I think the point has almost come where I have had enough with the office jobs. I cannot stand sitting in cubicles pretending to be busy all day. I hate sitting in meetings pretending to care. I hate the fact I get paid for the time I spend here, rather than the amount of productivity I provide.
I swear, some weeks I do 40 hours of work and others I do 5. Either way I have to sit here for a minimum of 40 hours just to get a full paycheck. Not exactly the ideal work situation.
Now I know a lot of people may say I wish I had a job like this, which is fine. But honestly, I feel like I am wasting my life away by sitting here bored all day thinking of things I would rather be doing and places I would rather be. Everyone says you only get one shot at life, so why should I spend mine this way.
Sure It Pays Well
I know the job may pay more than other jobs, but I am not a money driven person my any means. Matter of fact, I am sick of the whole rat race. It seems like people here in America keep trying harder and harder to make more money so they can accumulate more stuff they don’t even need.
I barely own anything since I move so often, but I still feel like I own a lot of stuff I don’t need. Things like televisions and cable boxes are something I never need. I barely watch TV, so why have one. I am perfectly happy with the two suitcases I moved out to Hawaii with. A few sets of clothes, my MacBook, and a few other essentials. So in the next few months, I plan to sell more of my stuff. The only tough thing is going to be the car, which I only bought so I could commute to work with.
Time To Say Goodbye
So at some point in the very near future, I am going to kiss this “perfect” job away as some would say. I would rather work a job I enjoy and just be happy with what I have. The only stress in my life is caused by the combination of getting up early, commuting to work, sitting at work, and commuting home from work. Other than that, I am a very outgoing and happy person.
Back in college, I was broke almost the entire time. But you know what, I was never stressed out about anything, not even money. I used to give plasma just to have some beer money to go party with my friends. I lived off of oatmeal and rice and am willing to do it again if necessary. So obviously money is not the problem, but the fact I spend so much of my waking hours at a job that I have no motivation to perform well at.
I Don’t Even Want To Be Promoted
What is even worse about this job is when I look at the people of above me and realize I wouldn’t even want their position. So if you do not even want to move up to your supervisors position, why stick around? I never want to get a promotion or I’ll probably go even more crazy.
I am not real sure exactly what type of job I am looking for just yet. I would like to work outside that is for sure. Maybe a surf stand or cleaning boats or windows, who knows, just anything outside of an office. I used to do freelance work and loved it since I could set my own hours and wages. I also enjoy writing and hope to make some income off of this blog at some point.
My post yesterday about Living Situations brought some very positive feedback. Most importantly, Abbey posted some information about Australia.
I have been thinking about moving their since I met a few people from their while living in Hawaii and I really miss the sun and ocean. It sounds like a great country and I am really ready to just get out of America for awhile.
Stick around and see what happens as I try and sort this all out by June…
PS. Anyone else feel the way I do?
Photo Credit: darkpatator
RSS
Email
Twitter
Hello,
My names Anthony. I’m 21. And I was at work Googling. I hate office jobs. And I never thought
I’d find a community that felt the same way I do. The cubicle life is seriously sucking the life out
Of me. Each and everyday I’m here. I use be joyous, happy, outgoing, person. & now I feel as if I’m a robot on the same routine everyday. I sit here, stare at this computer as I type this, & feel myself getting stupid by the minute… everyday i Wonder how I can escape this cubicle life. It really is a soul killer. I hope travel the world one day…and never will I ever again…take an -office job. Its sad to think I’m getting paid too sit here for hours a day…just to get a full paycheck, as life passes me by. The work itself is EASY! But the people & managers…are who make this place hell. I get yelled at, bitched at, bellittled about the most stupidest stuff on face of this earth. And its just absolutely rediculous. I hope too one day leave this dreadful place, I am single…no kids…but do need the money…because like manyof you. We all have obligations. But I hope to make the leap one day…but whenever I’m having a bad day your blog always cheers me up…and makes me feel that there is hope. I’m glad that this is just a stepping stone, and I could never see myself doing this for the next 30 years. I’ve done it 2years and I’m going crazy!!!
