Does anyone else get sick at the thought of working for the next 40 years?

Pussyhands

Doing the same thing. I mean, getting up early in the morning, doing a full days work, giving away the best hours of the day. Coming back, not really being able to do anything major.

Weekends spent trying to rest as you're bollixed from the week.

20 days off a year.

Stuck at a desk all day, probably leading to health problems later on.

The hope of not doing it keeps me going but deep down the likliehood is I'll have to keep working.

n!ghtmancometh

Pussyhands wrote: »

Doing the same thing. I mean, getting up early in the morning, doing a full days work, giving away the best hours of the day. Coming back, not really being able to do anything major.

Weekends spent trying to rest as you're bollixed from the week.

20 days off a year.

Stuck at a desk all day, probably leading to health problems later on.

The hope of not doing it keeps me going but deep down the likliehood is I'll have to keep working.

Nope, I remember how miserable it felt to be unemployed during the recession. Office is fairly relaxed and I'm left to my own devices as long as work is done. Flexi makes things bearable too.

What age are you pûssy ?

brevity

Do you have the possibility of doing some after work activity?

Soccer, Martial arts, Running? Maybe head to the cinema?

If you have a family it might be tough but try and organise at least one night for just you.

Wanderer78

Being a wage slave isn't particularly nice, but it's very important to be working at something you enjoy, and to make sure you enjoy your time off to, and don't over work, life's too short

Pussyhands

Deleted User wrote: »

What age are you pûssy ?

mid 20's.

looksee

You are assuming that life is going to go on the way it is at the moment. It is very unlikely to do that, you never know what is round the corner, good or bad.

Live for the moment (with reasonable consideration for ambition, retirement, things to look forward to etc) - by that I mean work at making life as enjoyable as you can, with outside interests and doing your best with the job you have, while keeping an eye out to change if you need to. Be willing to grab any opportunity, or make serious change, that comes up. Don't try and anticipate what 10 years ahead will be like.

Its absolutely natural, and too easy, to see life as a great shapeless blob of boring existence in front of you, rather than being depressed by it do your best to live with and also improve your situation. Take a chance, follow opportunity. If nothing else, go out on these long evenings and enjoy the sunshine, go for a walk, head for the countryside or the beach from work.

randomrb

There are two ways you can look at it. you need to find a job that you enjoy doing or you need to find a job that allows you do what you love outside of work.

The problem with a lot of people i see is that although they don't enjoy your job they have nothing to look forward to when they get home. Find what you love doing in life and get a job that allows you to do that like with flexi-time as one of the other posters mentioned.

If you can get both of the above then you are sorted. Maybe I'm Naive but if you already sick of working you need to look at what you are doing and decide if its right for you

Tom Dunne

I'm in the very fortunate position of doing a job I love and making a difference to people's lives every day.

But it wasn't always like that. I did various jobs, but I got to travel to different parts of the world, got to meet amazing people and, most importantly, developed a skillset that enabled me to be in the position I am in now.

So take control of your career, ensure you have goals set so that you won't be disillusioned in 10, 20, 30-year's time and that you will be able to do a job that you enjoy.



I really sound like an old man. I'm not old. Honestly.

Macker1

From time to time people will feel the same. Here's a motto that is worth ingraining in yourself.

I work to live
Not live to work

Important to realise the difference and have pleasures/rewards that working provides.

I have adopted that mantra and it really helps.

Pussyhands

Pussyhands wrote: »

mid 20's.

Your 100% correct. It’s a waste of a life. It’s a shame society doesn’t encourage retirement for 50.

Trust yourself. Make a plan. Stick to it. And get out.

You’ll need to trust your plan and make hard decisions but don’t dilly or dally as you’ll be 40 before you know it.

Trust yourself. Make a plan. Stick to it. And get out.

Elessar

I saw a sticker once, stuck onto a traffic light pole at a junction. It simply read "It's not Monday that sucks. It's your job".

And it's bloody right. If you find a job that you actually like, and find interesting, you won't be dreading working it for years on end.

Fortune Wookiee_

What is a full day's work for you? It could mean 8-7 for some or 8-4. Are you working longer hours than you should?

