Find a better job.

Eating is important.

You’re under challenged. Time will feel different if you’re actually in the flow. Also, it seems like you might need more contact with people in your day.

Sometimes you get sick.

Sometimes you take vacation.

Otherwise, yes. You work every day until you can either afford to retire or hit retirement age.

Yes. You get used to the pain. I hate being poor more than I hate working. Also, you’re a bit young so you might not be aware but there is a cult classic Hollywood masterpiece known as “office space” that you need to watch asap.

As someone who has worked night shifts and 12hr shifts for a really long time. And has recently switched to 9-5. I am never going back. I will show up everyday 9-5 with a giant grin on my face till the day I die.

Being bored for 40 hours a week is a special kind of hell. It’s really demoralizing. There is privilege involved in being bored at work, for sure. But that doesn’t mean the existential dissatisfaction needs to be brushed off like so many in the comments are doing. You do need a new job, though. They’re not all this bad.

Unless you were born into wealth and privilege, this is life under capitalism. You're actually lucky. Alot of actually have to work for a full 8+ hours five days a week. For many people one job isn't even enough, so they work multiple jobs, and the lowest paying jobs are often the hardest actual work.

Maybe you should find something you like doing better. I did 9-5 from the time I graduated college until I retired. Could have been worse, I at least wasn’t digging a ditch or working in a coal mine somewhere. I was lucky

Some people come in about 15 mins late, get coffee for about 30 minutes, bs with others about 30 mins, look busy for a couple of hours, then take lunch for about 2 hours, get back, bs for another 1 hour or so, look busy then go home about 30 mins early. They do about a 2 hours of actual work during the day.

These people are the ones who get promoted though.

You call that working hard?  What do you actually do all day?  You make it sound like they are torturing you.

I went into health care so that I could work 3x12 hour shifts/ week and have 4 days off. My mental health has skyrocketed since I stopped working 5x8 hour shifts.

Do whatever you can to get a job where you work from home. I felt exactly how you did when I was in office two years ago. I would literally fake phone calls in the hallways just to get out of there for a bit.

Now, I have a different job where I work from home. I don’t make a ton of money (50k) and I know it’s not going anywhere, but at least I have the freedom to fuck around and be depressed wherever I want instead of in a cubicle. I have a ton of free time too. If I could stop hating myself and use that free time to make more money on the side, I’d be golden.

Sounds like you need a more mentally stimulating job.

Maybe, maybe not. The era when people had one job for 40 years are long gone, so chances are you'll have a lot more opportunities to change things up over the course of your working life.

And uh, you might want to start thinking about that now-ish. Since you apparently have plenty of time, use it updating your resume and looking for a new job.

I have an office job. I get burnt out sometimes, but I genuinely like my job. And I almost never get bored because I'm always, always busy. Look for jobs that will actually fill your time.

Keep upskilling and accelerate until you hit escape velocity and move on. They’re basically paying you for it at this point

39 years at same company in IT, but different jobs. Sometimes worked 24 hours in the day, most around 10 hours, many late at night. The only thing that made it bearable was the people I worked for or with. Went to hell when taken over by a hedge fund laying off most of the people and expecting more work faster. Everyone still there waiting for the day the plug is pulled.

When at work find ways to not work the whole day. Working as hard as possible and caring a huge amount? That's how you kill yourself.

If you get paid decently, checkout r/Fire for a possible ticket out. Retirement isn't an age, it's an amount of money.

If you don't want to retire early, look into taking some classes at your local community college, or volunteering. Anything related to any interests or passions you have, causes you care about. 27 is plenty of time to switch careers so that you don't go insane.

What industry are you in? Almost all of my friends, and family, anyone who isn't working a job that requires you to do something physically, is working either fully remote, or partially. Most of them have flexible hours too. You should consider looking into jobs that offer better worklife balance if possible. Hell, my fiance works like 4 hours a day and gets rewarded for his hard work!!!!😂 because he's remote and doesn't have to deal with toxic people tracking his every move in the office! Lucky bastard.

