Has anyone got to the point where they gave up the grind of their career and just do a mindless job now to bring in enough money to get by?
Posted by un2022@reddit | GenX | View on Reddit | 349 comments
It can be exhausting constantly chasing career goals and advancement. And sometimes I just want to go complete a task and not think about work until the next time.
Ecstatic_Love4691@reddit
I’m sort of Coast Fire doing gig apps (Amazon flex, Instacart, DoorDash)
wetclogs@reddit
I’m getting there. Once the house is paid off in about five years, I plan to be a dishwasher.
DreadGrrl@reddit
Yup. I don’t feel as if it is working out for me.
Dismal_Estate9829@reddit
I started blue collar and climbed up to middle management. For years I excelled with the background of experience to only be passed up time and time again by someone with a degree and zero industry experience. I would have to train them and watch them fail each time. Wash, rinse and repeat. One day while being told how to do something I’ve been doing for 30 years that I KNOW does not work by the new CEO (son that moved up with an accounting background) I just dropped my shoulders and said “I think it’s time to find my replacement”. I couldn’t do it anymore. I’ve always been able to walk into a struggling business or department and turn things around while building a team that wins and ultimately runs itself without me. This seems to confuse most executives and they don’t know how to handle me…and honestly I think they are intimidated by me because they cannot quantify what I do on a spreadsheet. I went back to being a craftsman and while it took a bit to get the money right my overall mental health is much better. I lost 35 pounds and back to my ideal(ish) weight and my stress levels are way down. My 20+ years of corporate management experience helped me polish up my delivery (Bostonian in a west coast world) but I overstayed its usefulness for me by about 7 years and should have left much sooner when my spirit was still strong and my body less beat up. I’m still bitter about some things but I’m almost out from under the cloud. I’m developing some custom automotive products and wanting to be self sufficient without answering to anyone except customers. The corporate world is really beneficial for professional growth but you need to know when to get out.
Use_Chemical@reddit
I checked out as an exec and opened a Pilates studio. Great lifestyle change but still have the headache of managing people. Now I want to sell the Pilates studio and just teach there a few hours here and there so I can travel.
kegsbdry@reddit
Waiting for the mortgage & debt to be paid off so I can transition to 'zero fucks given' mode.
Run_Error@reddit
SAME !
hardware1981@reddit
I’ve been in ‘zero fucks given’ mode for at least then years now.
from_one_redhead@reddit
Mine was kid out of college, house paid off, husband divorced, me zero fucks given! Left “adult” job to work in a dispensary
ExtraAd7611@reddit
That would be a good job but I think I'd have a hard time maintaining focus.
from_one_redhead@reddit
That’s the pint my friend. I have a job I can be high at
BraveG365@reddit
what about retirement savings?
from_one_redhead@reddit
I worked in small business and would get equity in the businesses. Work build it up cash out. Put the money in retirement. Last place I left, put me more than enough over the line
Working_Park4342@reddit
That's a badzzz Gen X-er, right there.
berrey7@reddit
Gen X we are pretty good with our money, but terrible in relationships!
from_one_redhead@reddit
Ikr? I made it 30 years. I divorced him for his own safety. I was going to kill him
webelos8@reddit
I didn't know long-term relationship issues were a thing with our group. My husband and I have been together almost 33 years, married for 25
calmikazee@reddit
Damn Latchkey partners...
slo1111@reddit
You are my hero. Hope you are living large now
kegsbdry@reddit
Nice transition. Jealous
eLishus@reddit
We’re in a VHCOL area. We still owe a lot on the mortgage, but the equity would buy us a house in a smaller town. My wife also made a rental home purchase back in 2007. It’s finally recovered and she’d gain $ on it if sold today. Together, we could sell both houses, buy a new one in a small town, and have some cash saved up to either live off of for a bit, start a small business, or invest and take some lower level jobs. Or, we could sell our house and move into the one she bought - mortgage is super cheap. But the quality of life would likely decline as it’s outside another big city. We haven’t gotten there yet but it’s tempting.
Krysdavar@reddit
Our situation is similar. Our house is worth more than twice as much as when we bought it in 2005. When I retire we're going where the cost of living is a lot lower so should be a big wind fall! This house was our 'goose egg' all along.
NightGod@reddit
Friend, I do believe you mean "nest egg", since "goose egg" is an analogy for zero 😁
Krysdavar@reddit
That's it lol.
kegsbdry@reddit
Just reminds me of my grandparents that moved from a Midwestern town to Florida. They thought everybody would come visit them but ended up disconnecting from everybody and everything they knew.
Everyone says they are going to move 'later'. But when it comes down to it, most don't want to uproot their whole lives in the end.
GogglesPisano@reddit
19 payments left on the mortgage. I can't frigging wait. I've been "house poor" for years.
Krysdavar@reddit
Due to inflation the past few years, our house is now worth twice as much as what we paid for it. Will have a nice wind fall if/when I ever retire. I can at any time, but I enjoy all the extra money having a good job provides. I won't be 62 for 9 more years...that is IF SS is still there at that time.
Commercial_Wind8212@reddit
lol. you still have tons of bills even after that
kegsbdry@reddit
True but your discretionary expenses go way up!
I mean, try and be sad on a jet ski.
Fire_Trashley@reddit
Lol, just listened to a podcast and a host commented that the most fun one can have outside of sex is riding a jet ski
Traditional_Land_553@reddit
Not always.
Johnny-Virgil@reddit
Tosh gets an upvote.
Commercial_Wind8212@reddit
Bill Hicks called, he said quit it
3Cogs@reddit
I keep thinking that, but I started building a pension late and I've only been on decent money since I was in my forties so I'll need to carry on with the well paid job until the end.
I do have good managers and it's a unionised workplace so it's not too bad. I could do without the responsibility sometimes though.
DFM2020@reddit
Just got here, and super excited to get a mindless part to,e job so I can settle into “zero fucks given”.
kegsbdry@reddit
Do something you love. I doubt many of us will ever get the opportunity!
No-Diver7430@reddit
Glad for you my brother. You are in the minority there.
EverrreyDayisGahood@reddit
https://i.redd.it/yw2x7b0yna5f1.gif
Yep .EXACTLY
Tolann@reddit
Exactly my thoughts. I have about 2 years left on the mortgage. Roth's and HSAs are fully funded. Some small home improvement projects I'd like to do and the kitchen appliances are probably near ready to be replaced. I'm still a top performer at work. Guess I'm trying too hard. I need to let work slide and take care of myself.
MezAndTish@reddit
YEP… went from life and death high speed to driving a tow truck. GOD ITS SOOOOO PEACEFUL!!!
jpotrz@reddit
You're implying my career hasn't been a mindless job that brings in just enough to get by.
PGHNeil@reddit
Exactly. My career did a Space X and exploded shortly after liftoff and I temped for a number of years. Eventually I got a full time job as a clerk in a bank and hated my life which involved counting other people's money and not having much of my own.
FeliusSeptimus@reddit
The Space X development model is a pretty good parallel for career development. Launch, explode spectacularly, revise, repeat.
VishyVB@reddit
A good analogy to the stages of my life from 17 to 55 - just replace “explode” with “burnout”… over, and over….🙄 but then FINALLY the rocket successfully launched (retirement). Cya later MFs!!🤣
VishyVB@reddit
A good analogy to the stages of my life from 17 to 55 - just replace “explode” with “burnout”… over, and over….🙄 but then FINALLY the rocket successfully launched (retirement). Cya later MFs!!🤣
PGHNeil@reddit
Ah yes, the “keep throwing shit until it sticks” Art of the deal kinda stuff.
GogglesPisano@reddit
And the asshole at the top keeps getting richer despite all of the explosions.
billy310@reddit
I was lucky that mine took 15 years to explode
Wally_Paulnuts009@reddit
This
Practicality_Issue@reddit
I see you embraced the slack.
cumberland_farms@reddit
Hail "Bob"!
zoso4evr@reddit
Surrounded by pinks; I strive to retain Slack.
TikonovGuard@reddit
Pull the wool over your own eyes!
Accomplished-Tap2175@reddit
Yes- I am done with all that. I’m currently unemployed, as the start up I was working for failed. I’m looking for a job for the next 10 yrs until I can retire, but I’m done being a VP and responsible for a bunch of people, or laying people off while the asshole calls them FTEs because calling them “people” is just too humanizing. I’m just done - give me 9-5 and health insurance.
oakmeadow8@reddit
That's me! Just before the pandemic I left a high paying, white-collar career, and I have been working a fairly mindless warehouse labor job ever since. My income is now half what it was previously. Not gonna lie, money is a problem. However, my stress level, even with money issues, has been drastically reduced. It was the right move for me, but it certainly would not be for most people. Try living on half of what you make for 6 months before you make a decision.
ACESHIGH-JEDI66@reddit
Hell no! My wife and I enjoy our lifestyle too much!
Disastrous-Screen337@reddit
From attorney of 20 years to operating heavy equipment part time. Big pay cut but much happier.
