I'm yet another one who found this thread and forum from a Google search on "I hate working". I completely agree with most of the stuff said here. I hate my job and while it's overall what most would consider a good job that I should be grateful for, that only makes me feel guilt adding to the problem.

I work in IT and have been in the same organization for 17 years now. Because of that, I have built up a good amount of annual leave, for the US at least, which I like. As my career has stagnated though, with no likelihood of going any further here, I've realized a few things. This was the first "real" job I lucked into all those years ago and was never anything I had any passion for but still managed to be good at.

I have no desire to start over anywhere else with less leave and this is one of the seemingly only IT jobs around with a hard 40 hour week. Everyone I know who has left has wound up working 60+ wherever they go. I hated school, so the thought of going back to school for another career path at 41 fills me with dread. The things I have a passion for are not going to be at all easy to turn into any sort of meaningful income, so that seems unlikely too.

I'm just feeling really depressed and hopeless and dreading have to deal with this for the next 25-30 years. Growing up, I was one of those people who never wanted a real job and held out getting a job of any kind until my parents threatened to kick me out and/or force me into the military. I had goals and dreams, but I had it drilled into my head that they were stupid and unrealistic so much that I never bothered pursuing them and now it's far too late for all of them.

I know it could be worse and I should be thankful that it isn't, but some days I just don't know how much longer I can do this.