Hate having a full-time job

So I have never been able to keep a job because I hate working. Literally. I am not going to die and put on my tombstone that I wish I worked more. I especially hate the fact that when you have a job you have to be there.

I even tried turning a passion into a job. All that accomplished was making me hate my passion.

I just feel like jobs are such a waste of time, and that humans spend too much time working.

I genuinely believe 40 hours a week, the majority of your life, is too much to ask of a person.

I think that, given a few more years, having a job might be enough of an incentive to just kill myself. Not that I'm suicidal, because I'm not, but it seems to me that it would be better to die than to have to suffer through the daily torture of working.

I cannot think of any job that I would not hate, no matter if it paid me $1 a year or $1 a second.

Having a job takes away the majority of my freedom. I can't tolerate that. When I was unemployed there wasn't enough time in the day for me to accomplish everything I wanted. Working 40 hours a week and I don't see how I'll ever reach any of my life goals. Such a waste.

I'm just ranting and looking to start a conversation more than anything else I suppose. I don't think there is anything out there that is going to change how I feel. The only reason I work now is because I have a wife who needs my help financially, though I'm not sure how long I'll be able to keep this up. Having a job is already keeping me in a ****** mood 24/7, causing me to get into fights with my wife, causing me to treat my pets badly etc.

I can't deal with working, I just can't. I'm 34 and have felt this way since the beginning of college. I have seen therapists a couple of times and even had some really good jobs that most people would be envious of, even if the pay was crappy. Hell my current job would be considered a decent job. I work for a small business and the owner is wonderful, as is my staff (I manage the place), but I still hate it.

Simply having a job makes me so angry that sometimes I go into a rage and can't remember anything that happened. Nothing else even comes close to making me as upset as having a job.

Hello MalcontentHero, it's good to write it down and put it out there. I'm really interested in what you are saying. I'm going to ask some questions so I can get more of a feeling of what you are saying. I have felt dissatisfied with many jobs.

What does your job entail at the moment?

What other jobs have you tried?

What do you like doing in your spare time?

Is ther a possiblity of cutting your hours down?

Pegs.

I feel much the same. I hate the way this world works and I often don't feel I will be able to relent and get back in line with the sheep in the rat race (you can never have too many animal metaphors). I often feel like I belong in a commune where everyone works for the common good of a group they care about, a family. But today's work environment has been turned into a feeding frenzy in shark infested waters; everyone in competition against time, themselves, each other, with the selfish goals of a bigger paycheck, profits or accolades (aka success). Having a job, like you said, takes away our freedom. But not having an acceptable job has become so stigmatized these days as to apply its own shackles on the human spirit. I've been asked what job I'd want if I won the lottery and didn't have to work. My honest answer is NO job. I would give myself the title: Financial Adviser to Myself and do things I wanted to do and be with the people on my terms every chance I could get. Once one of those things becomes a paying job, it turns into drudgery... with all its negatives of a commute, deadlines, over stimulation, dealing with negative, unappreciative, demanding and controlling people, etc... But, alas, all that is a pipe dream.

Malcontent Hero, I feel much of what you do, as well. At best I preferred self-employment, but then I lacked control over some critical aspects, and I quit that as I have every job I've ever had.

StrongerMan, have you ever looked into intentional communities seriously, and considered becoming part of one? I knew someone who did that, and there is quite a network of people interested in such things. I've looked into it myself. Here's an important starting link for anyone interested in such things:

Intentional Communities - ecovillages, communes, cohousing, coops

Hey thanks H3rmit! I have never really seriously looked into it. I just know I feel like a fish out of water sometimes in this world. I know I am HSP and an introvert. People peg me as antisocial or just shy and really can't relate to me. They say, join a club, network or whatever to get out with more people. But I honestly usually prefer to be alone or with only those I know really well. I keep people at arms length due to the fact that they often don't understand or respect my need for space and solitude. Yes, I screen my phone calls. Hence, a job search is really difficult for me. I will check out your link.

I couldn't handle working. I would shake when I was at work so I don't think I'm built to work. This bipolar has taken its toll on my mind body and soul. Luckily I don't have to worry about working right now, but I know someday I will have to again.