Do you enjoy the work?

If not, what would you like to do? I don't mean become an artist or something (though you could), but what do you think you'd like that would enable you to live happily with a decent income?

How about you go to the gym before work or at lunchtime if possible?

If energy is a problem for you in the evenings (long hours aside), perhaps you're not eating right or getting enough sleep?

Try not to look at it as having to work for the next 40 years. Instead, set short-term goals for yourself and look at attaining a lifestyle you think you'd like. Give yourself 2-5 years depending on what that is.

super_furry

With weekends and bank holidays, it's probably closer to 130 days off a year if that helps to focus on.

If you're a teacher, even more. Part of me really wishes I could go back and train to be a teacher but I suppose if you're doing it for the 'lifestyle' and holidays rather than an actual desire to teach, you may not enjoy it.

JC01

Nope I enjoy work and find myself getting antsy and bored after a week off, I'm often looking forward to getting back to work as odd as that might sound.

Now ask me that question 2 years ago and I'd tell you I would of givin up on life altogether before spending 40 years at what I was doing.

The important factor is doing a job you actually enjoy and that's down to nobody but you to make that happen. Retrain, study etc whatever you need to do to accomplish whatever your own goals are, I gaurentee you nobody else is gonna do it for you and that If you don't make a change you'll be one of the thousands of people getting grumpier and angrier by the year as you trudge through a job you've fallen into rather than chosen.

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RichT

I have to work for the next 40 years? :eek:

Christ! I'll be 92 when I clock off. Well, I wasn't feeling sick, but I am now! :mad:

Dardania

There's a lot of movement lately about the FIRE concept - Financial Independence, Retire Early.
Apparently, in the US, the big issues with achieveing the idea are:
- housing costs (buying too large a home)
- education costs (not such a problem for Europeans)
- car costs (do you change your car frequently etc.)

If you want to do something about the topic, I suggest you check it out. And also, this is a useful Reddit page to follow: https://www.reddit.com/r/EuropeFIRE/

Since getting interested in the topic, I have tentatively convinced my spouse to stick with our starter home, and that will give me the flexibility to maybe not work 40 hours per as a wage slave, and instead take on some consulting gigs for really interesting topics. But I would like to clear the mortgage first...

shakeitoff

It's a joke tbh, one day there will be an uprising when people realise that life truly is short and wasting hours in a job is such bollox. 6 hours is the absolute maximum time you should be working for each day.

The problem with this 'find a job you enjoy' advice is that a of us don't have the IQ to get jobs we enjoy. I don't get replies for entry level sales jobs, so finding a job that I enjoy is a pipe dream.

I graduated from college and work the same job I did throughout colege where I can pick my own hours and wear what I want. The money is terrible and work unfulfilling but the environment is nice enough and my managers and work friends are nice to be around. I feel it has kept me young and I have time to do most stuff I want to. I couldn't think of anything worse than suiting up everyday to go into some toxic work environment with highly competitive people all trying to outdo one another.

9-5 is too long a day, then you have to get the gym in(Gym is a necessity, some weird people enjoy the gym but for me it's a means to an end) make your dinner and then go to bed early so you aren't a zombie the next day. Absolute bollox.

cbreeze

I know someone who had a great life, travelling, teaching English here and there in hot places but he never saved money, never contributed to a pension or bought a house. He loved the fancy-free lifestyle. Now that he's old he's living on the means tested State pension and has to rent a room far away from Dublin because his income won't stretch to both rent and food. He keeps warm in public transport in the winter with the free travel. The people I know who stuck it out in jobs they either liked or tolerated are now quite comfortable: house paid off or nearly so, workplace pension, state pension, holidays, meals out, weekends away.

There were bits of my 10 hr a day job I did not like, and bits I did. I changed it from within and got promoted. I did a degree in my spare time and that helped as well.

