Job funk- am I just lazy?

In My Humble Opinion
1

Please be kind, if you think the answer is ‘yes’. But, I am sick of working.

I don’t have any particular problems with the job per se (really- nice people, decent pay, etc), but I don’t really enjoy it. It just pays the bills. I have been thinking lately that I would give a lot to retire, except that I can’t for a good while. I’m only 33, and I’ve been working 40+ hours a week for I guess about 10 years now. I’ve taken a day off here, a week there. But lately, that feeling you get when you’ve been at it too long and you know you need a vacation? I feel that way all the time now. Even after having just gotten back from a week vacation.

There’s a million things I wish I had the time to do; orginizational things, housework, excercise, creative writing, and all that stuff. I just don’t have enough energy to do much more than keep a lit on the worst of the mess. I don’t have kids or any other great excuse for wanting to drop out, other than our home business which I would be glad to devote more time to promoting/improving. But the real reason has more to do with this sort of low-level background feeling of resentment towards working for The Man. Work is so low on my list of priorties; if it wasn’t for the money… :stuck_out_tongue:

My internal dad keeps saying ‘suck it up, everyone has to work.’ Maybe it’s all the Daniel Quinn that I’ve read discussing the un-naturalness of our work culture in society, or maybe I am just lazy. But that motivation isn’t working well for me any more.

I’ve decided that I can afford to cut back to about 30 hrs/week, we’ll see what that does. But I’m wondering if anyone else has had this vague work ennui and what they do about it.

2

Naw, I feel you, man. I also have trouble with working. After doing it for a few months, it just throws me into such a funk. I can’t stand wasteing my life away forty hours at a time. I can’t stand working so that I can pay for my car, so that I can get to work, so that I can pay for my car, so that I can get to work, etc. Two days a week just arn’t long enough to hold all the life I have in me.

The benefits of doing all that work just don’t add up to me. I know that it doesn’t take that much to feed me. I’m happy living in a small house and walking/bussing wherever I need to go. I can entertain myself just fine without spending wads of cash. The rest just seems like…excess…and it is an excess that I don’t feel is owrth trading over the majority of my life to.

For a good study about the costs of work, check out The Overworked American. Things don’t have to be this way.

It’s not laziness, because I have the ability to devote myself to all kinds of things. I even think I could devote myself to fulfilling work. But not normal workaday work. No way. Some people have that work ethic that hard honest work is fulfilling. I don’t. I need more.

I am really afreaid that I am going to spend my life either broke or unhappy. I’ve decided to go all or nothing and devote myself to a career that I love, and that will bring me either fame and fortune or abject poverty. The one thing that it will never bring is steady work. There are a lot of disadvantages to this. I know that I may never be in a stable enough posistion to have kids or buy a house. I only hope that my SO has the patience and understanding that my crazy life is going to need. But the alternative is unthinkable.

3

No, it’s not just you.

I have a worthwhile job, caring for developmentally disabled people. It’s a good job, good benefits, and I do love the people under my care. But I have so many other interests and passions, and 40 hours a week just sucks it out of me. And it really isn’t a stressful job. At all. I can read and watch TV at work. But it’s still a JOB, and I rarely get a day off, and it’s the day in and day out grind that wears me down. And I sure wish it paid better. But I am damned lucky that I have such a stress-free job. I’d take a low-paying stress-free job over a high-paying stressful job any day.

I need an “art angel” or sugar daddy to pay my bills, and allow me all the time I want to do my web design, pottery, Photoshop, travel, painting, drawing… See? It’s depressing.

Sigh.

4

I highly doubt that the issue is that you’re simply lazy, given that you point out so many things that you would rather be doing with your time.

I tend to feel the same way, even though I should have no complaints about my job. It pays very well, it’s in a field that I find interesting (computer systems IT admin/support), and the people are generally friendly and polite when asking for assistance from me. I don’t get bothered all that often and am usually left alone to do my own thing a good portion of the time. All in all, a cushy job, and I feel I have no right to bitch and moan. But I do anyway.