I have always resented having to wast so many years of my life on paid work.
I sucks that the expectation is for you to waste your youth working and only when you reach middle to old age are you allowed to re-claim your life as your own.
On the flip side, I have had periods of unemployment and I must say that sitting around doing nothing much is also not good.
Right now I work from home on a part time basis and I do enjoy it but I'm not making enough money so I have no choice but to supplement this income with a job outside of my home and I'm already stressing. In addition to getting bored easily, I can't stand having to deal with so many different personalities that one runs into at a job.

This is exactly how I feel. If I have to have a regular job for the rest of my life, I will be miserable. Clockin in, having to be there for a certain amount of hours before I can leave, having to answer to someone else who's telling me what to do, and not getting paid enough to even live on my own is not how I want to spend my life. I guess I just envy people who made a lot of money in a short amount of time who get to do what they want, when they want to, eg movie stars, rock stars, famous authors, people who started successful businesses that they sold for millions, etc...

It's not that I even want to be super rich, I just want freedom. Life is full of doing things that you have to do (at least for us normal people). I don't want that. I just want to do what I want to do. I know that's unrealistic, but it doesn't make the daily grind any easier to deal with. And I know the type of people I mentioned have their problems, too, but at least they don't have to work if they don't want to.

All I know is that I don't want "a job" for the rest of my life. I think the only way I'll ever be happy is to own my own business or do freelance work. I know that's a lot of hard work, too, but it's not actually working that's the problem, it's the having to be at "work" for a certain amount of hours and having to answer to a boss. I just want to be able to work on my own schedule and the amount of money I make be based on my own output, not the amount of time I'm clocked in at a place of employment.

I feel the same way! I hate having to be stuck in an office when the sun is shining, without anything important that has to be done right then. So much of paid work seems to be just passing time, having to be somewhere for no reason at all.

After ten years of working steadily, I took a year off. I got a job for nine months and quit that to take another year and a half off. I hope I can make self employment work because the thought of going back to the 9-5 routine gives me hives.

The 8 hour workday was established by Teddy Roosevelt. I work from home on the computer and take breaks now and then.

I don't mind working and keeping busy, I can't handle the stress. It makes me miserable. As I get older it gets worse.

maybe it's because someone is telling us we [I][B]have to[B][I].
I too have tried turning a passion in to a career with much the same results.
Maybe it's my ADHD, I don't know, but once something becomes "work", I don't want anything more to do with it.
I don't share my point of view on work/careers with many people because most will respond with comments that suggest I'm just lazy or that I expect a free pass from my family or society in general. Glad someone else had the nerve to open this conversation. I don't think of myself as lazy, and I certainly don't think anyone owes me anything. I simply don't fit the mold when it comes to certain character traits employers want and society deems important with respect to work or careers.

I could not agree with you more Malcontent. Whenever I try to explain this to someone, they just act annoyed. Tell me I'm just lazy or that I haven't found a passion.

I just really enjoy my free time! Why would I want to spend the majority of my good life working for money, with no time to spend it, until I'm too old to want to spend it? If I can make good money working 20 hours a week, why would I want to work more than that for extra money that I don't need?

Right now I work full time to support myself through college... neither or which I want to do. I make minimum wage at a grocery store that absolutely works me to death and then I also have to deal with rude and just downright mean customers. It's so emotionally and physically exhausting. It makes me just want to sleep when I get home. As for a future career, I'm having a hard time deciding because of the "40 hour work week" norm. In fact, most professionals in the STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics/Medicine) work wayyy more than that. So much so that the 40 hour work week for a lot of professionals is actually like part time work for them. That is so sad to me.

I am a woman, so I have the advantage of being able to decide to be a stay-at-home mom, but I have never liked kids and do not want them... so the next best option is a career that lets you work part-time or telecommute. Nursing, medical lab, graphic design, web development, etc. I still haven't decided which nail to put in my coffin of "life" though...