SchoolOfSpeakingGood@reddit
It’s called Downshifting. Some of us did this during the 2008 recession after being laid off from jobs that paid well but we hated. Some stress isn’t worth it. Best decision of my life. I just did a deep-dive on my health and I’m biologically 11 years younger than my actual age. It’s because I get actual sleep and don’t live in fight or flight mode daily.
reddirtgold@reddit
Sometimes I watch with envy the grounds keepers on their mowers. Sunglasses, head phones, and mowing lines in the grass.
Goodrun31@reddit
That is what my career job has become
AndiagoSupremo@reddit
I am completely fed up with corporate life. I wonder if I am not looking to get fired, so I can just hang out somewhere and have a f’ing laugh. It’s just the health insurance issue.
lefty1117@reddit
Im 50 now and can def see myself there by or before 60.
Jellovator@reddit
If I could make enough money stocking shelves at Lowe's, I'd do that instead of my regular job.
TurtleToast2@reddit
Yes! I left management and became a housekeeper. I'm so much happier now. I don't need stuff, I need peace.
midtnrn@reddit
I left being an executive, sold everything, bought a motorhome. Stay at each place 3-4 months and pick up work locally. I’m currently a cashier at Chipotle. IM NEVER GOING BACK.
ButtercupBytheSea@reddit
Sort of reminds me of the movie “lost in America” - just stay far from Vegas or you might lose your nest egg.
EvolutionaryLens@reddit
I used to have a residential mortgage and a commercial mortgage, worked 80-100 hours a week. Now I live in a bus and work on a farm 24 hours a week. I'm with you; never going back.
GawkerRefugee@reddit
Peace and freedom. Decluttered out of a five bedroom home, am in a tiny two bedroom now and have honestly never felt so free. I work whatever jobs because my expenses are so low. Everything is paid off after being buried under debt for decades. I wish I had done this years ago. Freedom > Stuff
lovebeinganasshole@reddit
This right here. Stuff is the enemy.
Friend-Coconut-7083@reddit
Yes! Having spent way to much time and money dealing with my parents stuff and my kids stuff I have come to view stuff as evil and I’m in the process of downsizing and then starting to look for a job I like but doesn’t cause to much stress. Not sure what that will look like but I agree peace is my current goal.
Soggy-Avocado918@reddit
So true
wellbloom@reddit
Yes! I spent the first half of my career working with Wall Street and after my divorce 10yrs ago I started a dog walking business. Just me and 2 contract employees…we cleared $200K top line last year!
fatpat@reddit
Damn, that's a lot of dogs!
wellbloom@reddit
Well, I was smart about it. I joined a prestigious dog walking agency at 45y (by far the oldest dog walker)…learned about client acquisition, marketing, sales promotions, etc. But it was doing the grunt work of driving through a congested city stressing about making my next walk. High-turnover and always hiring meant I was covering walks all over town. With dogs I barely knew. And here’s the kicker, the agency took 60% of the clients fee. So if the client paid $100, the agency takes $60 and the walker gets $40. For doing all the work!
When I left a year later to start my own biz, I approached two clients who I had worked with at the agency. I pitched my business and they both hired me. I was making $2,000/month on those 2 clients! Haha! Fast forward, I have 2 employees and I pay out 90% because I believe in paying a living wage.
I’m proud of what I build from my humble beginnings! Thanks for coming to my Ted Talk!
Capital-Meringue-164@reddit
Dang that’s great! Outside every day, dogs and fresh air and good income. Good on you!
romulusnr@reddit
I'm strongly thinking that lately, especially since I'm now in a town where there isn't any jobs for my field, so it's either remote or a shitty commute, and remote is nearly all dried up from what I can tell.
Sugimon@reddit
Not a mindless job, but when I returned to the US after 20 years teaching English in SE Asia, I decided to forego getting a full-time teaching job and just substitute. I still work everyday, but I don't have to put in the extra time after school with meetings, planning, grading, I make minimal phone calls home and when the students go home, so do I. I'm happy not to have the specter of students' failure hanging over me year after year.
Waitinginpensacola@reddit
I did!
isdanetworkdown@reddit
20-Year IT career gave it up after covid. Couldn't take it anymore. Went to work for my wife's cleaning company. I mostly do sales but I'll still scrub the toilets if I have to. Toilets don't t ask. Is the internet out?
MotherFuckinEeyore@reddit
From twenty to twenty-six I worked two jobs so that I could save for a house and have things. Then I got a decent paying job and worked sixty+ hours until I was thirty-eight. I went to college and earned a master's in strategic management but couldn't find a job that paid as well as my union job.
Then I felt something wrong. I went to a cardiologist who found a 95% blockage in my heart. I missed three days of work and went right back to sixty+ hours.
Then a guy in my department had a heart attack at work and never came back. I moved into his spot which is straight days and forty hours. I began to realize everything that I lost and will never get back.
Three divorces. I was never home. Half of everything that I worked so hard for lost three times. No kids. It seems pointless to accumulate anything now. Retirement should be in about ten years. It won't happen. I keep putting money in my 401k in case I screw up and live too long or end up disabled like both of my parents. It'll be pointless though. The idiots in this country can't give away social security and Medicare fast enough. I'd be a millionaire if I hadn't divorced. Once I can't put in my forty I'll probably end it on my own terms and send my assets to my sister. I don't see myself in another relationship. I don't make enough money to support someone who will end up quitting their job as soon as they move in and I can't put in the hours like I used to.
chrissy965@reddit
Yup sold my restaurant of the last 20 years and now I just wait tables at someone else’s , no worry , no cares lol
billy310@reddit
I’m lucky enough to work in a very challenging, fun environment that pays just enough, but I’m still only task-to-task, not big picture. It’s my second career after my first industry basically died
She_Wolf_0915@reddit
Close but then found one that is growth oriented, pays well and I am seen and appreciated. I walk dogs on the side for my peace and serenity and mindlessness
Rude_Pangolin6136@reddit
So I quit my job I hated last year and I lived off of saved money this year to have some space and peace. At this point in my life, time, health and peace make me feel rich. I eventually will go back to a full time job as I am looking now, but doing jobs that pay the bills and food (my family and I live in my husband’s parents’ old house so we don’t have mortgage) and it’s been REALLY OK! just want to say that I am actually ok not being in the grind and I am making a wish list of the kind of lifestyle I want and putting it out to the universe to help me find the form of the job that will fit me best for the kind of life I want. I’m open-minded and intelligent and I feel like I have done extremely valuable soul-searching which is worth its weight in gold.
DiamondEyesFlamingo@reddit
I cycle back to this every few months - thinking it would be so much better I ditched my career and just coasted til retirement. And by it, I mean my mental health, happiness and work-life balance.
HRShovenstuff1@reddit
Found a job I love where I work with people that support me, doing what I enjoy. So to me, it doesn't feel like work most of the time.
OnlyGuestsMusic@reddit
I’m getting close… I’m exhausted.
Bulky_Specialist5997@reddit
This is 100% me. I left a very nice career as an advertising creative making very nice salary and bonuses (think, "I can use my bonus this year to purchase a new Audi" type of money. Managed to pay off my mortgage, left the corporate world, and now work as a cafeteria lunch lady 30 hours a week making minimum wage. Between that and renting out a bedroom, I make enough to just pay my bills and occasionally go for a nice meal. Is it scary always living on the financial edge? Absolutely - but I have so much free downtime in my life that it more than makes up for it. My dogs love having me home so much now, and I am never stuck in endless meetings with endless action items ...
UpStateSaints@reddit
Yes Yes I did! I make enough to pay off credit cards ad travel a few times a year after all expenses. I think my dreams died about a decade ago sadly
shellebelle89@reddit
This is my dream. To save enough money or get my expenses low enough to do something mindless.
Aggravating-Job8373@reddit
That is me to a T. After the military and then doing outside labor for many years I am now a manager at a dog boarding kennel. It’s not necessarily mindless but I get to take care of dogs for a living. All the dog kisses and cuddles I could ever want.
Spear_Ritual@reddit
4.5 more years until I can retire. Totally just grinding it out n
TheHexagone@reddit
I retired in 2019. By 2020 I was bored out of mind. By 2021 I looked like a lumberjack who never owned a razor. By 2022 I started a new career just to give me something to do. 😂
tayawayinklets@reddit
Yes, I was stuck as a sessional prof making less than minimum wage when all my hours (writing lectures, giving lectures, office hours, responding to emails, attending meetings, marking...) were tallied in comparison to my per course contract pay. Went back to the service industry, as an hourly employee.
amanda2399923@reddit
Very very close.
Charleston2Seattle@reddit
I stepped off the treadmill and worked for the DoD for a decade. Monotonous, not-mentally-taxing work, and I got up into the low six figures toward the end of that decade. And I lived in a LCOL area, so it was decent.
I've been at my current place about nine years. Challenging, tough work, but pays 2.5x as much. I could see myself going for a DoD type job once my kids launch and life (hopefully) gets a little cheaper.
keithrc@reddit
Yes, but not voluntarily.
