Despising the idea of work after everything that has happened.

Marcon

Flatulentoldgoat said:

I don’t know what’s happened, I guess after 7-8 months of this wild bumpy ride I just have become really despiteful of the idea of going back to the good ol 9-5.

I have gotten so complacent and used to waking up when I want, being able to pick up new hobbies, go for nice walks, spending time working on my mental health etc.

Going back to being a cog in the machine feels so unnatural and down right boring.

It feels more like having to drag yourself back to school after the summer holidays.

Change direction - find something you want to do and which gives you the freedom you crave. Working for yourself would be the obvious solution.

Iamdebtfree

Marcon said:

Flatulentoldgoat said:

I don’t know what’s happened, I guess after 7-8 months of this wild bumpy ride I just have become really despiteful of the idea of going back to the good ol 9-5.

I have gotten so complacent and used to waking up when I want, being able to pick up new hobbies, go for nice walks, spending time working on my mental health etc.

Going back to being a cog in the machine feels so unnatural and down right boring.

It feels more like having to drag yourself back to school after the summer holidays.

Change direction - find something you want to do and which gives you the freedom you crave. Working for yourself would be the obvious solution.

This is the advice I see on various boards given to people unhappy and stuck in their jobs. 'Find something you love doing, or start a business'. It's far far easier said than done even before taking current situation into account. 

I don't want to work, full stop.

 I've worked non stop for the last 30 years, all in one mind numbingly boring field and by god I've had enough.

There is nothing I want to do all day every day that I can get paid for which would bring me joy. Such thing simply doesn't exist for me.
At 50, this will not change. I tolerate my job because that's the only way I know how to keep myself clothed, fed and with a roof above my head, and because at my age, it's 'better the devil you know' 

Haven't got a single business focused cell in my brain - the whole concept of modern capitalism infuriates and depresses me. So no, won't be starting any own business any time soon.

Therefore suck dreading being back at the office and counting my blessings. Can't put into words how happy I would be to continue working from home indefinitely. 

Emmia

Iamdebtfree said:

Marcon said:

Flatulentoldgoat said:

I don’t know what’s happened, I guess after 7-8 months of this wild bumpy ride I just have become really despiteful of the idea of going back to the good ol 9-5.

I have gotten so complacent and used to waking up when I want, being able to pick up new hobbies, go for nice walks, spending time working on my mental health etc.

Going back to being a cog in the machine feels so unnatural and down right boring.

It feels more like having to drag yourself back to school after the summer holidays.

Change direction - find something you want to do and which gives you the freedom you crave. Working for yourself would be the obvious solution.

This is the advice I see on various boards given to people unhappy and stuck in their jobs. 'Find something you love doing, or start a business'. It's far far easier said than done even before taking current situation into account. 

I don't want to work, full stop.

 I've worked non stop for the last 30 years, all in one mind numbingly boring field and by god I've had enough.

There is nothing I want to do all day every day that I can get paid for which would bring me joy. Such thing simply doesn't exist for me.
At 50, this will not change. I tolerate my job because that's the only way I know how to keep myself clothed, fed and with a roof above my head, and because at my age, it's 'better the devil you know' 

Haven't got a single business focused cell in my brain - the whole concept of modern capitalism infuriates and depresses me. So no, won't be starting any own business any time soon.

Therefore suck dreading being back at the office and counting my blessings. Can't put into words how happy I would be to continue working from home indefinitely. 

As you need to work, have you thought about looking at leaving your industry to find employment doing something else - or are you also constrained by geographical, family or salary requirements?

What type of job would you like? What attributes / topics interest you?

I don't get the "be self employed" thing either - DH is self employed and it works for him, but I don't have his fairly niche and in demand skill set, nor the desire for self promotion via twitter, podcasts, blogging etc. 

TBagpuss

I agree that it's hard to find something you love which also pays, and starting a business is hard and, no matter what your business is, if you set up your own, you are also going to have to spend time doing stuff you don't love, to make the business work - whether that's filling in your tax returns, dealing with suppliers and dissatisfied customers, dealing with HR issues and payroll if you employ others,  marketing yourself or your business or whatever.