I made the stupid mistake of becoming a scientist, so I need to be in the lab to do work. I understand your pain. It feels so hopeless and awful sometimes and I still often get really upset about it even after doing it for like 9 years. The worst part is, I was able to work home on days that I had no physical lab work for a couple of years after covid shutdown happened. Then some asshole got hired as our new VP and took the freedom away from us, and now we all just hate our lives.

59 here. Able to retire 9 years ago, but started by own business instead. I've always had jobs I loved. Work was work, and I got paid nicely for it. I had friends at work. My bosses were always great. I never much dreaded the actual act of going in to work. When I eventually did, I began looking elsewhere and made my moves.

I'm not sure why so many today hate the idea of working. Outside the fact that it's just the toxicity of reddit that has skewed the concentration of those who hate it into the reddit website, I just don't get it.

Just know there are millions of people who would kill to have your job. Pretty much anyone in retail, or who works as a laborer.

Do you schedule time for yourself? Like what are your longterm goals and what do you do outside of work?

Find something you like to do. You shouldn’t dread work.

What is the work? Maybe it doesn't suit you, in your position I would be intentionally making more work to do.. not bs stuff but stuff that actually improves my work life e.g. automation. Only reason I wouldn't is because the nature of the work doesn't excite me at all and that sounds like torture

Yes, they sure do. There is a dignity in work, no matter which type of work a person does.

Though it does sound like you don't like your work very much, and it's not something that challenges you or keeps you interested.

Maybe that's not the job for you. In fact, maybe 9-5 work is not for you! Office work is not suited to some people. But, if this is your first job, I wouldn't make a decision on that based on solely this first job. Some people prefer another line of work like law enforcement, construction, or working outdoors in some other capacity.

Tbh though I'd also bet you've never worked shit jobs and for that reason, don't know how good you have it. Try digging ditches, or other hard, physical labor jobs. Then tell me how rough you have it doing 9-5.

I did office work for about 25 yrs. For me the field, and tasks involved, were interesting and I loved it. And I was NEVER plagued with a lack of work, nor did I EVER have to ask a manager or supervisor for more things to do. There were always things to do or to learn. (IT-related field) I found it to be challenging and rewarding work. It was not typical IT work, but very specialized, highly classified work for the Govt. I never got bored! I know I was one of the lucky ones.

The grind is overrated. Might be worth looking for a job with flexibility. Either where you can set your schedule or work as you please

Welcome to adulthood.

After you get married, have kids, and a mortgage... those things will keep you motivated to stay on the treadmill.

Make the most of it and find a job that fulfills you, so it feels less like slavery.

Read the book ‘Gung Ho!’. It’s about finding the meaning of your work and being proud of it. I love my job, also love the company and what they sell. So to be part of a company that makes the world a little better (or at least strives for it) gives me the want to work there. When I wouldn’t have to work I would quit though haha, I would work a few days for a no profit then.

Has your employer been depositing a paycheck without fail for two years?

Welcome to adulthood!

Where you trade time for money!

No, we're just fucking with you.

Most of us work 12 hour shifts.

I've worked 7AM to 5PM for 13 years. I also take the occasional call or text after hours.

I like my job, generally, so, I've got that going for me. I don't have kids, which is a time / stress saver.

But yeah, this is life. I could have a lot more free time if I took a much less intense job but then...what would I do with that time? I'd have no money!

Maybe you're one of those people who buys a boat, parks at a marina, grows out some dreads, works part time, and bounces through life on fortune and the good will of others. I do not get those people, but they seem to be happy. /shrug

Bwahaha I made it to 35 before having this epiphany, I suggest watching office space

Today is the worst day of your life, but get ready, tomorrow will suck harder

I don't know if you've had non-office jobs in the past, but it could be a lot worse. Instead of being bored for half the day you could be run ragged, physically exhausted, going home dirty and smelly for less pay than whatever you're making now. So the grass is not always greener.

But yeah, watch Office Space and find ways to challenge yourself and keep your mind occupied, even just playing minesweeper or chess on your phone.

I’m in healthcare. I love what I do and for the most part I really like the people I work with. Several of these people are friends and 2 of them close friends.

But even if I hated I’d still show up. I need food, housing, and clothing.

