Sick of the 9-5 drudgery

LegacyUser

I'm in my mid 30's now and I don't know if it's because I'm getting older or what but I'm really getting fed-up of the drudgery of going to work and doing 9-5 etc. It's something I've noticed developing over the last couple of years. I was previously in a job I hated for about 4 years and then got made redundant from it a few months ago. I was lucky enough to get another job quite quickly but so far I'm not really enjoying it. It's better than the last job I was in but every morning I'm getting up now and I'm just fed-up and have no interest in going to work.

I should probably point out that I'm currently suffering from a low-level depression and I'm seeing the appropriate medical professionals.

I know there's lot's of people out there who can't find work and I feel bad for them. But at the same time, that doesn't mean I'm not entitled to be at least somewhat happy in work and in life in general.

After being made redundant I probably needed to take a few months off but unfortunately was not in a position to do so because of some credit card debt I currently have. I don't really have any savings to fall back on either. If I were to pack up everything and move home at the end of next month, I could have my debt completely cleared then. However I don't know if that is the right move and it doesn't leave me much money to get started again elsewhere at some point.

I'm considering my options at the moment. I work in IT and have thought about becoming self-employed but I don't know doing what exactly and I'm concerned about my motivation in such a role. Having said that I wouldn't rule out a complete career change but I want to avoid making some big change and then basically ending up in the same boat after a few weeks or months.

I suppose I'm wondering has anyone else been in a similar situation? If so, what did you do?

username123

workworkwork01 wrote: »

I suppose I'm wondering has anyone else been in a similar situation? If so, what did you do?

Yeah. I went into a job when I finished college and stayed in it. IT as well. By my 30s I hated it but the money was great and the hours were great and it was near my house so I just put up with it.

Eventually they made me redundant (last year). It was only afterwards I realised how soul destroying it was. I dont think Id stay in another job where I felt like that. It was my first 'proper' job though so I didnt really know any different.

Im sorry I cant offer you better advice, I basically floated there until they kicked me out despite me hating it!

looksee

I'm going to throw out something totally random here, I have no scientific basis for it, its just a notion I have. Could it be that it is IT -specifically computer screens - that is pulling you down? I read somewhere that it is good for you to look into the far distance; in IT you are looking at a screen which is only a couple of feet away. Also you are sitting all day, could you get some exercise at lunchtime and in the evenings? Maybe your body needs to stretch and your eyes need to look at the hills!

dafunk

workworkwork01 wrote: »

I'm in my mid 30's now and I don't know if it's because I'm getting older or what but I'm really getting fed-up of the drudgery of going to work and doing 9-5 etc. It's something I've noticed developing over the last couple of years. I was previously in a job I hated for about 4 years and then got made redundant from it a few months ago. I was lucky enough to get another job quite quickly but so far I'm not really enjoying it. It's better than the last job I was in but every morning I'm getting up now and I'm just fed-up and have no interest in going to work.

I should probably point out that I'm currently suffering from a low-level depression and I'm seeing the appropriate medical professionals.

I know there's lot's of people out there who can't find work and I feel bad for them. But at the same time, that doesn't mean I'm not entitled to be at least somewhat happy in work and in life in general.

After being made redundant I probably needed to take a few months off but unfortunately was not in a position to do so because of some credit card debt I currently have. I don't really have any savings to fall back on either. If I were to pack up everything and move home at the end of next month, I could have my debt completely cleared then. However I don't know if that is the right move and it doesn't leave me much money to get started again elsewhere at some point.

I'm considering my options at the moment. I work in IT and have thought about becoming self-employed but I don't know doing what exactly and I'm concerned about my motivation in such a role. Having said that I wouldn't rule out a complete career change but I want to avoid making some big change and then basically ending up in the same boat after a few weeks or months.

I suppose I'm wondering has anyone else been in a similar situation? If so, what did you do?

Yes I was in the same situation a few years ago. I was working 9-5 in IT. I really disliked the drudgery of 9-5 and the bull**** of the corporate environment. I kept changing jobs looking for something better until I realised it wasn't the specifi jobs I disliked but the general environment. After working in an office with no natural light for an entire year I eventually got so depressed that I left. It was the best thing I could have done. I got a job teaching adults which I really really enjoy, I seriously cut my salary when I took it but my quality of life is much improved. I don't live for the wknds anymore. I know it's not as easy these days to move around jobs but still possible.

I would suggest visiting a career guidance person, they often do aptitude and personality tests to find the areas of work that would interest you.

Best of luck! You can change it if you want to.

LegacyUser

My Dad went through this OP. Worked 9 to 5 civil service job and was massively unhappy for years but felt trapped because he had a wife and kids and a house etc etc. Finally we had a family meeting and told him to go do something that made him happy and we'd find a way to manage. My dad loved to drive and had passed every driving test there was to pass and would have been happy driving a truck but his family [ie his parents] had pushed him to college and a career in the civil service as that was more 'respectable'. We told him do what you want so at 48 he quit and went to work for an overseas charity. I'd never seen him as happy, he started by driving trucks and has now made his way up to logistics co-ordinator or some fancy title like that and has worked all over the world with several different NGO's including the UN but the important part for us is he's happy. We had a little less money in the house but my sister and I are both grown and moved out now and I'd rather have had to cut back on things and see my dad happy then have him work to 65+ in a job he hated.

jimmycrackcorm

Leave your job and become an IT contractor instead. That way you can earn good income, have nice breaks between contracts and get to experience new environments every three or six months without having the dread feeling that you are stuck in one place permanently.