However, I think many people can look at the job they have and identify the parts of the job which they find most and least satisfying, and the things they enjoy or hate about that job, and use that to find something which minimises the proportion of time they have to spend doing the bits they dislike, and gives them the maximum opportunity to do the parts they find most satisfying. It's also sometimes possible to focus on what you do enjoy and want to do, outside work,  and to then look for work which best enables you to do those things, whether that means working part time, or in a boring but relatively easy-for-you job, to free up more time and energy for the things you enjoy, or aiming to manage your working life and spending to get to a position where you can afford to go part time or retire early. (as an example, by brother spent several  years working in a not very well paid, and fairly boring, job, mostly doing data entry, because it allowed him to be flexible in his hours, and it wasn't mentally challenging, and those thing meant that he had the time and energy to do the stuff which really interested him but which wasn't a paying gig. It also let him work out what he needed to do to get the kind of job which would pay him to do the things which interest him. He now has a job which means he gets to spend a significant proportion of his time working on things which do interest him, and build on the skills he learned doing it as an unpaid hobby . Obviously not everyone can do that, but even before he managed to work out how to make his interests pay, he had found a way to balance what he wanted with what he needed. 

OP, if you are furloughed, then yes, going back to work after what has in effect been several months of paid holiday (albeit one where you couldn't go away!)  is going to be a shock to the system, and you can certainly use the experience to take stock and consider what your options are - try to change jobs to something you'd enjoy better, ask for reduced hours and accept the reduced income, ask about flexible working to allow you to work from home part of the time, if that is possible, or to have more flexible hours (for instance, if 9-5 doesn't suit your natural sleep pattern, would 10-6 work better for you, and would it work for your employer? Or 8-4, for that matter.
On the plus side, you've had a taster of what retirement might feel like and can think about, and plan, for what you would want and need when you get to that stage. 

Marcon

Iamdebtfree said:

Marcon said:

Flatulentoldgoat said:

I don’t know what’s happened, I guess after 7-8 months of this wild bumpy ride I just have become really despiteful of the idea of going back to the good ol 9-5.

I have gotten so complacent and used to waking up when I want, being able to pick up new hobbies, go for nice walks, spending time working on my mental health etc.

Going back to being a cog in the machine feels so unnatural and down right boring.

It feels more like having to drag yourself back to school after the summer holidays.

Change direction - find something you want to do and which gives you the freedom you crave. Working for yourself would be the obvious solution.

This is the advice I see on various boards given to people unhappy and stuck in their jobs. 'Find something you love doing, or start a business'. It's far far easier said than done even before taking current situation into account. 

I don't want to work, full stop.

 I've worked non stop for the last 30 years, all in one mind numbingly boring field and by god I've had enough.

There is nothing I want to do all day every day that I can get paid for which would bring me joy. Such thing simply doesn't exist for me.
At 50, this will not change. I tolerate my job because that's the only way I know how to keep myself clothed, fed and with a roof above my head, and because at my age, it's 'better the devil you know' 

Haven't got a single business focused cell in my brain - the whole concept of modern capitalism infuriates and depresses me. So no, won't be starting any own business any time soon.

Therefore suck dreading being back at the office and counting my blessings. Can't put into words how happy I would be to continue working from home indefinitely. 

The same advice pops up because for some people, it is the only realistic way to find a future they'll enjoy.

Others like you simply decide it is easier to throw in the towel and go on spending time doing something they hate. Why? 'Starting a business' needn't be some great capitalist enterprise. Many people who've been on the corporate treadmill broke away from the 9 to 5 to opt for a simpler lifestyle which might not bring the same financial rewards, but it certainly brought much greater happiness. 

If you'd like to work from home indefinitely, find a job which lets you do just that. Easy? No - but many thinks which reap worthwhile rewards aren't easy. But they are possible.