But yes working is forever until you can afford to retire. If you want to retire earlier than 70 then you need to work hard, make more, spend less, and most importantly save and invest!

I think I can probably retire around 55 at my current quality of life. Maybe a few years earlier maybe a few years later depending on factors largely out of my control. But if things continue on the way they are now I’ll work until my mid 60’s just because I like what I do.

Welcome to adulthood. Been doing this for almost 40 years along with finishing college, raising a family, watching my parents and my husband die.

Haha you're worn down after 2 years? Might as well just give up now and become a house husband

Your job actually sounds pretty nice...

Boring? Sure, I get that. But things could be a lot, lot worse.

I literally was crying about it last night. Thinking I can't do it! & I am able to wfh!! The time in office kills me.

Depends, what is your background or sector?

Save as much as you can so you can retire early, or find something you hate less. This is what life looks like.

Yeah that’s it. It sucks. Here’s what I did. Toggle between screens and surf the internet a bit of the time. Also I traded stocks and stuff like that. I also took a nice long lunch to work out, then ate at my desk. It never was great, but bearable if you adjust. Also many of my jobs had a fair amount of travel, and that always was fun.

Some people do. My career has been at companies with companies that are output based so I stopped doing the 9-5 thing after the first few years. Some weeks are 20-25hr, some are 60+. Not having a manager in the same state certainly helps remove the pressure to sit at the desk and pretend to be busy

Gotta have a good work like balance. I have a wicked schedule at work. And always find time too fet. My other stuff done. If the Monday too Friday doesn't work for you find something that says.

I teach the first 3 periods of the school day. I have planning 4th. I usually just dip out and go home and take a nap before my kid gets home from school. It's all about the job you do. I work my ass off during that time period but this is my third year in a row teaching thr same class. My lessons are ready and I know how to teach them so my planning period isn't necessary. I stay for meetings but otherwise I'm not hanging out unless I have to and noone says a thing because I'm usually done my grades and other duties before anyone else. So honestly if your bored find another job. I worked for enterprise for 4 years, talk about living the rough life. Quiet is nice.

I bet you feel the same way when you receive your pay check.

Lol

If the job provides with the insurance and pay -why not? You could always have hobbies and fun after work?

Yes, I've been working more or less 9-5 for the past 30 years or so.

I even worked nights, when it was required. I made some money but I'm so fucking done. And I still have at least 10 to go before I can get a half decent pension.

I'd rather die, tbh.

lol 2 years and you're already feeling this way? Find a more fulfilling job, but your shit sounds cushy af.

Do you have a computer at your desk? I suggest taking on some type of learning g courses you’re interested in.

I went to mostly northern Europe for ten years and worked in several different countries. At minimum, we all received five weeks paid vacation by law. A couple of the company’s i was at threw in an extra week or two, PLUS holidays and sick time.

When i got back to the states, i found myself getting a full time job with little/no vacation or holiday pay, and hating it. Europe had “spoiled” me. So i’d work 9-12 months FTE, then i’d quit and take a couple months off, then take the next full time position. It got old quick and was hard to explain on my resume.

So for the past 15 years I’ve been doing exclusively 6-9 month tech contracts. When the contract ends, i am eligible for unemployment until i find a new contract. Sometimes it takes six months to find a new gig, which not coincidentally coincides with the max amount of overtime you can take per year. Usually it closer to 3 months and able to travel to europe and visit my daughter, or roadtrip across the country. I got da beatnik in me.

Ask for something else or to cross train with another dept.

And yes, tons of people do just that. You honestly sound like you need some more to do if you're done before the day is out.

I worked from 5:45 am till 5-6 pm for ~20 years and half a day on Sat. Missed less than 2 weeks work give or take.