Hoochiemama

Hiya, I was the same as yourself. Working in a job I hated but feeling like I should be happy when so many people are unemployed. I eventually quit and took a year off.

I came back and got into self employed contracting and to be honest I havent looked back. Now I dont LOVE I.T. but I dont hate it either. But the contracting has really changed my view in it.

Its nice to change companies every few months, its nice to not have to get involved in office politics, its nice that I can afford to rent my own house in Dublin (not a cheap thing to do).... but its REALLY nice to be able to take a few weeks off in between contracts (just back from a 6 week break. Like being back in school!) .

Although IT isnt my dream job, I dont hate it and it funds not only extensive time off but any hobbies I have outside of work. I can afford it now. Id highly recommend contracting..... but then again it depends where you are inthe country. There is alot of IT contracting work in Dublin, not sure what it is like in the rest of the country.

LegacyUser

I was in the exact same situation not too long ago. I was in a career for 8 years and hated every single day of it but it paid reasonably well and I wasn't qualified to do anything else so I stayed. Finally it got so bad that it didn't matter how much money I got paid, I felt miserable all the time. So I went back to college and I'm retraining for an entirely new career which I know for a fact will not earn me anywhere near what I was making previously but I can't be happier. Knowing that I will be doing something that I love for the rest of my life has made the sacrifice worthwhile. I'm not the only one who has taken steps back to move forward type of thing. A friend of mine enjoyed a very good career in engineering, was made redundant, couldn't find work and had to move back home but is now retraining as a nurse and she loves it.

If you're not sure about staying in IT is there anything else you could see yourself doing? You still have a long working life ahead of you so don't condemn youself to working any job you aren't happy in, even if the money is good.

LegacyUser

op again.

Thanks for the replies.

I was IT contracting for the last 4 years but it was all in the same job as the contract kept getting renewed. I didn't really put any savings away which is biting me now as the last renewal of the contract got cut short by quite a long way. The idea of contracting for a few months at a time then taking time off sounds very appealing, however I'm not financially setup to do that at the moment. I work in Dublin and rent my own place so I need enough money to do that and to live on.

username123, it sounds like I am in the same boat as you now, living close to work etc. My current job is a fixed term contract so I've taken a bit of a paycut. I too kind of feel if I went to another IT job I could possibly end up fed up in it. As luck would have it, I got a call today from a company who wants to interview me. I agreed to it as I figure there's no harm in going to talk to them anyway.

Hoochiemama, do you have a specialised skill that lets you move around? I know programmers are high in demand but I don't fall into that category, at least not yet.

The idea of a career's counsellor sounds good, is there a recommended way to find one? I don't know much about them and don't want some scam artist or someone who doesn't know what they're talking about.

She Who Dares Wins

Career Guidance is really helpful when it's done well but don't entrust it to a "life coach/wannabe psychologist". Seamus Whitney in Wexford is excellent- worth the trip!

If through this process you can find the path you need to be on and do actually need some retraining you may very well find that if you're working fulltime or part time while retraining in something that interests you that the day job becomes a lot more bearable. Ask yourself, if money, qualifications were not barriers what would you be doing, play out the fantasy and see what you can take from it.

Having seen my Dad struggle while self-employed all his life Id never recommend it to anyone. I know there are some who are totally suited to it but it's a damn hard road not knowing where the next work or money is coming from. So Id say stay put and get actively using your spare time to get fresh air, physical activity and a plan in place.

LegacyUser

cant log in now wrote: »

My Dad went through this OP. Worked 9 to 5 civil service job and was massively unhappy for years but felt trapped because he had a wife and kids and a house etc etc. Finally we had a family meeting and told him to go do something that made him happy and we'd find a way to manage. My dad loved to drive and had passed every driving test there was to pass and would have been happy driving a truck but his family [ie his parents] had pushed him to college and a career in the civil service as that was more 'respectable'. We told him do what you want so at 48 he quit and went to work for an overseas charity. I'd never seen him as happy, he started by driving trucks and has now made his way up to logistics co-ordinator or some fancy title like that and has worked all over the world with several different NGO's including the UN but the important part for us is he's happy. We had a little less money in the house but my sister and I are both grown and moved out now and I'd rather have had to cut back on things and see my dad happy then have him work to 65+ in a job he hated.

That's an absolutely lovely story, fair play to ye. And a valuable lesson. As long as there's enough food on the table, no one should ever feel obliged to stick out a career they hate for the long haul.

OP, I have nothing really to add. Loads of great advice from people on this thread. Best of luck with turning things around.

username123

workworkwork01 wrote: »

username123, it sounds like I am in the same boat as you now, living close to work etc. My current job is a fixed term contract so I've taken a bit of a paycut. I too kind of feel if I went to another IT job I could possibly end up fed up in it. As luck would have it, I got a call today from a company who wants to interview me. I agreed to it as I figure there's no harm in going to talk to them anyway.

Yeah I used to weigh up all the advantages, near home, loads of money, great hours, easy number, knew it inside out, nice people, great canteen etc......

But none of it made up for the fact that it was bloody soul destroying!!! There are other reasons that would identify me here - but my point is, sometimes all the good stuff doesnt make up for the bad stuff!