Omg I just created an account for this website just to comment on this thread ! This is exactly how I feel that's why I googled "I hate working" and landed on this forum ! I've been feeling so depressed lately because I finally got a job that I should LOVE and I hate it already. If I had a different job, I'd dream about something like this job that I have now, but I hate my life ! I realized it's just that I hate working. I don't like having to be somewhere everyday for a certain amount of time and having responsibilities and demands and all that jazz. I don't like not being able to do whatever I want to do. I thought it was just that I'm lazy or spoiled, and that's probably part of it. But seriously I'd rather die than work for the rest of my life. It sounds dramatic, and it is, but it's the truth. Thanks everyone for sharing your situations as well so that I know I'm not the only one out there with this issue

OH MY GOD, I feel the same way about working/jobs and I'm so thankful that I'm NOT THE ONLY ONE!!!!!

I find that if the work isn't time-sensitive, then working 6 hours can still accomplish a lot. But if a person is not productive or responsible or has no interest in work, working 40 hours a week cannot help a person churn out any good and meaningful amount of work.
I'm not spoiled or lazy and I certainly don't think the world is served on a platter.
I mean I get that some jobs require people to always be there like ER, emergency work because these services rely on a sense of urgency to deliver solutions to prevent or avert further risks.
But I just don't understand why we have to restrict ourselves to a work schedule if the work isn't time-sensitive! It's not like I am gonna shirk my responsibility, I need space too and during which is when I re-power my brain!

I've been working full time since July and I hate it.
I feel like there's no way to balance my life or work on myself and recovery as my job sucks the life out if me.... At the same I do enjoy aspects if my work but seriously, it's too much! Holding on by a thread!

Oh, does this post speak to me! At 59 years old, I am acutely aware of just how futile having a job is. All the work I'd done over the years for companies that are no longer in business, the blood, sweat and tears I'd shed for nothing more than food on the table and a roof over my head, the "corporate scars" from bullying bosses and coworkers who betray you; I could go on and on, but I, too, am holding on by a thread!

I have been laid off repeatedly in my career and am now working a temp position hoping it becomes permanent. There is little to do and I spend most of the day surfing my cell phone but having to put in my eight hours, all the while thinking about all the things I need to do at home and all the things I want to do which would actually enrich my life. It blows my mind that I'm looking for yet another job at this age, and with the economy and personal financial situation being what it is, retirement is out of the question and I will literally be working until I die. Which most days couldn't come soon enough as this world system that is deteriorating before our eyes depresses me terribly.

I, too, would not consider myself a lazy person and genuinely enjoy working, but HATE the politics and abuses of power found in a work environment. So envious of those who are retired, trust fund kids or the wealthy - how wonderful to be able to live life and not worry constantly about the next job!

i think if we as people should be able to use our God given gifts at what we choose to do in our lives, meaning jobs too. There are few out there that are able to get those jobs, it takes time patience and more money to get what we need for the jobs we would be good at. I am disabled myself and would do anything just to have a part time job at something i'm good at, but my pshysical and mental abilities hinder it. i am not lazy either, and know other people here are not either, we just want the chance to enjoy life as it comes, not as someone else wishes. as for me myself i've had several menial jobs i even loved but could not keep after my disability. i completely understand all of you who wish you could be somewhere else like with family time.

If anyone acts annoyed or criticizes these sentiments, it's because they are jealous that you can admit it. They get even more jealous if you actually act on such a thing, and go to Brazil and have adventures instead of stay at your tedious job.

What I did in my spare time when I was unemployed (aside from looking for a job):

-Helped my mother start her own business from her passion (she hates that it's a business but needs money)
-Made a lot of art
-Started getting involved with a co-op to open a local store
-Cleanup up beaches with a group of volunteers
-Redecorated the house
-Baked lots of treats; learned some advanced baking techniques
-Made home-made meals every night
-Paid attention to family and friend's birthdays/events
-Planted a garden/cleared invasive species

What I do in my spare time after I got a job:

-watch TV
-eat junk food/take out
-play dumb internet games
-garden died

Yes, clearly working offers the most fulfillment. I don't mind my job though. It's a good job. I do get the pang that I'm wasting my abilities, or trying to force abilities that I don't have to "get ahead" though.