I’ve tried a whole bunch of things to get myself motivated towards work. Reward systems where I’d “treat” myself to thing (a new electronic gadget, an expensive dinner, etc…). The effectiveness of that wore off pretty quickly. I’ve tried to find rewards within the job itself, but that didn’t last long either; the rewards were all over place and always had been. I’d always been decently appreciated at my workplace and that reward was already in place, but it still wasn’t enough for me.

Finally, I had to be honest with myself that my motivation for working was “so that I have a roof over my head and don’t starve to death.”

Some buddies and I were sitting around one evening playing some poker when someone remarked “Man, I wish we got 3-day weekends every week.” But we all eventually agreed that, if that happened, we’d just start complaining about Tuesdays, rather than Mondays.

I need to win the lottery; that’s all there is to it.

5

Lazy? Nope; not working 40+ hours a week for ten years.

Unmotivated? Probably. After all, you’re not hungry, cold nor homeless. You’ve been working the same job for awhile, so you know the ropes and there seems to be no challenges.

When you’re at home, are you watching TV? Drinking? Both are big time-sucks (personal experience talking here).

Here are three suggestions:

  1. Change your job. New challenges and new tasks can re-energize you.

  2. Acquire an audience. Particularly with that home business you’re trying to grow. This works along the same lines as having a workout buddy. You keep each other focused and energized. On days when you feel down and unmotivated, chances are your buddy wont, and vice-versa. Also, as social creatures, we seem to work better when we know someone’s watching us.

  3. When you take time off, go somewhere completely different. Don’t stay at home. Try something you’ve never tried before. If you want to make it as random as possible, get a map and push a pin in at random. Go there. Never mind why, just go, and assume that something will happen wherever you are. The idea here is to give you fresh experiences. Let the world energize you.

Thank you, thank you. I’ve got tapes for sale out in the lobby: $299 for the set. :smiley:

6

Thanks to everyone that’s posted so far… glad I’m not alone. :slight_smile:

pesch, thanks for the suggestions. I have changed jobs a couple of times; twice because I had a shot at more money, and most recently because of this funk that I thought was due to having an icky job. So I got a different one that wasn’t icky, but the funk’s still there. I was re-energized at first, but once the ‘new’ wore off I was back to the same ennui. I almost think that if I could just move from job to job, quitting when the training ends, I’d almost enjoy it. I always liked training.

If I was a zillionaire, I’d do nothing but take classes at the local college for the rest of my life.

I’m not much of a drinker, but I notice I do, uh, spend a lot of time online. Maybe I need to cut that back some. As for travel, the only time I take vacation is when I can justify it by having to go somewhere (familial obligational visits, that sorta thing). Maybe a vacation to do nothing, or go somewhere fun with no other agenda other than to just see some different road signs.

What a concept!!

7

Well, you’ve sort of described me. I mean, I’m really busy. Between doctoral study and working and being a wife and mom, I know I’m not lazy. But there are times I am horribly unmotivated to do anything but follow my own whims. Not dreams, even. Just whims. It sorta feels like laziness, but as others have pointed out, it’s not.

I don’t know what you’ve been doing to cope. But my way of coping used to be finding more “non-work” things I could do at work, like surfing the web or generally dicking around. It didn’t work, for me, because I just felt guilty on top of everything else. It started to mess with my work self-esteem and then it all sucked. Sucked even worse.

I did what you did–cut back my work hours. I now have a 70% appointment. It’s given me more free time, inspired me to be more productive on the days I did work, and it’s made me appreciate the pay I used to get. I’m looking forward to going back to full-time (believe it or not) so I can get that big paycheck again!

See how 30 hours feels for a while. I think that’s a good plan.

8

Funnily enough, I’ve asked myself this same question many times in the past couple of years. I’ve only been working five years, since I left school, and I’ve already had enough. At first, I questioned myself whether I was just lazy, but the more I think about it, the more I realise that it just comes down to me hating my present job. Intensely.