A lot will happen in 40 years, and 50 and 60 years, so set the groundwork now for growth and enjoyment

shakeitoff

cbreeze wrote: »

I know someone who had a great life, travelling, teaching English here and there in hot places but he never saved money, never contributed to a pension or bought a house. He loved the fancy-free lifestyle. Now that he's old he's living on the means tested State pension and has to rent a room far away from Dublin because his income won't stretch to both rent and food. He keeps warm in public transport in the winter with the free travel. The people I know who stuck it out in jobs they either liked or tolerated are now quite comfortable: house paid off or nearly so, workplace pension, state pension, holidays, meals out, weekends away.

There were bits of my 10 hr a day job I did not like, and bits I did. I changed it from within and got promoted. I did a degree in my spare time and that helped as well.

A lot will happen in 40 years, and 50 and 60 years, so set the groundwork now for growth and enjoyment

In a way, he had the good life when it mattered. I'd rather have lived good in my 20's than be some old lad with money. You can't put a value on being young and having freedom, and not only that but your mate seemed to have a bit of cash at the same time. Not bad.

randomrb

shakeitoff wrote: »

In a way, he had the good life when it mattered. I'd rather have lived good in my 20's than be some old lad with money. You can't put a value on being young and having freedom, and not only that but your mate seemed to have a bit of cash at the same time. Not bad.

I suppose that's where people differ, I can't imagine anything worse than facing into a future of financial uncertainty. I wouldn't be able to enjoy the present without worrying about the future

mrcheez

Pussyhands wrote: »

mid 20's.

Mid 20s I did a RTW trip for 18 months after having saved up previous few years.

Best thing I ever did.

I met loads of retired folk that worked their entire lives only to start going travelling once they retired, and they were limited in the active pursuits they could take part in, not to mention not having the physical energy.

I'm 40 now and work every day but still regard my mid-late 20s as the best time of my life having travelled and not bothered about careers etc.

I still go travelling every year though, but not for 18 months

witchgirl26

I don't get this either/or attitude of enjoying life when you're young or old. I have a job I like. When I stopped enjoying the company I worked for, I moved to a similar position in a new company. I work long enough days but I don't spend the weekends trying to recover from it. It's a desk job so not that much to recover from! I spend my evenings and weekends doing things I like and enjoy and that are active. I save and go on holidays which I'm able to do because of my job. I've never done long trips but I've been to places I've always wanted to go.

shakeitoff

I wouldn't be in the 'just travel' mentality, when Irish people say that they more or less mean move to an English speaking country and just live with Irish people(and at best other English speakers) and live a regular life in a western country doing everything you would be doing in Dublin. There's nothing wrong with that, just what I've found to mean by 'travel'.

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R.D. aka MR.D

Dardania wrote: »

There's a lot of movement lately about the FIRE concept - Financial Independence, Retire Early.
Apparently, in the US, the big issues with achieveing the idea are:
- housing costs (buying too large a home)
- education costs (not such a problem for Europeans)
- car costs (do you change your car frequently etc.)

If you want to do something about the topic, I suggest you check it out. And also, this is a useful Reddit page to follow: https://www.reddit.com/r/EuropeFIRE/

Since getting interested in the topic, I have tentatively convinced my spouse to stick with our starter home, and that will give me the flexibility to maybe not work 40 hours per as a wage slave, and instead take on some consulting gigs for really interesting topics. But I would like to clear the mortgage first...

Husband and I are planning to retire early because we are DINKs (hoping to be DINKERs), it's amazing what you can achieve when you look into where you don't have to spend money.We enjoyed our 20s too and will use the next 15-20 years to maximise our finances until we can retire early. These middle years are the hard part!

Twenty Grand

....... wrote: »

What kinds of jobs do people have when they talk about jobs they enjoy?

Engineering.
Love it. Still put my 40 hours a week in and no more if I can help it. I have a few projects on the go at home, got the gym and a few other active pursuits for the weekends. Weekend city breaks often enough and one big holiday a year.

IMO it's not the job that's tiring, it's the commuting. I live 10 mins from work so I'm up at 8am to start at 8.30 and home with my feet up before 5.30pm every day.

Tom Dunne

....... wrote: »

What kinds of jobs do people have when they talk about jobs they enjoy?