ExitMediocre4160@reddit
I fucked off to Spain to teach English and earn about 30% of what I was making in USA. No regrets. Couldn't be happier. Spain is a beautiful country with lovely people. I might not die in Spain, but I'll never be a part of that ridiculous, mindless American culture again.
peterw71@reddit
I've never been career ambitious so I've mostly had relatively low stress but rewarding enough jobs which have paid me well enough to do the things I want to do.
Since COVID and WFH became more normal, it's been even better! I start at 8, finish at 4 and don't take my work home with me. I work from home half the time and am able to walk to my office when I do have to go in. I'm never going to be rich but I am happy.
BraveG365@reddit
Do you worry about having enough retirement savings?
peterw71@reddit
It's a different system here in the UK but I've been contributing to pension schemes for nearly 30 years so should be OK.
Nighthawkmf@reddit
I’m literally in it right now. Here’s the deal tho… I gave up film, the hustle and networking for a gig-to-gig paycheck that wasn’t cutting it… so I worked in restaurants too. For two decades. I’m 46 now. Went back to school at 41 and got a second degree in water and environmental technology and work in a great job with great benefits and pay doing something I can be proud of serving my community, protecting our rivers, etc… So it’s kinda flip for me. Giving up on your dreams sucks… but paying shit off, buying property and guitars whenever I find one I love, lol, and fully taking care of my family matters. It’s possible to do something fulfilling and pays the bills. But work sucks sometimes regardless of your love for your career . Compromise is one of the hardest parts of adulthood.
Ok-Rock2345@reddit
I did. It had a lot more to do with being laid off one too many times than anything else. Now I do my art my art to please myself and could not be happier.
dogmom71@reddit
Took an individual contributor role instead of climbing the corporate ladder. I'd rather have the time and energy to focus on my physical fitness and overall wellbeing.
Zapper13263952@reddit
Our friend is a nurse. She burned out due to numerous factors. She works at the village bookstore now. Less hours, less pay, less bullshit.
sunningmybuns@reddit
What career? This is the slacker generation you know.
FirstNoel@reddit
I never wanted to work. Ever, I like having money however.
I started programming at 8 with my Commodore 64, 40+ years later, I'm still in IT, coding occasionally. Managing projects more, which I hate.
Working on IOS apps, maybe I can write something to help retirement come quicker.
Once I can, I have few ideas,
Returning rental cars Dog Walking Lawn Mowing Car Service Writing something outside of IT.
I want IT to be a hobby again, fun, no deadlines. just, "Wow! I made a sprite of a duck walk across the screen!" type fun.
Right now my debts are too much to switch. I owe the bank alot, but not enough to own the bank.
newwriter365@reddit
Yes. Four years in, seven to go until I retire.
SouxsieBanshee@reddit
I gave up my career to be a SAHM. Now that my youngest finally graduated from high school I want to go back to work. Besides my huge gap in employment, I don’t want to go back to my former career- too many hours, too much of a commute, too much stress. I’d like to try to find something in town where I can work part time and low stress. I just need to start making money, this economy is too hard nowadays to support a family on a single income
Bug_Calm@reddit
Did this back in 2003, taught seminars on the LSAT and was a SAHM until our son was ten. Worked in publishing until I was "downsized" (all three of us females over 50 "downsized" overnight). Opened my own pottery studio and answered only to myself. I'm the best boss I ever had.
doubleohzerooo0@reddit
Well let's see...
There was the reset when I got out of the Navy in 97.
Then there was that reset in 08, followed by another reset in 14.
Ummm.... NO! Mindless job just to get by? Don't know what you mean. /s
ro_thunder@reddit
I work in corporate IT (networking), so the 'grind of my career' is essentially a mindless job that brings in enough money to get by for me and my family.
ccroy2001@reddit
I was laid off after 22 years at a manufacturing company. I'm an Electronics Technician and made a pretty good living, I had worked my way into Quality and testing for New Product Development. I was burned out, though, literally just running the clock out to retire when they closed out facility. I was 58.
I had an OK, not great for all the years I put in and most I worked really hard. It was 2021 so the pandemic was still going on and I hadn't job searched in decades. It took me so long to even get responses to online job search. Because I was older had been laid off, I was working with a department in my county that placed older or hard to place people.
Through them, I got hired at a plastics manufacturer. It was less than 1/2 my old salary but it was a job, and I was over 6 months w/o work.
The job was mostly sitting at a large table with a group of people trimming the plastic pieces that had been molded, and going to the molding room and working at the machines feeding parts in.
When I tried to describe what I was doing to my sister I said " It's like doing arts and crafts for money". I loved it, my coworkers were fun and my schedule was 2pm to 10:30pm which I loved b/c I'm not a morning person.
Of course after a month I got an offer in my field for close to my old salary so I took it. It's good too, but more responsibility and stress.
I noticed when I was at the plastics place there were older people working part-time. When I retire in a few years I hope to go back there. It was productive but importantly I really enjoyed my time there.
Human_Morning_72@reddit
I did the opposite! I've had many just "Okay" jobs over the years. Currently in a corp gig that won't last. So I've gotten trained and experienced in a new career where I actually make a difference in individual people's lives.
The happy medium for me just might be some kind of fall-back don't-care gig that pays the rent, plus the soul-affirming side-hustle. I'd love to have the soul-affirming side cover all my expenses, and it will soon enough.
sneakysnake1111@reddit
raises hands
I was a trainer/manager at Comcast from 19 to early 20s, then became an area manager for an adult sex store company here in Canada.. Then I was a rep @ Telus for like 3 years.
Then in my late 20s, I got a dog-fuck job working from home doing basic web shit for a company overseas. I'm still with them. It's been about 15 years now.
It's a shitty job. The company that I work for is shitty as fuck to their employees in their home country. I hate working here technically. It doesn't pay me well at all, just enough to get by.
But I don't care, I get to work from home, I have 3 days off a week and I don't answer chats or emails outside of my work hours. They've asked me to several times, but I just decline.
SelectionNo3078@reddit
I’m burned out from a long career mostly being abused by customers managers and business partners in the mortgage business
I’m still licensed and have closed a few deals this year but working Amazon flex while applying for a career out of commission-only compensation.
I’m making about $1000/month working 10-12 hours a week.
I’m looking for a second side hustle because I don’t want to do this for more hours and miles
SomeDudeNamedRik@reddit
Intentionally underemployed Since 2020
SomeDudeNamedRik@reddit
Since 2020
Unable_Chard9803@reddit
I have family members (Generation Jones) who live most of the year in Costa Rica. They're both physicians who practice telemedicine.
More remarkable though is a fellow veteran from the shelter where I spent the last 14 months. His plan was to use his VA pension to move to Costa Rica and, by golly, he did it!
I have had similar fantasies of doing something similar, but want to do it by actually opening a viable business.
In my twenties I played trumpet aboard cruise ships and, back then, every port of call had a seaman's center where maritime staff could send money home, make phone calls, rent movies, buy sundries, and even get laundry done.
The Internet has appropriated most of those functions, but a laundromat/dry cleaning service that caters to island tourists would still be a moneymaker.
Running a business like that just about anywhere in the Caribbean would be enough for me. Hell, once it becomes successful enough I could probably start a local jazz combo that played the resorts.
That's how I see my future. Doesn't matter if it happens or not. It's more important to work toward it today.
CubCadet1972@reddit
I was a nurse for 15 years, post-covid symptoms destroyed my memory, made my anxiety uncontrollable. I now work in a major chain grocery warehouse
BraveG365@reddit
How do you like the work at the grocery warehouse?
CubCadet1972@reddit
It put 20lbs of muscle on my narrow ass. Its not bad.
GrapesandGrainsNY@reddit
Thank you so much for all you have during Covid and in your career overall. Nurses are angels.
CubCadet1972@reddit
Thank you.
DarkNestTravels@reddit
I did just that. I got my wife and me out of debt after a long stretch in retail management. I cashed out all my 401k's (some say irresponsible), finally sold our house, because it was paid off. With our financial nest we purchased a new, to us, 2005 Newmar Class A. We have zero debt. I get Workamping jobs all over the US in different states during the summer, take winter off and write fiction. I'm 51, and live the full time RV life and love working wherever I park the house on wheels. I share my experiences here if your interested: Tim Eagle Blog
Critical_Seat_1907@reddit
I took a 40% pay cut to work for the state in a non-supervisory role. I feel like a human for the first time in my life.
Krysdavar@reddit
I've worked for the state for over 25 years. 😶🌫️ You may be paid a lot less, but the benefits & PENSION are great.
baconcheeseburgarian@reddit
I got a job 3 miles from home that's a strict 9-5 with an owner that likes to surf before work. I can take multiple paid vacations a year without worrying about my job as long as I watch the owners cat when he's traveling.
Scareltt@reddit
It’s always tempting.. like driving uber. No email, no conference calls..
AZJHawk@reddit
That sounds like BaristaFIRE. I don’t have enough saved to support my current lifestyle on a job like that yet, but I might do it when I hit 55 or so.
