I Hate Working, But Is This Normal? What Should I Do?

Last updated by Katie M.

I always thought that I was surrounded by people who loved their jobs, that is until I started openly talking about how much I hate working. Let’s get one thing straight, I’ve never liked my job, but have only recently built up the courage to talk about it. That's right, I used to hide my despair under a huge smile in an effort to convince myself I was overreacting, plus I was also afraid of other people judging me. In fact, daring to share my thoughts got me asking if I was the problem; was I the black sheep? Or, were my reasons for this bold statement justified? It's time to see if are all secretly on the same wavelength.

I Hate Working, But Is This Normal? What Should I Do?

Here's why I hate working

Even as a kid, I hated going to school and when I was there, I remember constantly looking at the clock in class and counting down the hours until it was home time. Looking back on my experiences, I can definitely say I felt stuck. School wasn’t exactly my thing, although I did have good grades and generally did quite well. On paper, learning new things is great, but in reality, is it actually as fantastic as we make out? Wouldn't we rather spend our time doing something else?

As for my backstory, I grew up with two parents who had always worked really hard despite always wanting to do other things. As for me, I've never really understood the idea of working yourself to the bone in a sector you hate, just to finance a 2-week vacation... It didn’t take me too long to figure out that following the status quo wasn’t for me and never would be…

Office

Fast-forward a few years and 2 degrees later, I reluctantly decided it was finally time to get on board and join the working world.

> Find out why I hate my job < 

It’s fair to say that I was quite motivated, until I soon realized that my degree wouldn’t ever get me a well-paid job and work-life would always leave me feeling underwhelmed. Despite coming to this tough realization, I was determined to give things a go in the professional world. Unfortunately, a summer job doesn’t make me enough to pay my rent, and as such my hate affair with work got off to a start.

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My résumé grew, but I never really enjoyed myself… I still hated going to work

My first real job didn’t exactly give me the best start to my career, and that’s not just because my boss was a complete psycho. This experience wasn’t a success and seemed to set a precedent for those that followed. Eventually, the boring daily routine got too much, and I felt like I was wasting my time flitting around and pretending to feel accomplished. The professional world seemed like a hollow illusion and even started to impact my mental health.

The feeling of desperation convinced me to open up to my friends and family about what I was going through. A problem shared is a problem halved, as they say! To my surprise, as soon as I started speaking about my deep-rooted hatred for work, other people opened up about experiencing the same things! I soon realized that we were all in the same boat. From having to set an alarm for the crack of dawn and having to deal with the unending days, dictator bosses, annoying clients, and a rubbish paycheck. Discovering I wasn’t alone got me thinking what life would be like without having this obligation thrust in front of us.

Work

If we’re honest, we’re all tired, unmotivated, and unenthusiastic when it comes to our jobs, although many of us struggle with the idea of walking away from the world of work. Despite the fact that most of us hate work, inner shame and societal pressure ensure we stay.

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Is it normal to hate working?

Not liking your job can lead to a lot of frustration. To avoid exploding, don't hesitate to confide in someone close to you and discuss what you don't like about your job and what you want. Keeping a daily journal can also be a good way to vent your frustrations. Indeed, it’s perfectly normal not to enjoy working a certain job when we have little to no interest in what we are asked to do, and when we find ourselves constantly procrastinating during said tasks. The only way to really enjoy working is by following our creative passions.

I dread when people ask me; ‘What is it that you do?’

‘If you don’t study hard, you’ll end up in a dead-end job that you hate’.

For me, a full-time job is a way to pay for things, it’s definitely not a hobby or something I’m passionate about. My job doesn’t define me, which is why I have such a hard time understanding why people are so attached to the question ‘what do you do?’.  Whenever I’ve been faced with this question, I’ve always gotten around it by talking about my degrees and interests instead of trying to justify my ridiculous jobs.

Working is simply exhausting and consumes all of my time. I have plenty of hobbies that I’d like to pursue; a huge list of books that I’d like to read, and coffee dates that I can never go to because I’m consumed by piles of documents. I don’t like working and that’s that.

💡FAQ💡 What should I do if I hate working? - Can we stop working and follow another path?

Now, this is a tough one! If waking up every morning to go to an activity I hate takes all my energy, wouldn’t it just be easier if I stopped working altogether? Or even found a side hustle? Here are some tips on making that possibility a reality:

1) Cutting expenses and lowering your living standards: The financial aspect of work is a very important one. Even though you may not have the biggest income, taking your job completely out of the equation will probably make things even harder. Even if you drastically cut your spending, things might still be difficult.

2) Dealing with judgmental people: I’m sure that not working and pursuing your hobbies and activities is great for our mental health, it’s not exactly considered socially acceptable. Telling people you don’t have a job leaves you open and vulnerable to other people’s judgments about what you should be doing with your life.

>>> Tips on how to regain motivation at work. Plus, why I hate working from home

Editor's opinion: Be brave

And what if we considered giving up work differently; as brave and courageous? Changing life paths demands lots of pluckiness in order for you to put your priorities first. Focusing on your own personal development is rare during this day and age, but that’s not to say it isn’t necessary.

Choosing to quit is a big decision to make, but it can also be completely liberating and fulfilling. Taking time out for yourself and following your actual dreams rather than wasting your time doesn’t seem too bad to me!

🤗 Understand yourself, accept yourself, be happy... Let’s do it here and now!

#BornToBeMe


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