Education - making a difference to people's lives and great holidays.

lsjmhar

Pussyhands wrote:

mid 20's.

This is life. Bono sings the same songs every day and has done for 30+ years. Get a hobby!

shakeitoff

lsjmhar wrote: »

This is life. Bono sings the same songs every day and has done for 30+ years. Get a hobby!

This is true. So many people just get by on an appetite of Netflix and browsing internet and wonder why they're unhappy. Cinema is no longer a hobby in the way it may have been a few decades ago.

OldMrBrennan83

This post has been deleted.

Twenty Grand

shakeitoff wrote: »

This is true. So many people just get by on an appetite of Netflix and browsing internet and wonder why they're unhappy. Cinema is no longer a hobby in the way it may have been a few decades ago.

Thread here not long ago about what people do in the evenings.
Most people do nothing. Get home. Make dinner watch tv, browse internet, sleep. Day in day out, then wonder why they're not happy.
Fair enough I can understand people are tired and wiped after work, but it doesn't take much effort to go for a walk or even spend 30 mins tipping away at some project or hobby.

Variety is the spice of life. If you cant get it in work, you need to get it at home.

Conservatory

I have the odd day where I feel like this but I look at it more long term. I built 2 hotels this year. I pretend I’m self employed and getting paid 25000 a hotel. I get penalized for every day I’m not on site.

Would you rather foraging for food, losing most of your kids to hunger during the winter and struggling to find dry wood during the rain? Humans have never been more comfortable than they are now. It’s not a waste of a life.

Sleeper12

I left school at 14. 50 now but they won't give me a state pension till I'm 68. I'll be working & pay tax 54 years before I get a state pension. Others might only be working 30 years between college & gap years. Doesn't make sense to me at all

Twenty Grand

Sleeper12 wrote: »

I left school at 14. 50 now but they won't give me a state pension till I'm 68. I'll be working & pay tax 54 years before I get a state pension. Others might only be working 30 years between college & gap years. Doesn't make sense to me at all

I'm half your age yet pay the same health insurance even though I'm statistically much healthier and less likely to go to hospital.

The system is counter intuitive because the alternative is that a certain group would be severely disadvantaged. In your case if there was a fixed number of year required before a pension, some people would be working well into their 80s.

WhiteMemento9

This thread appears with regularly. It isn't the work that bothers people but the amount they have to work. Productivity has increased massively due to technological advancement. We produce far more than ever with far lower human involvement. If you look at trends since the 80's productivity has kept increasing massively while wages have not followed that trend. We are producing more stuff than ever but working the same hours and for less money indexing in inflation. That doesn't make sense unless you look at where the money goes.

I don't know how anyone justifies working a 5 day week. You are essentially a slave when you consider commute, odd extra hours and recovery time. If your life inside work isn't of much relative value to you as a person it just isn't worth it. Work = Money (Nothing else) 4 days is just about bearable. It would make us all much more happy individuals if we could all move to 4 days and with the increase in productivity due to technology it should have happened long ago.

For it to happen though people need to start questioning the system we have created. Why is the distribution of wealth not more equal. This comes and goes as a question in the media quite often but it is never addressed. The kind of wealth creation towards certain sections of society is not needed. Money though is the GOD of the society we have created and while it continues to intoxicate people into thinking it will make them happy while not understanding a better functioning society all around the world full of happy people would make them far more whole, fulfilled and happy.

Sleeper12

Twenty Grand wrote:

I'm half your age yet pay the same health insurance even though I'm statistically much healthier and less likely to go to hospital.

I've paid vhi since 18 too.

My point is I pay taxes that allow others to go to college. I pay taxes & work for up to 14 years longer than others. It does not make sense. I would think that someone paying tax for 50 years should get state pension regardless of age.

Pussyhands

Dardania wrote: »

There's a lot of movement lately about the FIRE concept - Financial Independence, Retire Early.
Apparently, in the US, the big issues with achieveing the idea are:
- housing costs (buying too large a home)
- education costs (not such a problem for Europeans)
- car costs (do you change your car frequently etc.)