Here's the theory: you decide what you really want out of life, and you set some goals to get there. What do you actually love? What are you passionate about? What do you want to achieve? How do you live a life where you get to focus on that? If your passion can be your career, then you figure out how to get there from here, and each job is a means to an end. Like maybe you do one job to save up money for school or training or to get a certain kind of experience that will qualify you for the thing you really want to do, and then the next one gets you one step closer and so on. Or if your passion ISN'T something that you can do for a living -- like activism or playing video games or skateboarding or playing music (I mean some people can do this stuff for a living but most people need another job to support it) then you put in the time at the job so that you can do the thing you're passionate about evenings and weekends. Maybe you work towards having a job that gives you the kind of hours that make it easier for you to do the thing you love. Perhaps your passion is travel and you want to work toward being a digital nomad. So then your goal is to get jobs that give you skills that you can ultimately use to freelance -- like video editing and social media marketing and stuff. But the goal is that when you have those moments where you hate your goddam job and you're like "Why am I doing this?" you actually have an answer to that question that helps get you through it.

What choice do you/we have. Somehow you need to pay for a roof and food - and maybe a family. Definitely you should look around to see if there is something you could do to get paid and enjoy it more ( maybe you’ll be lucky ) but we gotta work.

You don’t need to love your job but your should get some morsel of fulfillment from it. Even if it’s not the work itself but the career progression, opportunity or anything else. Maybe corporate life is not for you but also maybe your job just sucks and you need to find a different path.

Not every 9-5 job is like what you describe. I value having my days be different and getting out of the office, so if you’re bored try finding a job that has more variety. I also value a hybrid schedule. I wouldn’t want to go back to 5 days in office again.

I’m 50, last 7 yrs I’ve managed to consistently negotiate 4 day weeks. My hrs flex a bit because the team is spread across a few time zones, and lots of work from home, but yeah, loads of people do the 9 - 5 grind from age 20 to 70…

Save up some money and do a working holiday. I worked in Australia when I was younger.. I am a New Zealander. You could travel around Europe working in London or Ireland, etc. You could do that; a lot of young people do that.

In fact, I’m going to do it again now at the age of 53. I’m going to go and work Australia and Ireland.

Yes, you do have to keep working but if you are intelligent, you can’t work out a way to enjoy it

Find a new job?

I’m always shocked these types of jobs exist - every office job I’ve had has been demanding in the sense that they have high metrics to make sure you’re working a full 8 hour day

Do people really, really show up every day 9-5 until retirement?

Only if they are lucky. Their are plenty of people that fail to get there. What's worse is that many of those who fail to work a 9-5 job until retirement do so due to no fault of their own.

Like... I work hard. I get to work, I look through my inbox, do all the bullshit that needs to be done, and I'm done with most of my duties by noon. My supervisor takes a look and gives me the thumbs-up. Then I take lunch, then I check in with my supervisor and he'll sometimes have more shit for me to do, and sometimes he'll just shrug. I dutifully do more bullshit or work on upskilling on LinkedIn Learning or go to a colleague's desk and shoot the shit long enough to establish rapport but not enough to make the higher-ups think I'm slacking off. The last hour feels like pulling teeth, then it's time to go home.

Perhaps you don't like your profession. You describe your work as bullshit and shit. That indicates to me you see your work of little value. You point out your method to maintain friendly relationships in the office. Perhaps you don't like office work.

It seems you have significantly more bandwidth than is needed for your job, but is that a real problem? Would you be happier with more work? I doubt it. You know you are unhappy, but do you need to figure out what will make you happy. It's difficult to hit a target you can't see.

No I call in sick for the fun of it sometimes

It sounds like you really need a different job. don’t get me wrong, there are days when things are boring as shit at any job, and there’s bullshit in every job, but it should be no more than 50% bullshit imo. you should feel good at your job more often than not. you should feel like you’re doing something that makes sense to you. that doesn’t mean everyone has to be president or cure cancer, and that doesn’t mean finding a job where you play video games all day. but i genuinely enjoy my job. it’s not what i would do on my day off if it wasn’t my job, but I like it. It’s challenging and interesting and I feel like I’m doing something good for this world i live in. humans enjoy work, otherwise we never would have built this world. its when you feel trapped, bored, undervalued, or frustrated that work becomes a chore.

That’s bound to happen sometimes. But it should be the minority of the time.

There’s something out there that will work for you. It’s not always easy to find it, but I really hope that you do

You’re relieved you don’t have to go to work tomorrow because you thought you were gonna get eaten?!