Iamdebtfree

Marcon said:

Iamdebtfree said:

Marcon said:

Flatulentoldgoat said:

I don’t know what’s happened, I guess after 7-8 months of this wild bumpy ride I just have become really despiteful of the idea of going back to the good ol 9-5.

I have gotten so complacent and used to waking up when I want, being able to pick up new hobbies, go for nice walks, spending time working on my mental health etc.

Going back to being a cog in the machine feels so unnatural and down right boring.

It feels more like having to drag yourself back to school after the summer holidays.

Change direction - find something you want to do and which gives you the freedom you crave. Working for yourself would be the obvious solution.

This is the advice I see on various boards given to people unhappy and stuck in their jobs. 'Find something you love doing, or start a business'. It's far far easier said than done even before taking current situation into account. 

I don't want to work, full stop.

 I've worked non stop for the last 30 years, all in one mind numbingly boring field and by god I've had enough.

There is nothing I want to do all day every day that I can get paid for which would bring me joy. Such thing simply doesn't exist for me.
At 50, this will not change. I tolerate my job because that's the only way I know how to keep myself clothed, fed and with a roof above my head, and because at my age, it's 'better the devil you know' 

Haven't got a single business focused cell in my brain - the whole concept of modern capitalism infuriates and depresses me. So no, won't be starting any own business any time soon.

Therefore suck dreading being back at the office and counting my blessings. Can't put into words how happy I would be to continue working from home indefinitely. 

The same advice pops up because for some people, it is the only realistic way to find a future they'll enjoy.

Others like you simply decide it is easier to throw in the towel and go on spending time doing something they hate. Why? 'Starting a business' needn't be some great capitalist enterprise. Many people who've been on the corporate treadmill broke away from the 9 to 5 to opt for a simpler lifestyle which might not bring the same financial rewards, but it certainly brought much greater happiness. 

If you'd like to work from home indefinitely, find a job which lets you do just that. Easy? No - but many thinks which reap worthwhile rewards aren't easy. But they are possible.

Everything's possible if you want it badly enough, within reason. Trouble is, I don't want it badly enough. I'm just tired, full of anxiety, on meds for insomnia and depression, abhor change, can't stand new people and new tasks, don't want to learn a new skill of any kind, simply can't be bothered. I've got a good thing going, a boring non rewarding but stable job with ok salary and fantastic benefits which I for now can do from home. I don't want to rock the boat. Don't have it in me. 

Apologies for hijacking the OP's thread, will shut up now. 

Barny1979

Iamdebtfree said:

Marcon said:

Iamdebtfree said:

Marcon said:

Flatulentoldgoat said:

I don’t know what’s happened, I guess after 7-8 months of this wild bumpy ride I just have become really despiteful of the idea of going back to the good ol 9-5.

I have gotten so complacent and used to waking up when I want, being able to pick up new hobbies, go for nice walks, spending time working on my mental health etc.

Going back to being a cog in the machine feels so unnatural and down right boring.

It feels more like having to drag yourself back to school after the summer holidays.

Change direction - find something you want to do and which gives you the freedom you crave. Working for yourself would be the obvious solution.

This is the advice I see on various boards given to people unhappy and stuck in their jobs. 'Find something you love doing, or start a business'. It's far far easier said than done even before taking current situation into account. 

I don't want to work, full stop.

 I've worked non stop for the last 30 years, all in one mind numbingly boring field and by god I've had enough.

There is nothing I want to do all day every day that I can get paid for which would bring me joy. Such thing simply doesn't exist for me.
At 50, this will not change. I tolerate my job because that's the only way I know how to keep myself clothed, fed and with a roof above my head, and because at my age, it's 'better the devil you know' 

Haven't got a single business focused cell in my brain - the whole concept of modern capitalism infuriates and depresses me. So no, won't be starting any own business any time soon.

Therefore suck dreading being back at the office and counting my blessings. Can't put into words how happy I would be to continue working from home indefinitely. 

The same advice pops up because for some people, it is the only realistic way to find a future they'll enjoy.