PumpkinSpiceFreak@reddit
Yes and it feels damn good 👍🏽
hisprk2@reddit
No, but I want to.
pocketdare@reddit
Personally I'm beginning to take seriously the idea of taking my savings to a much cheaper country to live out my days as an expat
Under_athousandstars@reddit
Corporate sales for 20 years! Now I work cultivation at a cannabis farm.
Best decision I’ve ever made in my life. Truly.
only_Zuul@reddit
I started there and been there the whole time, and I'm happy with that decision.
OkJellyfish1011@reddit
No job I'm qualified for would be enough to get by.
MoreCanadianThanYou@reddit
I’m really considering doing something like this. I’m 56 and made it to management in a CPA firm. But the stress of being responsible for so many clients is killing me mentally. On top of that, I find myself opposed to capitalism in a lot of ways now so I don’t even respect my own career anymore. I think I need to at least step back to the senior accountant level but my mind keeps telling me that shouldn’t do that. Again causing stress with the indecision. So I just continue on feeling stressed out and “lost”.
Tempus__Fuggit@reddit
I embraced mindless jobs, saved up enough to quit for months so I could restore my brain, then back to work for an unethical imbecile. Rinse. Repeat.
Retirement is disability benefits for having a broken nervous system. I'd be pissed, but reincarnation, so, better luck next time, I guess?
funsk8mom@reddit
I would love one of those jobs. Who can help me find one? My current job or I should say career but it’s really just a job has no room for movement and the pay is pretty disgusting for what I do. I would love a simple, meaningless job that actually pays more than what I’m making now
7237R601@reddit
I'm kind of stuck too. Semi-specialized field, this would be a reset. The few times I have gone to like "big box hardware store" I've been ignored or just told I'm overqualified and whatever. "Dude, I need like $20 an hour and a clock to punch so I don't have to care at night."
ExtraAd7611@reddit
I'm kind of doing it now, but not by design. I had a decently challenging job and was reorganized into a department that is much less interesting. I hate it, but it seems that I don't have to work very hard at all, and I can spend a lot of the day typing comments like the one you are reading now. I'm pretty sure I'm paid less than what other people with my title and level of experience make, but I've saved a lot over the years and invested wisely, and I don't want to attempt to look for another job and suffer the indignity of "tech interviews" which I always do terribly in and won't likely hire someone of my age and skill set.
I plan to pull the ripcord in a couple of years and will probably do something completely different, definitely freelancing, that may or may not involve much income, but I'll finally be in a place where I can work because I want to, not because I need to. I've always liked to travel so I've thought about getting a commercial drivers' license and doing RV relocation or some kind of truck driving.
puzzleheaded_Homie@reddit
Contracting. Same shit, more money. If you're not going to be part of the solution, there's plenty of money in prolonging problems.
SmokedHamm@reddit
Yup! After covid I hung up the abacus and said goodbye to teaching math (22years) moved to Kauai and now I drive a taxi, tutor, and work at a cat cafe…I could easily get a job teaching but I would make half, yes half of what I make just driving a taxi…I was always happy teaching (which is why I tutor) and I am happy now..:more of a work to live vs live to work…🤙🏻🏄
fmlyjwls@reddit
I tried. Now I work more hours for less pay but I have better benefits 🤷🏻♂️
Late-Command3491@reddit
In my latest career, I thought I was moving from a creative freelance life with lots of stress to a task-oriented job that I could just do what needed doing during work hours and go home.
It has morphed into an almost completely autonomous role with some stress and lots of creativity, but I love it so it worked out. And now I make more money, get benefits and lovely, lovely PTO. You never know what will happen!
dodadoler@reddit
Yup
ComprehensiveMall165@reddit
Yep, I don’t have anything left to give. I’m ready to get a newspaper route if that still existed!!
Big-Degree1548@reddit
Yeah totally. I quit after the pandemic and 25 years and now I’m barely making enough to get by. So basically the only difference is I’m not teaching.
Baloney_Boogie@reddit
I've been fantasizing lately about quitting my nursing job and going to work in a deli. Who doesn't love sandwiches?!
Kaa_The_Snake@reddit
I’m at this point. Just trying (miserably) to hang on to the job I have right now to sock away a bit more money, then I’m going to soft-retire. I’m looking into refereeing kids sports, or possibly starting a side business that has something to do with kids and sports (maybe something where I can get grants to help low income families’ kids get involved in sports while also helping the parents to train for a better job. Two birds with one stone! The kids are kept active and learning how to socialize/life skills, while the parents then have the kid-free hour or so a few days a week to learn. Have both in the same place for convenience. Unsure if it’s been done but shrug I have time to figure it out).
Anyways, yeah. I don’t have it in me for one last big push to skill up, especially in my current company as my new management chain are idiots and I hate my job now. I’ve worked here for 6 years very successfully running projects to completion, but this new team: instead of me being able to ask questions to be able to present a few options for a solution, instead it’s my boss saying “solution using a specific software” when I’m not even sure what the hard and soft requirements actually are because I’m not allowed to ask the original requestor questions without going through my boss, thus playing ’telephone’ and getting filtered and confusing requirements. Then I’m told “it’s iterative” (like, no duh) and I’m supposed to get back to them with options. Like, wtf? How can I provide options if I can’t ask questions??
Oh and they like to go talk to the vendors behind my back. You gave me this project, then run off and talk to vendors and don’t give me the info you received.
They’re idiots. Cronyism hires. It’s frustrating af.
Again, I’m hoping to just hold on a bit longer, then hopefully I’ll get laid off. That’d be ideal.
I’m not willing to give another push probably because I’m so burnt out. I want something that makes my soul happy, and brings in a bit of spending money, not something where I’m on the corporate treadmill again.
ActionCalhoun@reddit
I’m still in the same job but I care a lot less, does that count?
Dontbelievethehype24@reddit
I'm in the process of doing that now with getting my TEFL certification and moving abroad to teach English. It's called an encore career.
DustyBottomsRidesOn@reddit
Love to hear this!!!
profcate@reddit
Definitely thought about it.
treyveee@reddit
I see I’ve found my people! I really thought I was alone in feeling this way. I’m so relieved. The guilt and shame was real.
CyndiIsOnReddit@reddit
Yeah I work at home on various clickwork platforms and have two private companies I freelance for, just more of the same mindless clickwork. I skim articles to note cyber security breaches for a real-time map, and do the same for a different data miner. I'm lucky they still need humans for these jobs because I feel like AI could probably handle it. And that scares me. From 2014 I've trained AI for natural language and those jobs are petering out fast thanks to all the fun chat programs people don't realize are just being used to train AI to be so much like humans you'll never know the difference. I mean really, look at this shit. They are so happy to replace workers who demand fair pay and benefits: https://www.artisan.co/ look how beautiful and perfect and symmetrical those AI workers are! And they never need to take a piss break!
Dano558@reddit
Started a new job about two years ago with a company that had a lot going for it, but I’ve come to realize is the same old BS, I’m no longer interested in career growth, I just want to adequately do my job for the next several years and retire.
Smoked69@reddit
Pretty much
Average_Br0@reddit
Yep, it's called 'maintenance mode'.
CowboyLaw@reddit
I’m always cautious about these threads, because I’ve been fortunate in my life. My wife and I are DINKs who have spent most of our lives in pretty lucrative professions. We’re just into our 50s and we could retire whenever we wanted. That’s led both of us to pull back at work. My wife is working a job about 3 steps below her career peak, I’m working for only a few clients who I love. Maintenance mode. And keeping our nice, shiny health insurance.
Distinct_Plankton_82@reddit
There’s a version of the FIRE movement (Financially Independent Retire Early) that focuses on exactly this.
They’ve saved enough and reduced their expenses enough that they don’t need to work stressful corporate jobs and instead just focus on bringing in a little extra cash and maybe benefits to keep the lights on.
GASPetc@reddit
Wasn’t aware of my bipolar mania and worked stressful office work most of my life on top of a personally satisfying side hustle until it all came to a head and a nervous breakdown ensued. I now work with my back instead of my brain, and while it’s a different level of pain and anxiety, it’s incredibly low key and mind-manageable.
jimbo91375@reddit
I've thought about this so much. I'm not sure what's next for me, but I don't want it to come with an email address.
Trotter-x@reddit
I was doing this but apparently was doing it too well, so I got promoted to management. Turns out that I am actually good at it and enjoy it. Who knew?
KeyIntelligent3341@reddit
A couple years ago I realised I won't achieve some of the career goals that I set myself in my 20s and made peace with that.
Now 52 and in a senior financial management role I have zero ambition to progress further. I just say not my circus, not my clowns and keep my head down.
No_Dance1739@reddit
Yup. Working front desk in healthcare
Natural_Rebel@reddit
Not yet but trying to get there
Accurate-Arachnid-64@reddit
Yeah, but it’s currently not working… so I have to figure this out.
rhiannonirene@reddit
I’m right there on the edge of this
ChavoDemierda@reddit
Been in construction since the late 80's. Joined the union in the 00's, and have never looked back.
wayfarout@reddit
I ran my own tax office for about 15 years and hated it. The stress never ended. I work in a factory now and never once think about work once I clock out. It's a peaceful life.
supershinythings@reddit
I realized too late that working hard wasn’t going to get me anywhere. However, the stock market pays and punishes regardless of the workforce oppressions keeping me down. Fairly early I contributed to IRA and later 401k.