I feel your pain, well I used to. I gave up the well paying office job to clean houses. Had a degree in accounting and a mba. And I hated working in an office. So I quite. No more meetings, no more asking a boss for time off! Now I just clean and am so much happier.
Hi Chris,
First of all, I want to applaud you for breaking away and doing what you wanna do. I’m just curious and please don’t take offense. Was it embarrassing or were you afraid of what people would think at first when you decided to clean houses, knowing that you have all this advanced education? If so, how did you get through it? Because that’s my problem. I have 2 college degrees, yet I hate office work. But, I’m afraid to do what I really want to do because of people thinking it’s below me. I know I shouldn’t feel this way, but it’s hard not to. Also, I’m going to assume you are a male? (I know some women are named Chris also, so I’m not too sure) But how was it dealing with being a male working in a traditionally female-dominated job? Thanks for the response in advance, and again, that’s awesome that you decided to do what YOU want and not what everybody else wants you to do.
hi im Barbara, this incident also happens to me when im always alone inside my cubicle with nothing or no one to talk with. its boring
I found this site via Google. I was searching for, “What would cause me to finally end my current job contract?”.
I work in an office doing engineering work. I look at code for 9 hours per day, do mathematics to work out what is wrong and what’s right, and then I go home, use the internet then go to sleep. – Then I do this the next day and so on.
What kind of a life is that?
I’m currently working in Taiwan and working on a Taiwanese salary. (Which is pretty low) – so I can’t even save enough to be able to become self-employed. I guess I feel like I’m stuck.
I’m looking for English teaching jobs as I’m British, however I’m also Taiwanese. So that type of work would be more relaxing than a 9-5 full-time office job.
I just need to the flexibility to have fun and to enjoy myself. This way, I’m not living life and I’m still young.
I just want to say “Goodbye” to this job. I would NEVER want to have a top position in this company if that meant having only 7 days holiday in the ENTIRE year. Here in Taiwan we only have 7 days holiday in the entire goddamn year. What kind of life is that?
I don’t want to live a life which my boss wants me to live, I want to decide my own life.
Don’t ever get stuck in an office job. Find an alternative. It sucks.
OMG! You mean I’m not alone? Your words are my thoughts almost word for word. lol. I would be perfectly happy living in a bungalow on an island somewhere making handmade jewelry and selling them to tourists. Though I love my high heels, I’d give them up to walk barefoot in the sand all day and never see another cubicle.
It’s funny how we all share the same feelings towards our office jobs and it’s a sad truth that we all need the income to survive. I work in a major oil company doing possibly the stupidest, least important work ever invented. It serves absolutely no purpose! I leave work at the end of the day feeling unfulfilled, like I just completely wasted my time, and yes by the time I get home and want to do interesting things I’m already drained! Glued to a fucking chair staring at a computer screen is no way to waste your day when you could be doing a million other more important things. I sometimes take a sick day or even a vacation day just to enjoy waking up in the morning and taking my time to enjoy my cup of coffee without constantly eyeing the clock to see if I’m late, going to do my grocery shopping early in the morning before hordes of lunatics take over the supermarkets, do my house chores and listen to some music, read…I can keep on going but I’m sure you all relate.
Besides the menial tasks I have to “accomplish” during the day, I’m surrounded by some of the dumbest people I have ever seen in my life, including my cunt boss. She must be the stupidest person I know. I try to ignore her but how can you possibly ignore your boss? I’m worried that one day I’m gonna slap her across the face so hard I’ll send her head spinning! I already snapped a couple of times in the past 2 years I’ve been working here and I feel the third time is going to be much worse! If it weren’t for dumb people this job might be a little bit more tolerable—it’s always the people that fuck everything up isn’t it!