Others like you simply decide it is easier to throw in the towel and go on spending time doing something they hate. Why? 'Starting a business' needn't be some great capitalist enterprise. Many people who've been on the corporate treadmill broke away from the 9 to 5 to opt for a simpler lifestyle which might not bring the same financial rewards, but it certainly brought much greater happiness. 

If you'd like to work from home indefinitely, find a job which lets you do just that. Easy? No - but many thinks which reap worthwhile rewards aren't easy. But they are possible.

Everything's possible if you want it badly enough, within reason. Trouble is, I don't want it badly enough. I'm just tired, full of anxiety, on meds for insomnia and depression, abhor change, can't stand new people and new tasks, don't want to learn a new skill of any kind, simply can't be bothered. I've got a good thing going, a boring non rewarding but stable job with ok salary and fantastic benefits which I for now can do from home. I don't want to rock the boat. Don't have it in me. 

Apologies for hijacking the OP's thread, will shut up now. 

Think you need to speak to someone, as you sound depressed on face value, with maybe the current situation not helping things. Do you have family or friends to chat to?

Flint19

Barny1979 said:

Iamdebtfree said:

Marcon said:

Iamdebtfree said:

Marcon said:

Flatulentoldgoat said:

I don’t know what’s happened, I guess after 7-8 months of this wild bumpy ride I just have become really despiteful of the idea of going back to the good ol 9-5.

I have gotten so complacent and used to waking up when I want, being able to pick up new hobbies, go for nice walks, spending time working on my mental health etc.

Going back to being a cog in the machine feels so unnatural and down right boring.

It feels more like having to drag yourself back to school after the summer holidays.

Change direction - find something you want to do and which gives you the freedom you crave. Working for yourself would be the obvious solution.

This is the advice I see on various boards given to people unhappy and stuck in their jobs. 'Find something you love doing, or start a business'. It's far far easier said than done even before taking current situation into account. 

I don't want to work, full stop.

 I've worked non stop for the last 30 years, all in one mind numbingly boring field and by god I've had enough.

There is nothing I want to do all day every day that I can get paid for which would bring me joy. Such thing simply doesn't exist for me.
At 50, this will not change. I tolerate my job because that's the only way I know how to keep myself clothed, fed and with a roof above my head, and because at my age, it's 'better the devil you know' 

Haven't got a single business focused cell in my brain - the whole concept of modern capitalism infuriates and depresses me. So no, won't be starting any own business any time soon.

Therefore suck dreading being back at the office and counting my blessings. Can't put into words how happy I would be to continue working from home indefinitely. 

The same advice pops up because for some people, it is the only realistic way to find a future they'll enjoy.

Others like you simply decide it is easier to throw in the towel and go on spending time doing something they hate. Why? 'Starting a business' needn't be some great capitalist enterprise. Many people who've been on the corporate treadmill broke away from the 9 to 5 to opt for a simpler lifestyle which might not bring the same financial rewards, but it certainly brought much greater happiness. 

If you'd like to work from home indefinitely, find a job which lets you do just that. Easy? No - but many thinks which reap worthwhile rewards aren't easy. But they are possible.

Everything's possible if you want it badly enough, within reason. Trouble is, I don't want it badly enough. I'm just tired, full of anxiety, on meds for insomnia and depression, abhor change, can't stand new people and new tasks, don't want to learn a new skill of any kind, simply can't be bothered. I've got a good thing going, a boring non rewarding but stable job with ok salary and fantastic benefits which I for now can do from home. I don't want to rock the boat. Don't have it in me. 

Apologies for hijacking the OP's thread, will shut up now. 

Think you need to speak to someone, as you sound depressed on face value.

Could be why they are on meds for insomnia and depression - but possibly the meds aren't quite having the desired effect?

theoretica

I suspect very many people will find their employers are more open to working from home after this.  I am thinking of someone I know who returned to the office and then a few weeks later the boss said something along the lines of 'I felt more productive at home, how about the rest of you?'. 

penners324

The world won't permanently change. That's just nonsense