28 years later, the small drops of investment have quietly snowballed. I retired last year and every day I reflect on all the stress I no longer have. It was extremely difficult at times to stay the course but I did it, and now I’m out the other side.
Recently through the miracle of karma and good reputation I was offered a position back at my old company. I thought about it for a week, and decided that my “career” was a fantasy concocted by employers to try to get me to work too much and sacrifice my health for the schedule.. And that shit is OVER.
Ohfatmaftguy@reddit
I’m a HS math teacher and I can retire in 1 year. I want to keep working for a few years until I turn 60. Future career options that I’m considering: checking receipts at Costco or walking a US mail route. What else can I add to this list that requires minimal mental energy?
insomnic@reddit
Job at the local library. Usually good benefits as well even for part time.
Commercial_Wind8212@reddit
custodian?
Ohfatmaftguy@reddit
I’m gonna have to say no that one. A school custodian? Absolutely not. Schools are disgusting.
Commercial_Wind8212@reddit
you can do outside work
AyeBooger@reddit
It’s very physically demanding and can be exhausting to do outdoors work everyday in all weather conditions.
Commercial_Wind8212@reddit
exactly. so much better than an office job al hunched over a computer
AyeBooger@reddit
Ha, touché. When I had regular prolonged outdoor exposure I was my healthiest. Wonder if I could get back to that.
Capital-Meringue-164@reddit
My friend became a mailman at age 55. It’s an intensely physical job and they are always short staffed so they will work you to the limits of legality. Not the chill job I envisioned, though he is super fit now and generally happier than the high stress situation he was in prior.
Ohfatmaftguy@reddit
Good info. Thx.
Gryndyl@reddit
The guy that hands out samples at Costco. Chill job with snacks.
Ohfatmaftguy@reddit
Ooh. Good one!
FeliusSeptimus@reddit
Thirty years into software development and I still have absolutely no interest in a career. I'll be an Individual Contributor (IC) until I retire or die at my desk (haven't decided yet). Fortunately, a lot of companies recognize the value of IC paths now, so they my pay can keep up with inflation without a move into management (never!).
216_412_70@reddit
I got to that point with my last job, and then thanks to federal funding cuts, got let go in March.... New job is way more challenging so far.
Even_Language_5575@reddit
I’m a teacher in a public middle school in the U.S., so yes, it’s a monthly thought. But, I have 10 to go. Sad trombone.
BPA68@reddit
I switched from full-time classroom teaching to substitute teaching in my forties. It was a great decision.
DanielDannyc12@reddit
Kind of.
My job (Med Surg Oncology RN) is definitely not mindless, but I have zero intention of getting more degrees or going into management.
Sometimes people ask why I don't "move up" or change to critical care/ICU or something.
"I've had my ass in the grass. Can't say I liked it much. Lots of bugs and too dangerous. As it happens, my present duties keep me where I belong. In the rear with the gear."
Ok_Industry_1447@reddit
Yeah I have, tried hard didn't get too far, so just do a mcjob I will do that until I've had enough and then off myself before I get too old because I won't be able to afford a care home etc.
Smile-Cat-Coconut@reddit
I saved up but probably will eat it all up with healthcare so I think the booth is in my future too. Gotta gift some to kids.
RandyBeaman@reddit
wardenferry419@reddit
Same.
Ok-Offer-541@reddit
🙋🏻♀️ The stress wasn’t worth it. I would rather be poor and peaceful than wealthier and miserable every day.
Baseballmom2014@reddit
Slightly.
I was an IT Director for the last three years. New, younger boss pushed me out ('underperforming'). I'm now a product manager. Less responsibility, focused responsibility instead of trying to solve all the problems for all the things. Less money but still a good salary. The job isn't mindless, but the workload and the stress is way lower. I'm happy and thriving here.
Far_Winner5508@reddit
I've been in some form of customer service for the last 35-40 years.
Early one I figured out 'once you can fake sincerity, you have it made'. I can sound like Elliot (Bedazzled) over the phone (How are YOU today!) while still rolling my eyes and just looking for a chance to hang up.
tinycitygirl@reddit
I had the same job for 28 yrs and then had an opportunity to travel for a bit so I quit. Now that I'm back really struggled to find a job, decent paying job I'm only 54 with tons of experience and had to settle for a mindless boring ass job with coworkers that are barely 30 yrs old. The girl training me is all of 22 and so immature and unprofessional it blows my mind she has a job. Besides it's like trying to have a conversation with a traffic cone. Nothing in common. So mindlessly work in virtual silence all week. Make it a long, painful week
PositiveStress8888@reddit
I had undiagnosed ADHD, just squeezed by highschool, couldent handle collage, but I was good with computers, so that was my career, turned my hobby into my job and now I hate computers after a full career in IT
Hawlee72@reddit
There’s a line about that in Hope Floats, that you take something you love & twist it & turn til there’s no joy left in it; something like that.
ThatGuyHadNone@reddit
I am a chef and I have taken roles with much less responsibility and almost every time I get offered a management role when all I wanted was to take a step back in the cut. Unfortunately since Covid many of the better kitchen rats have left for other industries and places are desperate for quality work. It has the benefit of not being hard up for work but it also increases responsibility.
Mysterious-Town-3789@reddit
I took a hiatus from my 20+ years teaching last year thinking I would go back, but now I'm like fuk that I'll take 3 mindless part time jobs just to pay the bills and have my peace.
Hawlee72@reddit
This is me also. Continually borderline broke, but no more migraines or shaking hands.
ob12_99@reddit
My normal career only gives me enough to get by....
mtfg96@reddit
Having a mindless job to bring in enough money to get by was my one and only career goal.
RemarkableMagazine93@reddit
Oh Lord I have literally a "phone it in" job in health insurance. It's literally draining my life force and killing me softly.
I got about 10 more years of suck it up.
House is renovated 2 kids in college and husband died. Financially I am in good shape but I don't trust the economy.
Quasigriz_@reddit
My last job was a part-time contract. It made me way happier, and the wife’s job pays significantly more than me working full time. We’ve moved for her career and I’ve just found new jobs wherever we’ve ended up. Working remote has been a huge game changer for me, and working part time allows me to get kids where they need to go. I have no desire to climb the ladder, trading time for income and responsibility.
TillVegetable1389@reddit
I just did this!! I took early retirement/buyout from the government, and I've signed up to do gig work at three places. I'll work when I want, and it's fun work...cat sitting and being a senior helper/companion. My stress level has plummeted...
NegScenePts@reddit
You've described my entire career.
warrior_poet95834@reddit
My boss shut me down about four years ago, and I’ve just been going through the motions ever since. It wasn’t dramatic or anything but he shut down a really good idea I had that would’ve helped a lot of people and I told him “OK we will do it your way, just let me know what you what you want me to do”. He gave me a super rudimentary assignment, and I’ve been doing that assignment every day for the last four years even though the assignment really doesn’t involve doing anything at all. I felt bad about it for a little while and then I just shrugged it off. It feels a little bit. At this point like being one of the protagonist in Ayn Rand’s master work Atlas Shrugged, without the pay cut.
kingtermite@reddit
I’ve had my eye on this prize (retirement) for a few years now and have been saying that I’d love to find some “niche” role that maybe uses some older tech that I know well and could do mindlessly and ride that role into retirement.
Sadly, it’s a unicorn I’ll never find and I’ve still got 12-14 years before I’ll retire.
mrbaggy@reddit
My career is likely to be marginalized by AI in the next couple of years. Fortunately, I am in a good financial position and can shift gears and do something else that just keeps me busy for the next five years or so. Trying to think of something that would be fun to do.
Rice_Post10@reddit
Yep I do. Whenever I go to Trader Joe’s, I find myself jealous of the people who work there.
WhatHiOkay@reddit
My whole job is a joke.
wild-hectare@reddit
My longest time with a single employer was 12 years. On average, I've changed jobs every 3 years
I was explaining to a co-worker that I only pursue jobs that I want that are interesting to me and I don't do office politics looking for a promotion. If/when I want to do something different...i get a new job
Fortunately, I have a broad skillset in my industry, so I probably have more flexibility that some but I feel like this is common for GenX
drtythmbfarmer@reddit
I have what many people call "The Dream Job" a small diverse vegetable farm, sheep, hay, chickens al that shit. The stress of trying to make ends meet is unbearable. The only thing we have going for us is that its paid for.
I have had other jobs, carpenter paid the best, I think the one I miss the most though was cutting grass. Simple, got paid a fair wage for mindless work and could cover my bills.
I actually applied for a dishwashing job not that long ago, they didnt call back.
PatPatNo@reddit
Right here 👈🏼
therealgyrader@reddit
Y'all got careers out there? My career has consistently turned into a job every single time...