Good luck to us all…
Amen!! I feel you. I am in the worst situation. Small office, job is not what I want for the rest of my life. It’s difficult. Boss had an affair with an ex-co-worker,she didn’t work lazy and now hired someone else and going the same directions!! My co-workers are all weird. I am so stress. My dream was to be a flight attendant and travel the world. Had to give it up, had a child. Love my child. It’s amazing how many things we give up for our kids. Still to this day, that was my dream and will always be. My dream was to wake up in a different part of the world. I am working on maybe doing something with the arts. I don’t understand how anyone can sit for 8 hours and not think that is GOOD!!! Sometimes money isn’t everything. I am a simple person. Shelter, food ect. I don’t want a Mansion and become millionaire. I just want to wake up and do what I want to do. It does make a different.
Here are the pro’s of my job:
good hours 8-16.30
easy to take a day off
only 10 minutes driving from home
The money isn’t that bad (but neither very good)
never working overtime
As you can read the pro’s have nothing to do with the content of the job…
Although, whith my working hours I can do some evening school to make a carreer switch
I’m thinking to do nursing school.
Hold on guys, life isn’t easy but I guess that’s for everyone. If you hate your job and you can’t get out of it directly you have to be patient and make
a carreer plan and than do it. But it’s indeed a depressing (capitalistic) world we’re living in. Life is definitely not like in the movies.
For me personally the most annoying thing in my job is the social aspect.
People can act very strange in such an environment, i hope they’re not always like this. Also the thing you’ve got to be in the office from 8 till 16.30 is so stupid. It would be better you go home when the job is done, sounds more reasonable to me.
thank you for this blog. i just killed 30 mins of my morning reading posts of people who think and feel the exact same things as me. it’s only been two months since i’ve started my office job (i’m 25 and have a masters degree) but i feel like i’m going crazy. i wonder how everyone else seems to make it until 5pm because i really don’t have anything to do. i make a good salary with good benefits but i am just killing time day after day after day….
I just keep thinking that when I die, I will look back on my life and realize that I spent the majority of it doing something I did not want to do, unhappy and sitting at a desk doing someone else’s paper work. I don’t want to live the rest of my life like this. I have a BA, just started working on a Master’s degree, but I’m starting to reconsider that. I’m thinking God didn’t bless me with a husband and children for a reason – so I can be FREE!!! Going to make a drastic career/life change soon – just not sure exactly WHAT.
Just wanna let everyone know, that i quit my stupid office job. and now i work with kids with disabilities. gives me such a great feeling that i am actually helping the mankind. and part time bar tender. life is so much fun, meeting new people and actually feeling ALOT better.
so I posted here about 6 months ago about how miserable this office job was and i have seen updates from others that feel the same way and Im just amazed at how many ppl hate their jobs…… im in the same place i was last time and i still hate it…. some other lady quit because she just couldn’t take it and I really wish it was me lol…. i thought once the sun is up and the weather gets better i’ll feel better but now i feel worse because its beautiful outside and im stuck in here…. I live for Fridays and Sunday night start dreading the coming week…how is this normal !!!! i cant keep doing this… I mholding on until i make a year but im going insane
I feel for you. I’m 48 years old and have been “stuck” in cubeland for 25 years now. I make great money, over 6 figures but I am miserable. I work as a defense contractor and the politics and BS are unrelenting. I gave up and have a don’t care attitiude. I don’t care if they fire me. I am quite numb. I have changed companies on average every 4 years and its the same old same old. Just different people. It is exciting at first as I anticipate it being different but I always settle back in to the same old misery. My job is easy and is not stimulating at all. My emotions are stunted and it effects my relationship with my Wife and Kids. I can’t turn on the happiness button when I leave. We as human buildings are made to be stimulated, challenged but I get nothing sitting in front of a computer. It does suck the life out of you. The work, the people, the stress. I have recently been diagnosed with heart afib and am on 3 different medicines as my heart will beat out of control and I can’t stop it. Get out while you can. Live on nothing and don’t buy a big house and fancy car or you will be stuck. My Wife is an executive at her company and she also makes 6 figures and we are broke. I’m not sure where it all goes but I do know that I am extremely unhappy and all of the unhappiness is because I am stuck in a career that I do not like and in an environment I do not like. Good Luck. Get out when you can.