If you want to do something about the topic, I suggest you check it out. And also, this is a useful Reddit page to follow: https://www.reddit.com/r/EuropeFIRE/

Since getting interested in the topic, I have tentatively convinced my spouse to stick with our starter home, and that will give me the flexibility to maybe not work 40 hours per as a wage slave, and instead take on some consulting gigs for really interesting topics. But I would like to clear the mortgage first...

I was thinking of this but for some reason I feel like I'd need an awful amount of money.

I'm currently saving about 15k a year but i live very frugally. 60k in bank.

I was thinking of buying an apartment in the city and making some money with the price increases but feels risky when I don't plan on living there all my life.

Though I would like to go travelling for a year and having the apartment would allow the mortgage to be paid off at the same time.

The dream is having something to bring in 20k a year passively.

How much would one need to retire around 40? New cars don't matter. Haha

WhiteMemento9

shakeitoff wrote: »

It's a joke tbh, one day there will be an uprising when people realise that life truly is short and wasting hours in a job is such bollox. 6 hours is the absolute maximum time you should be working for each day.

The problem with this 'find a job you enjoy' advice is that a of us don't have the IQ to get jobs we enjoy. I don't get replies for entry level sales jobs, so finding a job that I enjoy is a pipe dream.

I graduated from college and work the same job I did throughout colege where I can pick my own hours and wear what I want. The money is terrible and work unfulfilling but the environment is nice enough and my managers and work friends are nice to be around. I feel it has kept me young and I have time to do most stuff I want to. I couldn't think of anything worse than suiting up everyday to go into some toxic work environment with highly competitive people all trying to outdo one another.

9-5 is too long a day, then you have to get the gym in(Gym is a necessity, some weird people enjoy the gym but for me it's a means to an end) make your dinner and then go to bed early so you aren't a zombie the next day. Absolute bollox.

I'll tell you a little secret. I know many people who have strived to climb those ladders, in the suits with the toxic environments. They are conditioned though that this is what life is. Many are miserable as **** underneath it all. Well done you on finding something that works for yourself and gives you happiness.

Pussyhands

Fortune Wookiee_ wrote: »

What is a full day's work for you? It could mean 8-7 for some or 8-4. Are you working longer hours than you should?

Do you enjoy the work?

If not, what would you like to do? I don't mean become an artist or something (though you could), but what do you think you'd like that would enable you to live happily with a decent income?

How about you go to the gym before work or at lunchtime if possible?

If energy is a problem for you in the evenings (long hours aside), perhaps you're not eating right or getting enough sleep?

Try not to look at it as having to work for the next 40 years. Instead, set short-term goals for yourself and look at attaining a lifestyle you think you'd like. Give yourself 2-5 years depending on what that is.

My job as jobs go is pretty decent. 8.5 hours a day, 10 min commute. It's just the time not doing things I want to do, like making a sandwich in the kitchen or watching the world cup games or taking the dog for a walk or catching the news on tv. For me, the best hours of the day are 11 to 3pm

Ideal job would be something to do with sports.

CalRobert

Yes. I think we all do. It's a lie that we need to, really - the world produces a breathtaking, astronomical amount of wealth - so why do we need to work so much?

For one thing, that wealth isn't going in to thin air. I suspect you spend at least half, maybe three quarters of your month producing wealth for your landlord and the taxman, before you get to keep any of it.

To be fair, the taxes produce things that are also good for you personally, but it's still kind of a drag.

You have time to try to fix it though. Reduce your expenses. Probably leave Dublin, or really any big city (it sucks money out of you like nothing else). Think really hard before you have kids.


"How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives."

-Annie Dillard

https://www.brainpickings.org/2013/06/07/annie-dillard-the-writing-life-1/

shakeitoff

WhiteMemento9 wrote: »

I'll tell you a little secret. I know many people who have strived to climb those ladders, in the suits with the toxic environments. They are conditioned though that this is what life is. Many are miserable as **** underneath it all. Well done you on finding something that works for yourself and gives you happiness.