I’m sick and tired of feeling ill each morning before work. It depresses me, and I’m the first to admit that it has the knock-on effect of making me dull to be around. I don’t want to go anywhere or do anything anymore. I just spend my entire life worrying and bitching about work. The only thing I live for is travelling to visit my partner once a month - it’s all I have to look forward to.

It took a while to realise this - lots of thinking things through and soul searching. I now know that the only solution for me is a complete career change, doing something I enjoy which doesn’t involve putting up with crap. That and moving to another area, where I can feel more at home. In other words, a completely fresh start.

When you reach this stage, it can be daunting. Starting over again is a big thing. But you have to be determined to get what you want, and use this to spur you on. It may take a long time for the right job and/or and location to come up, but just focus on the light at the end of the tunnel, and reassure yourself that it will all be worth it in the end. That’s how I keep myself sane in the meantime.

Best of luck, and remember - life’s too short to be unhappy. Take the bull by the horns and make all the changes necessary for you to be content.

9

You’re not alone. I have never felt a job calling. I’ve never had a job I loved, just ones I tolerated, and my record for having one is 2.5 years.

I’ve given up on the idea of ever having a career - I will simply have jobs for the rest of my life, probably. There’s nothing I’m interested in doing that anyone would pay me for. And I will never work more than 40 hours a week - I consider a full quarter of my week to be sufficient for a job. I don’t care about office politics and I don’t care if I never make a zillion dollars a year. I don’t have children and don’t intend to have any.

I don’t know if the idea of a work-centered culture is unnatural, but the way it is implemented in America certainly is. I am an agnostic, I don’t believe I was put here for a higher purpose, but I’m still not willing to turn over fifty years of my life to a company I couldn’t care less about. My current boss works over 80 hours a week, essentially babysitting the owner of my company, and that’s something I simply can’t comprehend.

I constantly hear people talking about how they work so hard so they can afford things, but all they seem to do is work. They don’t actually do anything with the things they can afford. They can afford to take trips to Europe and such, but never do, because they can’t take the time off. They can afford the nice car, but they only drive it to work. I don’t understand that at all.

Maybe I’m lazy, I don’t know. But I’ve been looking a long time for the perfect job for me, and I’ve never found it. Which is strange because the only thing I want is a livable salary, 40 hours a week, standard benefits, and to be left alone to do my job most of the time. You’d think that wouldn’t be hard to find.

10

Count me in as well – I go to work because it pays the bills; if it wasn’t for that motivation (e.g., I won the $50 million lottery jackpot), I’d give it the heave-ho in a nanosecond. I have nothing against the job or the people, but there’s no enthusiasm for doing it.

I’m sure most people feel this way to some degree; after all, if it was supposed to be fun, they wouldn’t be paying us to do it, right?

(The really depressing thing is that I actually had a dream job – I was working for an internet development company, and between the great people, great technology, great pay, and great atmosphere, I would have gladly done it for another 30 years. But then Dubya got into office, the economy crashed, and everyone ended up with “Will program for food” signs…)

11

Ditto for me. I have a theory I call “Economic Slavery”. In other words, I am enslaved to the economics of my situation: I’d look for another job, but doubt I’d ever find one that pays as much, has benefits that are as good, etc. So I’m stuck because I’m not willing to give up my salary or benefits for a more fulfilling job.

Spouse will agree with me, he’s in the same boat.

I think it’s just that I like mental stimulation, and my current job offers none. HOWEVER, we are in the process of changing our entire computer system to something more updated, so hopefully my situation will improve. (IF they ever get the new system up and running, that is.)

I’m feeling cynical about all this, in case you can’t tell.

12

Sheeit… I’ve been working six months out of college, and I’m ready to call it quits! The day in, day out vacuous activity that I call ‘work’ serves me nothing me more than a paycheck (which, may I add barely adds up to a living wage). I look around and ask myself “Why bother?” There is so much more to experience in this world than flourescent lighting and executive summary reports.

I could go on, but I have sooo many times before, and just thinking about it (work) give me a headache.

Basically, there are two scenerios which justify work:

  1. You really enjoy the work you do, or are helping others(ie firefighters)
  2. The money you make is worth more than the hours you give up (ie well-paying jobs)

Now, there are jobs which fulfill both (God help me find one!). Unfortunately, my current job fufills neither. :frowning:
And I’m in the same boat as you for it, M.