I am in the same situation. I made the decision to start working toward Art. I sign up for a Art Collage workshop and I am strongly thinking of going back to school to learned more about Art history. I am still working, but right now it’s a buffer. I also sign up to volunteer for the local museum. Life is short. I will forever teach my child to do what makes you happy. It’s not about how much you make, it’s about getting up every morning and loving what you like to do. When I see art, I am alive. If you are rich you have the pressure of being rich, if you are poor then you learned to live with what you have. What I want is to be happy and learned to live very simple.
Im with all of you on this..I feel like im in a prison and there is no way out…I go to work all day and look at a building outside my window..no people passing by..hate it ..just for the effin money…I go home at night and stare at houses across the street..what the hell kind of life is this. ???? .I hate the city..always hated Saturdays and wondered why..now I finally figured it out ..I hate city life..I want to wake up in the morning looking at the ocean with mountains in the background..i love fishing, camping, the outdoors..THIS OFFICE LIFE SUCKS>>>big time..I feel my life passing me by..Im in my 40′s…I am looking around..am considering going back to school..I would rather clean offices that work in one..dont even want to move up in my company..what for?? the same shit? with more responsibilty?
Hang in there everybody…We’ll get out of this soon enough…
OMG!!! This is so speaking my language. I am also in a position where the money is good and the benefits are great but my mind saying that there is more to life than this. I think I realized this when I took a look at my children and realized that they had grown up right in front of my eyes and I missed it. The only thing is stopping me from walking out of corporate is “Fear”. How will I pay for my car, How will I pay for my house, What I need a doctor, all these things keep preventing me to stepping out and taking charge of my destiny. I want to travel the world and not be confined to just take a couple of weeks with PTO mandated by my company. Trust me I understand every line of this blog and feel the same way you do. There is definetly something more out there other than climbing a ladder that leads to no where.
Amen!!
Jenny, I am working towards an art history degree as well. I am also taking creative writing courses online and doing my assignments at work! It’s a great way to look very busy and get inspired by the sheer stupidity that surrounds you on a daily basis. I get assigned the dumbest most meaningless tasks at work and I just think to myself, “you know what, I’m not gonna waste my time doing this nonsense!” I eventually have to get my work done of course, and it requires absolutely no effort on my part. Talk about a complete waste of time! I am thinking about becoming a fulltime writer and getting some part time job for steady income but I’m not quite sure about anything yet. All I know right now is that I can’t wait to get out of this ass-licking corporate culture I am in. Everyone lies and betrays you to save their own ass and I can’t stand being surrounded by such embeciles.
Just curious: If you can quit your jobs TODAY and be free to do whatever you want to do (assuming money is not an issue), what would you do?
I would love to be a Art Director. Congrats on your decision. I think for people like us, being in a non creative environment is hard. My major is travel and tourism which I love and I am doing marketing, which is okay. But I think what is hard is the office environment. I honestly believe some people can do it others can’t. We are that others. Sitting on a desk for 8 hours and not have much to do is hard. I am giving myself 1 year more if that and will just focus on getting my degree. Sometimes I believe I was so focus all the time on making good money, but didn’t realize the more you make the more you spend. I like Justin, he did the right thing. It’s harder when you do have kids, but I always tell people.., I am kind of a gypsy!!LOL!
I have left comments here before, but it has been a while. I was a CPA for over 11 years, job hopping, always looking for a job that I didn’t hate. The first 6 months would be tolerable, but once the “new” wore off, I’d hate the job. I decided a couple of years ago to make a drastic career change. In about 4 days, I will finish my last day of nursing school. Nursing school was not always enjoyable, but I’m really excited to be entering a new career that will involve using problem solving skills, lets me move around, and allows me to not only meet many new people all the time but impact their lives in a meaningful, helpful way. I do not think nursing school is for everybody, but there are many careers in health care that might be enjoyable to someone who wants to flee the desk job life and help others. My advice regardless is to not let anyone make you feel bad for hating your job. I always like to remember the quote, “Many men lead lives of quiet desperation” when I look back on my past life in a cubicle. Good for you for at least not being quiet about your desperation! That’s the first step to moving on to better things. And there are better things!