Thanks brah. TBF, I live at home and it's been easy so far but I know people who rent and do what I do so it can be done. Needs a type of mentality though. I think for these people hellbent on career progression, they probably are using it to cover over insecurities or in the absence of real passions. For example, they want women and feel(rightly or wrong) that women are going to be more attracted to them if they make the big bucks. This is the great paradox. It's hard to feel out of the loop and not be out looking the part when everyone else is on the career ladder making decent money but working all the hours in the world.

WhiteMemento9

shakeitoff wrote: »

Thanks brah. TBF, I live at home and it's been easy so far but I know people who rent and do what I do so it can be done. Needs a type of mentality though. I think for these people hellbent on career progression, they probably are using it to cover over insecurities or in the absence of real passions. For example, they want women and feel(rightly or wrong) that women are going to be more attracted to them if they make the big bucks. This is the great paradox. It's hard to feel out of the loop and not be out looking the part when everyone else is on the career ladder making decent money but working all the hours in the world.

Some wise words in that paragraph. We all like sex. Women I find are attracted to passionate guys, confident in themselves just as much as the other stuff. The kind of women who are attracted by the other stuff isn't someone you would have been happy with anyway. I know more people trapped in horrible relationships because of that need to have the wife. Find things that make you happy mate. Remember something else, everyone is a little scared, some hide it better than others, some cope with it by striving for things society place importance on. Find things that are important to you and focus on them. Passion in life is a ****ing wonderful thing, if that fire burns in you then you are alive, so many people lose that by killing themselves to get the other stuff that wasn't important to them but what the consider important because other people do.

TallGlass

Thinking the exact same the last while. My job isn't bad but just can't picture the next 40 years doing it. Rather something part time and enjoyable or full time and enjoyable. But more so part time.

I'm on time off at the moment. Big signal for me is dreading having to go back. Time for change for me again.

We have no more jobs for life, we have no more companies for life even, they are been sold and bought, crappy contracts, more expected for less, I mean the list of negatives is getting longer, the positives are your in a job and making your own way, maybe even free coffee or tea.

Just to add, I really think the tax situation above 32k needs to be looked at, it's too high above it.

DevLit

I just started my career today,

I'm looking forward to my life and working everyday seems like no bother?

What else would you do when your friends and family are in work?

WhiteMemento9

DevLit wrote: »

I just started my career today,

I'm looking forward to my life and working everyday seems like no bother?

What else would you do when your friends and family are in work?

If you can't answer that then you haven't lived. I could fill every minute of every day with things I enjoy with enough money in the bank just to have a decent living. The world is a bloody amazing place. It is better when you have people around you to enjoy those things with but I don't derive my happiness from those people, it is more the feeling of connection that is important to myself.

Peatys

Pussyhands wrote: »

mid 20's.

In a few years you'll pop out a few sprogs and wave goodbye to work forever.

Fortune Wookiee_

Pussyhands wrote: »

My job as jobs go is pretty decent. 8.5 hours a day, 10 min commute. It's just the time not doing things I want to do, like making a sandwich in the kitchen or watching the world cup games or taking the dog for a walk or catching the news on tv. For me, the best hours of the day are 11 to 3pm

Ideal job would be something to do with sports.

That’s cool. Would you think about doing a few courses and maybe try and get into coaching or something? I know someone who does that and he works mainly in the evenings or early mornings.

Just trying to make a suggestion. Hope you figure it out. Not nice being unhappy in work. I’ve been there.

Twenty Grand

WhiteMemento9 wrote: »

If you can't answer that then you haven't lived. I could fill every minute of every day with things I enjoy with enough money in the bank just to have a decent living. The world is a bloody amazing place. It is better when you have people around you to enjoy those things with but I don't derive my happiness from those people, it is more the feeling of connection that is important to myself.

As Dan Bilzarian, a man with unlimited access to money, women, drugs and anything you could wish for says "the sweet is not so sweet without the bitter".
https://youtu.be/pwiQB6CIAnQ

Although I'd still take his life over mine

shakeitoff

Nah he's a try hard over compensating bellend(look at him without the beard) Imagine being a footballer though, like a relatively high IQ good looking footballer like Kaka. My days