Johnny-Virgil@reddit
Soggy-Avocado918@reddit
That is relatable
Classic_Barnacle_844@reddit
Except for many of us the red line will extend all the way to death 🤣😭
Turbulent_Tale6497@reddit
In Young Sheldon, one of his professors left the stress of teaching and got a job in the produce section at a grocery store. When a colleague tried to get him to come back to the college, he said no thanks.
I found that super relatable
rockjones@reddit
"You'd rather work at a grocery store? Inconceivable!!"
Soggy-Avocado918@reddit
😊
StimulatedUser@reddit
51 and never made more then 38k a year in my life, now rent is up 38% in the past year and I can barely afford to eat. ffs.. had a liver transplant a few years ago and with some luck that will cut my retirement years down by a lot and I can exit early, if i can afford the anti rejection meds :)
DeeDleAnnRazor@reddit
My current career is mindless but pays a lot of money (a lot to me anyway). I hate the job but I'm also 60 and don't want to go start a new grind when I'm so close to retirement. When I do retire, I do want a little something just to get me out of this house and in to the world and have some pocket money, but it will never be full time.
Dense-Sail1008@reddit
Not a mindless job, but I took a nearly 50% paycut to move from a management IT role to that of an individual contributor in a different organization. My salary has rebounded somewhat but still making less than what I earned 8 years ago. I now have an enjoyable job instead of being a slave to a career. And I’m much happier for it. You are spot on about chasing career goals.
Altrebelle@reddit
did that about 5 years ago. Economy makes it's rough but I'm more relaxed and have actual hobbies!
mjk67@reddit
Yep, but not by choice.
Xx_SwordWords_xX@reddit
Yup. Dropped out of corporate careers about 7 years ago, sold my house and cars, and I now drive a bus.
Could I achieve more? Yes. Do I want to? No. Because, at what cost do those achievements come with? Does a bigger house and more possessions give me "more" in life? No. It only gives more chores, more debt, and more of a need to keep climbing the ladder, in order to maintain the things that own ME, in the end.
MasChingonNoHay@reddit
I think about this too. Dream of staying in my college job at Costco where I clock in and clock out.
Fish-Weekly@reddit
Wait, is anyone still NOT doing that?
Charming-Lychee-9031@reddit
I was a chemist working in t&d for a fragrance and flavor company. Now I work in recycling for the township, making half my former salary. Didn't want to get leukemia or poisoned but now I'm homeless
Top-Order-2878@reddit
Currently in this right now. Not by choice, I just can't find work in tech anymore. I'm only kinda sad. I've been working under the table helping a store we frequent with some building and maintenance. The no stress, work at my pace, building and fixing shit is actually fun. Doesn't pay all that great but covers the bills and beer money.
Looking at new careers, probably something medical. Less likely to get Ai'ed out of work. Probably some sort of imaging tech.
Insomniakk72@reddit
I have the pleasure of paying alimony. Once that's up, I aspire to sit on a stool at the front of a Best Buy and people watch, or whatever will just give me health insurance.
I'm tired, boss.
Until then, it's a hard grind.
Breklin76@reddit
You could open a line holding business. Save spots for Best Buy product release days.
Insomniakk72@reddit
There ya go!
mbutchin@reddit
My entire working life, dude. My entire working life.
PetieG26@reddit
Shhhhhh... don't tell anybody...
jazzbiscuit@reddit
Yes!! I ditched the management position that was draining my soul for a 30 hour a week "worker bee" position that keeps me eligible for healthcare benefits & pays my bills + some entertainment money. If you're in a life position that allows for it - I highly recommend making the move.
rheagmb@reddit
All I chase is peace. I have a job that requires little to no thinking, no after-hour care & pays (minimally) my quiet way in the world. I’m content:)
Guilty-Reindeer6693@reddit
Yes. Can't find a job in my preferred field and although I'm qualified to do a hell of a lot more, I took a dum-dum job that pays enough. There's something to be said for low stress work. I go in, do my things, then go home. I am friendly with coworkers, but don't over engage. Its a situation that fits well for this time in my life
MymanTroyAikman8@reddit
I’ve had a lot of co workers retire at 55 as soon as they meet the retirement rules (i work in State government) but then have to get another job to keep paying their health insurance. That sounds kinda awful. Like I want to be able to retire and then have to do nothing except whatever I want to do every day.
stemandall@reddit
Years ago, I left the corporate world to work retail and pursue my art. It's been hard at times, but I've never once regretted it.
TheDoorViking@reddit
I drink with a boomer who graduated from Oxford. He drives Uber. He told me I should do the same.
Danagrams@reddit
Yes! And I love it
SmallBarnacle1103@reddit
Think about it all the time. I would love to be in a low expectation job that paid just enough money.
Just haven't found one yet that pays enough.
Queasy_Ingenuity5339@reddit
Did union sheet metal for 30 years, got out with my pension at 47yo, do mindless patient transport at the hospital. Couldn’t be happier!!
BadAtExisting@reddit
I had to out of necessity, my industry is in a state of collapse. I promise the grass is not greener
SophonParticle@reddit
It is me! 👋🏼
wvgeekman@reddit
I have a Theatre degree. Almost my entire adult life has been the part after giving up what I hoped would be a career for jobs that pay the bills. Lots of different jobs in different fields unrelated to my degree.
For a brief moment about a decade ago, I got a job teaching Theatre at a local high school. I thought, "Finally! I get to use my degree!" It was a terrible experience overall with flashes of fulfillment provided by the few kids who actually wanted to be in Theatre classes. I was thrown in two days before school started and ended up quitting right before the school year was over from stress and overwork. Back to the soulless jobs I went.
Breklin76@reddit
I got a multi-emphasis Art Degree. Ended up building websites and e-commerce systems. Now I work in Marketing Website Dev. I make interesting “brochure” like experiences.
Don’t knock your BA. You can make of it what you want to.
JImagined@reddit
That’s the plan when I end my current career in 10 years. Riding a lawnmower and doing maintenance type work, like I did as a teen.
Shorts_at_Dinner@reddit
Mowing greens at a golf course is my exit plan
Classic_Barnacle_844@reddit
Depending on the course those guys are highly educated in "grass science". But a public course would be a good place to just put on an audiobook and zen out on a lawnmower.
DiscerningTruths@reddit
Yup, I’m a Starbucks barista. Doesn’t get much more “giving up” than that.
Breklin76@reddit
Gas station “barista” maybe.
Breklin76@reddit
Thankfully, I have learned my burn out triggers and am happily still working as a developer at 49. Working my way up to leadership and currently help lead a team of other developers, as well as spend a decent amount of time doing project management and architecture.
I could do this the rest of my career because I LOVE problem solving and building cool shit.
Ideally, around “retirement” age, I want to pivot and apply those skills to building custom cars and restoring lower tier vehicles for people who need cars.
Trekgiant8018@reddit
Yuuup. Semi retired at 48. Do private chef/catering when I feel like it.
Quack68@reddit
I can’t give it up yet, I’m at the peak and have too many bills still too pay.
helikophis@reddit
Yeah pretty much. It’s not exactly a mindless job, it does keep my mind and body engaged, but it’s no dream job and it’s not going anywhere interesting. Gave up on my academic and artistic pursuits years ago. Just trying to bring in enough money to pay the bills and maybe save a little for the inevitable medical emergencies.
BakedGoods_101@reddit
it's called barista FIRE :)
OperaBunny@reddit
Been doing that for 30 years already, paid the bills though.
pluckyfemme2@reddit
YESSSSSS! Chilling at a big-box retailer for cheap healthcare until Medicare kicks in. I walk 8-10 miles each shift so it’s good exercise. Beats the poop out of a stand-up desk and Zoom calls all day long 🤪
drifter3026@reddit
What's a "career"? I've just been working a series of shitty jobs for 30 years. My "BS" degree is just that.
UniqueIndividual3579@reddit
For a decade my next career goal is retirement. I'm not chasing anything.
whydoibotherhuh@reddit
Yes and I LOVE my new job!
My old job went RTO 5 days, so I bounced a few months ago. I got bored (surprisingly, maybe because it was winter?) going from extremely HIGH stress to just playing video games and reading all day and wanted to do something to get out of the house. I always had this dream (don't want to disclose too much), so I went for a job that gets me a path towards it. Part-time, like today, I'm working 4 1/2 hours, they're so chill and nice. The job jumps and keeps me on my toes, but I'm happy about that because it passes the time. My "commute" both ways is less then 1 way at my corporate job. There are other people there who did the same as me and we sit around and sigh about not having to answer emails or the phone, about being able to walk away the moment the shift is over.
I really can't say enough good things about the place and people I work with now. It's night and day from my old cut throat job where everyone was out to get you (so they could get theirs by stepping on you on their way up) and you were a cog in a machine they would toss out without thinking twice.
pcs11224@reddit
My dream is to work retail. What does that tell you?
aceholeman@reddit
Im getting close. I spend more time unfucking problems caused by so called leadership. Many company decisions are now starting to bite us in the ass. " I fucking told you this was going to happen"
I spend almost 30% of my workload fixing what someone fucked up, on top of my workload.