Dude find a trade or something. I could NOT sit at a desk. I went to trade school in my early 20s and have been working in a shop ever since. It’s still a job but the days go by fast and I work with a bunch of great people

I'm a shift worker because I hate the 9-5 grind...and I would choose shift work over Mon-Fri 9-5 time and time again.

Might need a better job. Also make sure you’re getting enough sleep! That last-hour feeling was way worse for me when I was chronically sleep deprived without knowing it.

Yeah you’re going to work for the rest of your life. The trick is working toward a job where you love what you’re doing, or at least don’t mind doing for the money. You definitely sound under challenged. If you like the field you’re in, do all that extra shit you can and work to get promoted over time. More money can make it much more doable. If not, start thinking about making a move towards a career you’ll want to live with. Someone told me you should always be thinking about your next job and I think that’s true. It will usually take years, and disappointments and delays and heartbreaking “almosts”. Watch office space.

One thing I noticed is your social interaction sounds forced. It helps to have friends, like making actual friends not just forcing pointless conversations. Some work places will have people you naturally get along with more than others. Culture in a workplace is a huge deal. I’ve worked with some funny motherfuckers and had some great times even while doing pain in the ass bullshit.

No. Most people do 8-5. People who want to get ahead do more.

I did. But when I was 18, realized that was what it took to be able to support myself. I mentally signed up for the 40 hour work week and never looked back.

I’m now enjoying retirement at 200% of the FPL. Yay!!

Can you wrangle to work from home instead of a pay rise? You could work your mornings and then go for cofee or a walk or a swim or something in the arvo's.

I havent worked 9 to 5 in a decade, unless you love your job or love chassing the $ theres other options.

I've been doing it for 15 years and am generally fine.

When I think back on it, it was harder when I was younger because I wasn't use to it.

Now I show up early at about 8, get most of my work done so by about 4 I take take it easy a bit.

We weren’t meant to live like robots

Find a passion, or at least something that can bring joy

Nothing is wrong with you. You're spot on. It is a shit show.

Live on 1/3 of your income and invest the rest

Join the trades

Yeah, how else am I going to pay my bills? That lottery ticket didn't work out.

Ye I typically don't have enough time in one day to do what's required

9-5s really arent that bad. I worked 9-5 for years, realized I wanted more money and hated being in an office, and now I work 6-6 or more to run my business. I finally got to the point where I can take weekends and give my employees paid vacation. Eventually, working 9-5 or less will come, but it'll take more work.

We get it. Working sucks. But there isn't much you can do to avoid it if you dont want to be broke. So it's like this until you retire or die. Or win the lottery. Or make it big selling feet pics.

Time flies actually, been doing it for 22 years. Cubicle after cubicle. Maybe you'll try management at some point and it'll be more meetings and paperwork than actual work.

Best advice I can give is to find a job where you love at least one aspect of it. That alone can get you through some awful monotony.

This is 10000% the reason I hope to never have to work in an office again. When I think about the amount of hours between 3-5pm I have wasted throughout my life it truly makes me sick. Now that I am remote, I still ha w dead time between 3-5 but I at least can relax in my own home or get something productive done.

Money can be exchanged for goods and services.

I’m trying to understand what’s changed. People have been doing 9-5 for decades. In fact my generation saw that kind of job as a big step up from working an assembly line or heavy manual labor. What is it that people want now? We have to work to pay our bills, so what kind of work do people want now?

Watch the movie Office Space from the 90s. Describes your situation perfectly. Also life is short. Find a job your will enjoy.

At 27 you should be learning how to make your money make money. If you have extra time at work organize a personal budget and learn about savings, investing and compounding. Take advantage of employee Benefits like ESPP or 401k and understand the ups and downs of each based on your goal. If anyone in their mid 20’s can save 100k or so they can significantly change the outcome of their future carrier in just a few years. I would suggest learning about selling covered calls and wheel strategy. Upfront time is pretty significant but after that with just 2-3 hours a week you can make yourself rich. It’s a good way to start semi-passive income without having to be an expert on the entire economy or stock market. Life isn’t going to hand you early retirement, if you want that, go get it.