Mielikki: Check out excellent threads about related topics in a search through GD… you’d be surprised how many people just “do it for the money”.

13

My initial impression is one of clinical depression combined with a striking mismatch of personal interests and job duties.

When people are chronically disenchanted with their work–and have little corresponding balance in their lives that satisfy their social/spiritual/physical/mental needs–the resulting toxic spillover can be incredibly damaging. In your two posts, you say nothing about what jazzes you, what fires your imagination, what you look forward to doing during the evening and on weekends.

What are your goals for the next five years? How is your love/sex life? How strong is your support system and the quality of your friendships? What is your vision of your own future? And why do you spend too much time online?

Going through life chained to a job you despise or simply don’t want to do is a prescription for permanent unhappiness, squandered opportunities, and a bitter retirement. You have the choice of being happy and fulfilled–or not.

Before suggesting anything, I would respectfully ask you to see your physician to assess for low-grade depression. After that, a talk with a career counselor at the local university/community college to have your interests/aptitudes/skills/etc. assessed. I have seen folks who, completely disenchanted with work and life, made a career change that transformed them completely.

Good luck.

14

I’m in with you guys here. I’m just over a month from turning 32, I’ve worked at this job for three years in August, it’s the longest I’ve ever held a job in my life, and it bores the living bloody daylights out of me.

I don’t have a whole lot of time in the evenings - keeping an eye on the Tzeroling, catching up with Valkyrie, helping out with the housework. I used to spend a lot more time online at home late in the evenings but that only served as a marital irritant. I’d like to cut back on the hours but for now I’m the main source of income - Val works part time at a clinic but is going back to school for her bachelor’s in nursing, which is becoming a job requirement now.

So what do I do? I plug away at the violin, practicing scales and fingering. I study music theory a bit at a time, and I translate books and articles from newspapers into English. And I’m involved in a political group. Sometimes that’s more like work but it’s like the other things I mentioned - it’s stuff I want to do.

And by God, it really helps. I remember when my weekends were nothing more than hanging in my room watching the sunshine move across the wall and feeling totally irresponsible at the end of the day because I hadn’t gotten anything done. Now I don’t feel that way - though Sunday afternoons bug me no matter what 'cos tomorrow’s Monday.

If you can cut your hours back without threatening your job situation or setting yourself up for financial disaster, go for it - and start looking for things you would be interested in doing. The sense of accomplishment is a complete lift.

15

I thought about depression too, but the thing that made me rule it out is that when I’m not at work, or recovering from being at work, I feel pretty thrilled with pretty much everything else… that’s what is so frustrating; there is so much life and sex and fun I feel like work cuts into! :slight_smile: I didn’t mean to make it sound like I came home, stared listessly at the computer, sighed, and went to bed. My schedule is jam-packed with things to the point where some times I feel like I have to schedule dates with my husband or cats or whatever in order not to neglect them. I’m always having to turn down things I’d like to do because there just ain’t enough time to do them, and work, and have enough down/quiet time so I can recover (being introverted, despite all this I still need some time sitting in front of the aquarium or petting the cat to bring my energy level back up).

I have long-term plans, but I gnash my teeth because I think I could accomplish my 5 year goals in 2 years if it weren’t for work. Blah! If only Wiccan High Priestess was a salaried job here.

Very true. Very, very true. I talked to schedule guy, and he says going to 30 hours is no problem. Perhaps the biz will take off and I can then cut back even further… that would rock.

16

It doesn’t sound like laziness to me- just lack of “fulfillment”.

I also subscribe to the Overworked American theory. We no longer live in an age where it is neccessary for all of us to work dawn to dusk six days a week just to survive. Our economy is so mechanized that excessive human labor is unneccessary, just something drummed into our heads by our parents.

I’m in favor of the four day work week, 4 10 hour days, and three days off. Studies show people are more productive in longer shifts- less starts and stops, and one less lunch to plan a week, more copncentration. Imagine what you could do with that third day off- spend time with your family, exercise, read, go to class, whatever.