Im totally out of give a shit
palmoyas@reddit
100% this. Experience has unfortunately given me the insight into how completely inept and cowardly corporate leadership is, the obvious mistakes they constantly make, and how the most worst are typically chosen for those roles based on being a yes-man instead of actual competence.
Terrible_Emotion_710@reddit
Same, and just how propped up they are by the little guy. Even writing an email about an organizational change they are sponsoring is written by the project team. The leader just sends it out so it looks like they wrote it/it's coming from them.
metametamind@reddit
Don’t tempt me.
seigezunt@reddit
I’m currently not going through this because I would absolutely kill to have an office job, but it did remind me of something that happened with me work wise years ago.
I was in a situation about 20 years ago in a job where felt I was working really hard and utilizing a lot of initiative and being creative. But when you do that, there might be more of a chance of little slip ups, and you might need to set some boundaries in terms of your schedule. And some middle managers just can’t abide by that, and I was getting called in for a little talks on a more frequent basis.
At one point, I just was feeling so burnt out and not rewarded for my going out on a limb that one day I just said, fuck it, I’m gonna be a clock watcher. Not exactly work to rule, but just come in, do the stuff that’s set on paper that I’m supposed to do, don’t try to innovate, don’t be creative, don’t try to make anyone else’s job easier, just come in and punch the clock and leave, and never spend one minute thinking about the job when I’m not in the office.
I know you can guess what happened. The constant job reviews stopped, and I actually got pulled aside for praise, for how my work had been really improving. Because I stopped giving a shit. Because I stopped caring.
Terrible_Emotion_710@reddit
My youngest should graduate college when I am 57, that is when I will downgrade my job to something lower stress and more fun. So...8 more years
Retire_Trade_3007@reddit
I bounce in and out of this phase. I’m getting very close to wanting to finally pull the plug and veg
borntoslack@reddit
The good news is, this is exactly what we were told to expect.
Or is it all just a self-fulfilling prophecy? 🤔
palmoyas@reddit
I have a feeling this wave is going to hit just as hard as the wave of boomers dying and retiring. So many of us Gen-Xers are just so over it.
JacksonKittyForm@reddit
Definitely considering it. Goal is to pay off the mortgage 1st.
dngdzzo@reddit
This is kind of what I'm working towards. I just want enough to pay my bills and to be able to afford a hobby or two.
Beneficial-Mall6549@reddit
At the end, rode resume coattails to retirement, gave 50% last 5 yrs.
Grobbekee@reddit
Yes. Being a plumber would earn double of my job as a programmer.
Capital-Meringue-164@reddit
I’ve been working since I was 14 and as I turn 50 this year I am feeling this… I worked two jobs to put myself through college, then went to work in arts and nonprofits. While meaningfully work, these fields = endless mountains of workload and never enough resources. It’s 7 am and I’m already working on a board presentation for a 9 am meeting, which I woke up thinking about. And I’ll be working until 8 tonight with an event. I daydream about going to work at Costco - great benefits, turn the job off when I leave. I can see how hard people work there so I know it’s not easy work per se, but the idea of having mental energy to focus on my art after work is super appealing. I will likely start a consulting company in the next few years, but maybe they have part time positions at Costco? But here I am back to having two jobs haha. I’m somewhat resigned that being alive = endless work.
fake-august@reddit
Yep - I trade my labor for a check. As long as I don’t hate it I consider it a dream job.
1.5 more years until I don’t have to work anymore and I cannot wait.
makeup1508@reddit
My husband was a supervisor at his job. It's a smaller organization but has been expanding & changing. It used to feel like a family but since it started expanding more & more people left. The people my husband were supervising did just enough to get by so he was burned out. He has a bunch of PTO that was paid out after he left. He know works a job that he goes to and comes home-no responsibility.
Tokogogoloshe@reddit
We could all work in a mall and turn it into a retirement thingy.
Venander@reddit
Pursued career and family, made it to C-Level and realized: fuck this, what's the point of doing a high stress job if I miss out on my kids lives while actively becoming an objectively worse father and person?
So, changed careers to something far less strenuous where I cam leave the job at work, and haven't looked back.
zombie-jaw@reddit
That’s me
CharmReductionINC@reddit
Me. It's not all its cracked up to be. I feel like I'm going backwards in life.
rockjones@reddit
I'm on the younger side of GenX, so unfortunately not quite there yet, still some boxes to check off. Been dreaming about it though, a bit too much, honestly!
NumbbSkulll@reddit
Yep! Left a 20+ year career in IT management for a service advisor role in a car dealership.
I don't make as much, but I have so much less stress. I leave my work when I leave the shop and only think about it while I'm there.
I am so much happier!! I honestly feel like it has saved my life.
Independent_You99@reddit
Me! I owned a business. Didn't want the responsibility anymore. Now I'm in a mindless admin job, regular hours, no customers to deal with, little to no responsibilities and I'm happy. I go to work, do my work with headset on listening to music for 8 hours and go home. Love it.
herbfriendly@reddit
Oh I’m just about to. My dev job got off-shored about a year ago. I’ve been dealing with some health issues before I hop back into working mode. I’m working on selling my house and looking to downsize into either a tiny home, live-aboard house boat or RV and just find any work I can do to get by.
W my health issues, I’m limited in that area. But what I’m not going to do is kill myself for a job to make more money so I can buy more things. I’ve never felt more weighed down by my possessions than I do now.
Level-Worldliness-20@reddit
Live debt free to be free.
rangerm2@reddit
I haven't got there, yet.
But, that's my "retirement".
worrymon@reddit
I pretired two years ago. I don't have enough money for full retirement, so I'll have to go back for 4 more years at some point in the near future.
Advancement? I started refusing advancement over a decade ago. The money:stress ratio will never be good enough for me to take that next step.
The only point of work is to get the money to get by. Always has been, always will be.
Competitive_Oil_6995@reddit
I definitely stopped trading my time and happiness for money. Now the job pays less but man I'm having fun doing it! Best decision ever!
FKpasswords@reddit
Chasing the Carrot ? Yeah, I quit doing that 25 years ago. Once I realized I could never work enough…..I’m 57 now
Gingernutz74@reddit
Yep. Was management at some level most of my adult life. At 51,leave me alone and let me do my job til I can retire. And then none of yall will ever see my ass again lol.
Reasonable_Smell_854@reddit
I’m struggling with that now. I’m in a job I can retire from in 4 years (semi-retire anyways), that pays ridiculously well and uses about 10% of my capacity. There is zero room for advancement as my boss will retire 6 months before I do.
On the plus side it gives me time to figure out retirement and volunteer for things that have meaning to me.
Efficient_Weather_13@reddit
Yep. It was the best decision I’ve ever made.
ZetaWMo4@reddit
I pretty much did this. I considered myself a mostly SAHW but I work 15-20 hours in my beauty shop. No complaints.
zenmaster_B@reddit
I have a career in a medical lab. When I go home, I don’t think about it until the next day. I’m not trying to supervise or regulate anything either. Works for me
MightyAl75@reddit
I chased it and got my nuts kicked in by a couple bad bosses. The juice wasn’t worth the squeeze. I plan to be an IC till I retire. I make just as much money and do what I want for the most part.
kermitsfrogbog@reddit
I want to. More than anything. But can't afford to yet. My son is still in college and my savings isn't where I want it to be in order to coast for a few years. I'm not concerned about advancement, but I need to keep the income where it is for now.
Tigrisrock@reddit
I worked for several years, had lots of cash but ended up with a burnout. Now for almost 10 years i'm doing a "simple" job (post-production continuity control/QM). Still requires attention to detail and organization but it's just at the right amount of hours, shifts and income to put me in a happy place.
WideRight43@reddit
Exactly what I did. I need a few more years break.
Sintered_Monkey@reddit
I'm hoping to retire in 2 years. If I ever go back to work, it will be something like stocking shelves part-time.
ONROSREPUS@reddit
My wife is just about there and I am encouraging her to do so. She is just so worried that we wouldn't be able to afford something if there was some kind of disaster.
yru1@reddit
Yes! As with others in this thread, it was when our nest emptied out. Transitioned from management to individual contributor. Life is semi-good.
savedbytheblood72@reddit
I've been at my profession for 31 years. I've got a 401k and a pension and the house is payed.
Cutting the lawn at some rich persons house or being a gopher at a mechanic shop sounds pretty ok. Some days
GeriatricHippo@reddit
You don't have to do some mindless job. If you are just looking for a job that gets you by you should be able to find something you enjoy to some extent.
At 49 I walked away from my 6 days a week high stress job with long hours and a traffic filled commute. I took a year off for a reset and stumbled into a much lower paying job in the service industry.
It has long shifts but I only work 3 or 4 days/week and it's not physically demanding or for the most part is not mentally stressful. Sure I make about 1/4 the money I did before and my retirement will be greatly delayed but I don't obsess about retirement now anymore.
Six years later I'm much happier and closer to my family than I ever was. I'm sure others have different experiences than me but my leap of faith paid off big time.