I can totally relate to this too. I am 47 now and am starting a new job. It is really difficult doing this the older you get. I just simply do not want to do it anymore. Things are getting worse and worse out there I think - less pay and they take out more for things like health care. I mean, now they are offering plans where you basically pay the full cost of everything out of pocket! What a deal! Along with everything else getting more expensive - groceries, apartment complexes squeezing every last dime out of you. The abuse I suffered at my last job has pretty much destroyed any self-esteem I still had. I'm stressed beyond the pale, can't sleep anymore, and I just want to check out of this nightmare. My ideal life would be living in a cabin somewhere surrounded by beautiful scenery and just living off the land.

I can relate, I work full time and I really hate it most days. I also get extremely frustrated when I feel like I'm not able to live my life. Some days it's just so awful and I take more "sick" days than I should.

But at the same time I gotta say I'm pretty thankful that I've got this job and am able to support myself. I think taking this perspective is very important because in turn it helps me appreciate the time I do have off much more. It also makes the work days much more bearable when I focus on how lucky I am to have the things I do have as opposed to wishing I had the things I don't.

I hate my job too but when you have bills to pay, a mortgage and children to feed and clothe what are the alternatives. Life is hard.

i feel the same way. people as a whole work way too much. considering the technology that is available to us compared to back in the day, you would think that jobs and people should/ would be working less than they are now, perhaps three days a week tops, but to me its almost the complete oppisite and people seem to work more. i hate that i can't do the things i want to and i feel rushed just to get my daily tasks done.
im only 25 yrs old and feel like i am completely wasting my life working all the time. it does nothing but make me miserable, irritable and unhappy. i have dreams to travel and see the world, whihc will never happen becasue i have to work nonstop and vacation is so limited its ridiculous. it isn't fair to the hard working people like us who slave away our lives for nothing when the rich bosses just get richer and can do anything they want with unlimited time for themselves. its such a messed up society .

I agree with everyone here. I have many interests but no passions and the thought of working for and making huge amounts of money for someone else, being obligated to be at work on certain days at certain hours, having things dictated to me, being watched like a hawk and then have my performance reviewed by someone no better than me....well it all made me want to off myself! I couldn't handle it. Thankfully I have a husband that deals with those things and makes good money. If it weren't for him, I would have had a lot more breakdowns in my life and my heart and soul would be, undoubtedly, squashed to a pulp. Work

I'm glad someone posted this, and that I am not alone. I am a graphic designer at a corporation, but I too hate working. Perhaps I hate the routine, and the countless hours spent toiling away at work that will near see the light of day. Hard enough is it to be an artist but even harder when you sign a contract that you will never be able to show your art to another human being outside of your cell.

I constantly take more sick days than I should, come in late or work half days. People always ask where I am at and I know I am just looked on as lazy. My workplace is dreadfully noisy and people are constantly shouting, carrying on and chatting in our open workplace, where sound carries across the building. I am still able to complete projects n time with my absenteeism, but some days I dread going into that noisy place so much that I will get completely ready for work...and then just not go.

Before I worked full time for 4 years, I did freelance, but still had issues with oversleeping and motivation. I constantly think about all I could accomplish not working, but then thinking back to when I didn't have as much responsibility regarding work, and my behavior then, I wonder if I would slip back into my old routine.

At work I daydream about all the stuff I want to do, and by the end of the day I just want to crawl into a hole and hide. I am lucky to have a fiancé who makes a decent living to support us both, but still I need the money too and hate thinking that someday, looking back at my life, I will see it as utterly spent in a one wall cube staring at a monitor.

Are human beings really meant to live this way? I wish when I was a child someone would have told me to treasure my youth because all it amounts to is being stuck in an endless routine of unsatisfied life. And that you will spend your days staring at a screen while someone else makes millions of dollars.

In the U.S. they encourage the work horse mentality and minimal days are given. We are only of the few countries that don't enforce government mandated vacation time. And people like me simply do not "have mental disorders" they are just considered inept or lazy if they miss work.

I can't handle it most days even though I know I should be restful to have a job, no less one in which I do relatively close to what I went to college for.

I read things that say someday the work force will change - more of the younger generation don't like to live their lives confined to dark windowless cube farms. Hopefully more freedom to work from home will come from this and more flexibility that will keep people from like me from going crazy or losing their jobs.