I cannot get into the 80 hours a week philosophy that seems to be especially prevalent in sales and management. This notion that you have to have goals, and be willing to basically not have a life and be miserable and have no free time in order to achieve them, not for me, no sir.

This often leads to the old “wow, that really was not worth it” complex once you realize you just threw away 1/2 your life for a stupid Rollex. Suicide usually follows.

What’s the point in money if you can’t enjoy it?

I’m 33 and I think you are going through what a lot of people our age go through: pre-mid life crisis. Were too old to stay out every night and party and slack off, too old to start brand new careers that would require us to start all over again, but too young to start planning for our retirement. I’m going through the same thing, the “I don’t want to do this for the next 35 years” syndrome, where I’m at work sometimes praying I get fired so I can go to school or sit home and read. I mean I went to college to do THIS? Fortunately, thats some days, not all! :slight_smile:

If you can cut down to 30 hours, I’d try it. Budget accordingly though.

ON THE OTHER HAND:

Of course, if it’s a nice kick in the ass you are looking for, why not pick up a copy of

I think it’s the book I’m thinking of. Anyway, the author has a good point. The reason people used to work was for one reason: to make money, not have fun.

This all changed in the 60s and the 70s with the “Me Generation” of pablum puking Baby Boomers who theorized that you should be your work, work should be fulfilling, not a way to make money. Apparently 2 things happened: these baby boomers ended up working long hours at jobs that were supposed to be their passion and got burned out; or found that being a park ranger didn’t pay the bills.

What the author is trying to say is get to work, you lazy fuckers, and make money, even if your job sucks. The more money you make, the more you will be able to enjoy your free time.

Besides, we always think the grass is greener . . .

Or you could rent “Office Space”. You might get a chuckle out of it! :cool:

17

My Dear Old Dad, a helluva great guy and a respected engineer at the USA’s largest airplane company, once told me, “Some guys get all wrapped up in their career. For me, it was never a career; it was always just a job.”

So you aren’t alone. I, too, go to work to pay the bills. My co-workers are great, my immediate manager is swell, the work actually helps people; and yet if I won the lottery I’d be outta here like s**t out of a goose. I know it isn’t midlife crisis, since I’ve been this way forever :wink: I figure only about ten percent of working people are lucky enough to have jobs they really love, and the rest are like you and me.

So hey, build a life outside work: Take all your vacation every year, do fulfilling things in the evenings and weekends, and don’t get trapped by the fiction that you are your job.

18

if I won the lottery I’d be outta here like st out of a goose.**

I loved that line :slight_smile:

Here’s another line. I notice over and over again a lot of us are saying our jobs keep us from accomplishing or taking part in things that we need to do at home or would like to do. Stephen Carlson has a good one-liner for that:

“When you die, more likely than than not, your inbox will not be empty.”

In other words, prioritize. Life is short. You might spend all night laying awake wondering what needs to be done tommorow at work, only to wiped out in a car wreck on the way to work. That was a wasted nights sleep!

:slight_smile:

19

What’s that other old saw about 'No one is on their deathbed thinking ‘Gee I wish I spent more time at the office’?

Yeah, that. In addition to ‘Office Space’ and ‘Ishmael’, this disgrutled thread brought to you by ‘Fight Club’ and ‘American Beauty’. :slight_smile:

20

All I can say is that great minds think alike. Most jobs have at least some good points, but that doesn’t stop us from wishing we didn’t have to turn up each morning. Let’s face it, the whole reason for going to work is so you can eat and keep a roof over your head. It’s something which is born out of necessity. In that respect, I do have a strong work ethic. I believe working to support yourself is important for self respect.

It’s not very likely to happen, but if I won the lottery, I too would quit my job the very next day. People tell me I would get bored with nothing to do each day. If that’s the case, I’m sure I could occupy myself quite nicely by taking myself on a 6-month holiday somewhere. There are other things besides work which a person can do to avoid sitting on their ass and doing nothing all day long.