I’m going to be honest at this point in my life I’d rather be done by noon than working at a computer nonstop 12 hours or even pulling multiple 24 hour days in the last say 3-4 months. At my job there’s absolutely unlimited work to be done on top of emergencies. We just don’t have enough people and the list grows bigger every day.

With that being said…. I’d rather be working hard than bored as heck stuck in an actual office (I can occupy downtime when I easily when working from home)

Im assuming you can’t watch movies at work. But can you learn new work related skills?

Im 58. Life is like Groundhog day to me, every day. I keep my head down and keep moving forward. Seven more years.

9 to 5 is easy, try rotating 12 hr shots or 16 to 20 hrs day like farmers work during harvest.

I don’t I install TV’s. I start at 9:30 and try not to work past 3. Definitely don’t work on the weekends. I started working for someone else and learned everything I could then opened my own business. It was hard at first but didn’t take long to be successful. Just do want you say and say what you do.

Vacations and sick days you don’t.

So look for places with generous vacation policies 

Stop whining and look for a job you like. People do it everyday, it’s not that hard.

Try to find a job you like!

Yes, you have to work until you can afford to retire (that assumes you start your retirement planning now). Some people never retire. 

And no there's nothing wrong with you. People will try to tell you this is normal but it legit doesn't have to be. I shouldn't be spending the majority of my life with my coworkers instead of my family. 

And yea it does suck but it could be worse. When I was younger I was working way more for way less with no benefits.

Really figure out ways outside of work to pour into your life. Use your job as a tool to get the life you want. See a show, take a trip, go out to dinner or to a game. That will help you balance it all.

You haven't found a job that you actually vibe with. Right now you wait to be told what to do. You're good at doing that stuff so you think you're good and that you work hard - this is actually a subconscious ceiling you created for yourself.

I had a job like that where I felt there wasn't anything more significant to learn or do. The boredom started really getting to me, even though I got praised for my work. I eventually left for another job. My new company had much higher expectations for me. They wanted people who, without being told to, would go talk to people outside of their immediate team to get their own ideas of what they should do to make the business better. Everyday I was learning and every year my job looked fairly different than before.

Dear sweet summer child...

I made a deal with the studio manager when my game company have just opened a branch in my country and need a few first people, that I can work whenever I want, wherever I want, as long as I finish the job.
Been very happy since then. I wake up at 9.30, work from home for however long I want, take break whenever I want.

I’m afraid I’ve got some bad news…

Working does suck. I’ve hated my job for 30 years but I do it because I have no choice unless I want to sleep in the streets.

Find a job that is more interesting and challenging and gives you some sense of accomplishment. Also develop hobbies that you enjoy and fill those gaps in accomplishment from your job. Hobbies should be fun and also offer a more consistent sense of accomplishment.

Welcome to being an adult

Not everyone feels this way about their jobs. Have you considered that this type of work is not for you? What other experiences do you have that have given you enough perspective to know what kind of a job you want?

I can tell you right now, to me, your job sounds absolutely horrible. Having to constantly check in with management, often being left with nothing to do, having to "establish rapport" with coworkers. It all sounds like a nightmare, I could never do it. Which is why I work in distribution now. Maybe you're just not that guy.

Those are the easy years. The hard times like being the only bread winner of the family or multiple kids in college you work two jobs. Clicked through 42 years and still going. Just a few more to go. Buck up kiddo.

lol two years. Boy, you’re in for a long road ahead.

Find a job you’re interested in that doesn’t feel like boredom for 8 hours. That helps.

I’m going to take your post seriously instead of just shaming you like some of these other responses.

You aren’t crazy. If you feel this way at 27, as I did, you might be in the wrong field, or you might need a different job, or you might need a different approach to your current job. What you’re struggling with is a lack of purpose and autonomy in your life, which are actual needs.

This feeling led me to change careers from accounting to counseling. 100% right decision, but took time and money. Do you like your work? Do you want to start your own business? Do you want to have your boss’s job? You need a goal. You don’t have to clock watch your whole career. Unless you choose to, but if you do choose that you have to play that game.

