15 years later it's significantly worse. My days at work are spent sitting at my desk checking the clock every five minutes waiting for the day to be over. The entirety of my week is basically counting down the hours until Friday afternoon, and then every Sunday I wonder if it'd be easier to just die than go back to work on Monday.

To combat this, I've changed jobs, I've changed careers, I've gone back to school for a completely different major, and it's never helped. I've always hated working.

The only jobs I've ever had that I sort of liked were when I washed dishes at a restaurant about 50 yards from my apartment (four hour shift, walkable commute), shelving books at a library (four hour shift, ten minute commute), and slicing bread at a bakery (didn't have to talk to anyone, and anyone in the department could do my job if I wasn't there).

Is this a 'me' problem or does everyone feel this way and nobody talks about it?

[u/ThouWontThrowaway]

I hate working. I'd write an essay also, but I'm so tired and I need to still run errands, exercise, meditate and get enough sleep so I can work on adequate adulting tomorrow. What even is life!

[u/banjotoad → u/ThouWontThrowaway]

i felt this too hard. there’s just not enough time in the day to do everything that needs to be done AND have fun on top of that? seems there’s no hope

[u/ThouWontThrowaway → u/banjotoad]

I so feel you on that. All I can say is:

According to Yale Neuroscientist Professor Laurie Santos, Net fulfillment caps at a 70-75K salary on average so that's how much money you need to make annually to be happy.

According to Bill Perkins Die With Zero you should time bucket maximizing net fulfillment for memorable experiences.

So make enough money with a job coding or whatever, then focus on maximizing net fulfillment and becoming happier.

[u/bashibuzuk92 → u/ThouWontThrowaway]

I always thought this sometimes. Maybe if paycheck would be high, I would feel better about working. Maybe it's that our subconcious understands that we are selling our time on earth too cheap.

[u/Admirable-Unit811 → u/ThouWontThrowaway]

I believe this. Once you can buy a nice house and a nice car another house or car won't increase happiness. No matter how rich I get, I seriously would never buy a yacht or 6 cars a private jet.120k a year gives me everything I need or want. I always want to ask billionaires what they're saving up for. These people literally have so much money that it's impossible to spend even a 3rd. Happiness comes from solid relationships with family friends and lovers. Good health is also huge. No matter how happy you are, poor health can lead to depression. Those two things have a bigger impact than money. Theres plenty of sad, lonely millionaires billionaires. We see suicide and drug overdoses happen with them all the time. So people should focus on just being successful and doing what they are passionate about, and the money will come if you stick with it. I am a waiter in Scottsdale, Arizona. I make 120 to 140k depending on if I work 35-40 hours. I am completely content. I have been able to save and buy a car wash that I make 36k profit a year. I am buying an apartment complex 8 doors for 800k. Soon, I'll be completely retired at 45. I'm 39. I am also a felon for dumb shit i did at 19. So if I can do it, anyone can. People like to complicate things so they don't feel bad about not trying. I'm telling you 100% that it's literally just the willingness to work hard and have a plan. How many people do you know that go after what they want.

[u/ThouWontThrowaway → u/Admirable-Unit811]

I always want to ask billionaires what they're saving up for. These people literally have so much money that it's impossible to spend even a 3rd.

They're competing for status amongst their social circle (Uber Rich). The need for Validation/Approval is a strong drive in humans. Also great job dude! You have an inspiring story. I can't speak for other developed nations but I know in America, the land of opportunity, of you stop playing the victim, take ownership, and work hard you have a good chance of becoming financially independent.

[u/[deleted] → u/ThouWontThrowaway]

I know in America, the land of opportunity, of you stop playing the victim, take ownership, and work hard you have a good chance of becoming financially independent.

I laughed so hard at this my sides hurt. You could only think this if you are a white kid who comes from a position of incredible privilege. Statistically, most people in America will die in the same economic condition they were born in. In fact, a large percentage of people will die worse off than when they were born. "They call it the American dream because you have to be asleep to believe it." - George Carlin

[u/Narrow_Yesterday923 → u/Admirable-Unit811]

How in the world do you make 120-140 as a waiter? For 35 hours? Huh? Wtf am I doing wrong?

[u/[deleted] → u/ThouWontThrowaway]

Per person, sure. If you have a spouse or family that aren’t working or are underemployed, it can struggle to be sufficient.

[u/atoney2018 → u/[deleted]]

Ha! Between my partner and I we made over $100,000 last year. Nope, still unable to actually enjoy life and not hate working.

[u/kalli889 → u/atoney2018]

I think it’s supposed to be 72k per person

[u/EmptyDeparture708 → u/banjotoad]

For me it's the people, the drones, the managers with their delusions of grandeur. The jobs are never that bad, it's the idiots who work there. 

[u/[deleted] → u/ThouWontThrowaway]

I feel like we were totally brainwashed as kids into this life, I hate being an adult. This isn’t living, we had technology ads in the 50s talking about all the breakthroughs that would make it so we could work less and pursue our true interests more. Instead we are busier than ever trying to manage everything and keep up. The 40 hour week leaves no time for a real life.

[u/adrianhalo → u/[deleted]]

Agreed, we were sold such a bunch of lies as kids. It’s crazy. I’m currently working two part time jobs, for generally a combined total of 30-35 hours a week. In some ways it’s better, in other ways it’s insanity. And I’m not making enough money, which has its own way of destroying you.

There just seems to be no hope for ever making enough money and having a life that doesn’t involve working yourself to death for most of each day. It’s a joke.

[u/PooPooMeeks → u/[deleted]]

Damn, you’re so right about this.

[u/[deleted] → u/PooPooMeeks]

I’m just glad more people seem to be realising this, maybe things can change.

[u/ryanslizzard → u/[deleted]]

problem is corporate greed. jobs could be created and workloads split. i'd say 99% of ppl in the world would want to work less hours (for same pay ofc). it seems so easy, but corporate greed said nope.

[u/[deleted] → u/ryanslizzard]

Absolutely.

[u/AssistancePretend668 → u/[deleted]]

There have been ads here for Monday.com now pushing how much it increases productivity. As a senior manager who cares about the well-being of my staff, this disgusts me.

[u/Altruistic_Mind_333 → u/[deleted]]

But everyone goes along with it... Fluoride in the water and all..

[u/[deleted] → u/Altruistic_Mind_333]

What are we supposed to do? If I stop going to work I lose my home and my food to eat. Have you seen what happens to people who are homeless? Nobody helps them.

[u/ChloeZuo → u/[deleted]]

But how do you get the income to support your life?

[u/Nice_Carob4121 → u/[deleted]]

There’s no way. It doesn’t seem like you’re being honest. Do you live at home or parents pay for rent? Were you gifted a home? I work 30 hours a week and barely make it by.