NoValuable1383@reddit
I think they call it "barista FIRE" now. It's a variation of Financially Independent; Retire Early, where you get most of the way there and then take a mindless job e.g. barista, to supplement your income.
I probably won't have a choice in a few years. If AI does obviate most of the people in my profession, I'm going to have a hard to being a top pick for the remaining jobs. My work just noticed how much I've been slacking and I really need to pull it together or find something else. Walmart greeter perhaps.
pyky69@reddit
Kind of? I got laid off at the end of 2018 from an executive position, tried for 6 months to get another position but finally settled on high-income retail position. It is still stressful but I only work 20 hrs/week but the benefits are super good as well as my pay for what I do. I am also lucky to have a partner that made super smart investment decisions early on.
Ornamental_oriental@reddit
Left a supervisor position to just do the work. Ironically it was a step up in pay with the same hours and less responsibility just doing the work myself. I also enjoy it. Only down side is everyone seems to be younger now or maybe I’m just older. In any case it was the right move to not give a rats ass anymore and to stop being a spineless company man.
guitboxgeek@reddit
Man, I want to do this SO BADLY. Words can't express how badly I want to just split and take some boring job somewhere like a cafe or something slow. Preferably somewhere not here in the US, too. I used to have all these dreams and now the dreams have changed to wanting less with less stress and anxiety.
RHGOtakuxxx@reddit
I feel exactly as you do, would love to return to working in cafes to get away from the stress and anxiety of my current career job (although it pays more).
ego_tripped@reddit
"Give up" is the wrong term. I prefer strategically checked out because I'm at the point where 8 hours = 1 hour of actual "work" vs my much younger and inexperienced colleagues and I'm 8 years from full pension at 57.
I can finally say the end will justify the means.
Pitiful-Ad6674@reddit
Woah pension 🤣
Pitiful-Ad6674@reddit
So close
Anxious-Basket-494@reddit
I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately. I feel like I’m at the point where I just want to work part-time someplace where stress is minimal and I’m not grinding or networking or going to conferences or talks or professional development or thinking about project management tools, excel, PDFs, one drive……
Spiritual_Parfait_94@reddit
I’ve been thinking of doing this for years. 30 years in the operating room is rough on your body and mind. Burnout is very real.
According_Spot8006@reddit
I did it in the same job
TypeNo2194@reddit
I was trying to explain this to someone the other day. My husband and I are in this mode. He has 5 years to retirement and recently switched to a non supervisory role. After paying some things off, I’m applying at stores in a cute little shopping center that’s a mile away from the house. No more overnights for me.
SV650rider@reddit
I certainly am close.
Left-Thinker-5512@reddit
I got to that point about four years ago. I reached a very high level in my organization, and it just felt like I was never able to get things done. I left for another agency and went into a role where I was making slightly more money at the time with none of the responsibilities. Work-life balance is important, and I finally realized that, at some point, climbing the “corporate” ladder became what I was doing instead of being content with where I was.
AproposOfDiddly@reddit
Yep, here! Lost my job at the beginning of 2024, started working again mid-2025. My last job was so high stress that it absolutely destroyed me both physically and mentally. Right before being let go, I suffered from two different viral issues that only manifest when the body becomes so stressed that it becomes immunocompromised - shingles and an HPV related pre-cancerous neoplasia requiring multiple surgical removals. My mental and physical health was so destroyed by the time I was let go that it took six months to be healthy enough to be able to get dressed and function appropriately at an in-person interview again. At the time I was let go, my health was so bad with POTS-like symptoms that if I took a long enough shower to wash and condition my hair, I would get overheated so easily I would end up vomiting immediately after. I could not even walk through the grocery store for milk and bread without severe nausea, brain fog and racing heartbeat (160+ BPM). I was afraid I’d be asked to walk around offices to get to the interview and have a medical episode from the exertion.
My two requirements for a new job were it had to be low stress enough to not affect my health, pay enough money to pay my bills and a have boss that wasn’t bat**** crazy. Now I work a low-stress job as a Will Call counter clerk, and it’s a simple but satisfying job. I like my boss, my co-workers and my customers, and at the end of the day I can walk out and not worry about work until I punch in the next day. No constantly monitoring my phone for work emergencies, no interrupted days off, no constant humiliations from my boss. I’m healthy enough that I can stand for hours a day and walk over 5K steps a day most days while on the clock.
I’m fortunate that my husbands career has taken off in the last couple of years, allowing us to function with me at a lower salary than before, but at the same time, I’m not ever willing to destroy my health again with a high paying, high stress job again.
No-Diver7430@reddit
Given the ratio of management to individual contributors (love this Millenial-sweet term), probably so.
DamarsLastKanar@reddit
You mean people haven't given up years ago?
"Getting ahead" is a lie.
Perfecshionism@reddit
I never gave a shit about promotion or advancement.
I ended up about where most in my field do at retirement.
Yes, it is impossible to make much more senior positions without focusing on advancement, promotions, or leveraging connections….but most don’t get there anyway even when they do.
ElJefe0218@reddit
I got tired of managing people and company finances. I have a killer job working in a warehouse by myself. I have a boss but I kinda am my own boss, got plenty of leash. I can set my hours as long as the work gets done. My body is in good shape. Although I think in a few years I will need to hire a young cat to do the lifting and I will stick to the forklift and computer work.
Dry_Yogurt2458@reddit
Yup. I was working as management and getting calls at all hours, including call outs for alarms overnight and just endless shit from the partners that didn't really want to get involved in the day to day but wanted problems solving by some kind of magic.
I eventually though fuck this, and took a huge drop in pay to take a job 5 minutes walk from my home and with no stress. I turn up, do the work, go home and nobody bothers me out of hours. My quality of life has improved ten fold.
I count myself lucky that I have a military war pension (medically discharged with a condition that stopped me serving but would be considered nothing in the civilian world) that brings my monthly take home up to the same as I was on in management. So although I don't have the extra money I am getting by comfortably.
gbe28@reddit
Check out r/baristaFIRE 😁
mrkrag@reddit
Yes.
Throwaway7219017@reddit
Sort of. But instead of a mindless job and just getting by, I went from management in the private sector to a regular Joe in the government.
I may more money, have less commute, less responsibilities, and less stress. But also almost no room to move up from where I am, due to lack of certifications, and frankly lack of desire.
I’m perfectly fine doing my menial tasks for the next 15 years until I retire. But that doesn’t stop various coworkers and supervisors constantly telling me I should get X training, or take Y course, so I can advance.
Space-Monkey66@reddit
Where do I find this easy mindless job that pays “enough”? I’d like to apply
MNConcerto@reddit
I'm doing my job and only my job. I have no desire to excel or get the next promotion anymore. I do want to be paid fairly for what I do. Thus when asked to take on new things permanently I inquire about an adjustment in my salary for these new assignments. Usually the assignments find a different place.
I do this respectfully and make my case using my knowledge of my role, my work load and my job description as well as others roles and responsibilities in the company.
Weird-Struggle-4529@reddit
Sometimes, I wish I wasn’t the boss and wish I was the employee. Punch in, follow the task list, punch out. Not too much thinking, planning, emailing to do.
JollyGiant573@reddit
That's my plan in a few years after the kids move out.
Happy_Cat_3600@reddit
Yes. The Fuckit Index has started climbing rapidly.
Commercial_Wind8212@reddit
this is my plan, and part time
ChiliSama@reddit
My brother has, and once I get the kids clear of college I might do the same.
notworkingghost@reddit
I married well and I’m now a stay at home dad. I highly recommend it.
RCA2CE@reddit
Yes, that was my whole plan and it worked out great
I saved my ass off while I was slaving at the high paying corporate job, when I got to my goal - I took a buyout/early retirement and went to work for a nonprofit. It pays a lot less but I get insurance, it isn’t as stressful and we help people. I feel like at this job, if they’ll have me, I can work to full retirement age and still have some vitality left to enjoy a retirement.
Anvilsmash_01@reddit
I work shift work in heavy industry, and I hope to be in a position where I don't HAVE to work within the next 5-7 years. I'm thankfully in good health, so if I just need something to do and money/wages aren't a concern, I am totally going to jockey a cash register in a weed store. I can't imagine a job with a more pleasant clientele and lack of stress. I live in Canada where weed stores are prolific and cannabis is cheap so getting robbed is minimal risk.
Yarg2525@reddit
Doing that now. It's been pretty awesome so far. It's weird to have nothing work related to obsess on during my off time though.
Gibder16@reddit
I would love to do this. Badly. Take a 20 year retirement (I started my career later) sell the house, find somewhere cheaper to live and actually just live.
Decisions_70@reddit
Seriously considering this.
Abject-Kitchen3198@reddit
Just been thinking about this. So many things I want(ed) to do or learn, but didn't. So no, not there yet.
Any-Opportunity-1943@reddit
I think about it all the time. 😁 But I’ve yet to pull the trigger.
NightBoater1984@reddit
Not yet, but I'm definitely envious of those that have.