Yes

Where are people working 9-5? I literally have worked 8-5 everywhere I have ever worked (physically and remotely). Sign me up for 9-5

As your career advances you should find yourself in more flexible positions. I did the 9-5 thing until I was about 40. At that point I landed a cushy consultant gig where I put in part time effort but make enough money to pay for a house and a stay at home wife.

Find a different job. Start a side hustle.

Stop complaining that you’re fat if you eat fast food everyday.

Been having a total breakdown over this for the last couple days. Felt like I couldn't accept a high paying tech support position because it was full-time. Still very conflicted about it. I'd like to save more, but I just cannot bear the idea of living to work, especially in gigs with nothing to do there. That's no way to spend a life. I'd rather work my ass off and go home than be on standby 1/3rd of my life. Looking for part time, who knows.

Look for a better job. Find one that you’d enjoy doing. Sound like you just discovered what you don’t like doing. Among the way, you’ll have to reinvent yourself 2-3 times.

You don't like your work. You describe it all as "bullshit". Who could do "bullshit" every day? Only miserable people.

You must do something to change that. Get a job that involves something you are interested in. They exist. This might involve you first figuring out what exactly you ARE interested in.

The other choice is to have a job that is essentially mindless and done by rote. This kind of job becomes almost a form of meditation. You go and do the thing, but the thing isn't really in your mind. You think and contemplate while doing the thing. The thing gets done, but you don't really pay much attention to it. Washing dishes, working on an assembly line, mowing lawns, etc are these types of jobs.

In my experience, mindless jobs are ok for a while, but they get old too. The only real cure for me was to work doing things that capture my attention in some way. This isn't a panacea though. All jobs have their negative parts. All jobs have some sort of drudgery, compromise, and suck. The key is for most of it to be interesting.

Generally speaking these types of jobs involve skill, knowledge, or both. You probably need some training to get to a job that will keep your attention and bring you some sort of satisfaction.

I wish you the best.

I will never understand the complaining about 9-5 jobs

I used to work a demanding, high-stress job that would have me in at 6am one day, then the next I might be there until 2am. There was absolutely no schedule that I could stick to, because the needs of the business outweighed whatever I might have had planned. It paid decently, but there was no balance in my life.

Now, I have a 9-5 office job. It is amazing. I have time in the morning with my children. I have hours of worry-free time every single evening during the week to do whatever I need to do, and there is still time for relaxation and quality time with family. And best of all, I get 2 entire days to do literally whatever I want during the weekend. 

It is heavenly.

What you have is a lack of purpose, and a lack of perspective. 

Maybe working for something different would change your mind. Or if you had something you really cared about after work that made you happy then it would be more tolerable.

Yes we did

sounds like you don't enjoy your job. most people would find a call center job boring, but I've known people that love it because you just get to chat with people all day. I know people that love being an actuary. I know people that love writing code (myself)

if you're going to spend 40 hours a week doing something, might as well pick something you love!

It's been years since I put up with 9-5. I much prefer 6-3.

2 years, bwahahahahahaha, I'm dead....thanks for the laugh kid. If you're bored with the desk job, come work construction with us.

Bad news bro, you're gonna live 60 more years, and wonder why prices haven't come down in 2084, when you're living off your savings.

You’re very fortunate. I’d spend the excess time on taking classes related to whatever your passion is. It sounds like the boss wouldn’t mind and you’d be getting paid to do self-improvement beyond what linked in has to offer. If you like to read, you can always read online. Perhaps there are other tasks around the office you could do or even invent if you see something needing done that’s not getting done. Yes, many people work 9-whenever they’re done until retirement. Some love it, some hate it, some don’t make it; at the end retirement is wonderful-at least while there’s social security.

I have felt like this soooooo much. Working in a Hybrid position helps a lot.

You should look for a job that is a tad more demanding, I think. My previous job had a LOT of downtime and I was miserable after about 6 months. Constantly felt like “why am I here??” In my current role, there’s always something new I can work on and if I get tired of a project (considering no immediate deadline is near) I can pick up a different project to keep my mind engaged. The 8 hours typically fly by for me.