Anyone suffering burnout and just don’t care about the career?
Posted by SanJuanMountains@reddit | GenX | View on Reddit | 452 comments
So, long story short. On my third layoff in six years. Worked in high end retail sales and honestly was burned out working every weekend and making just enough to survive. The house is paid for the car is paid for and I just don’t care about corporate anymore. I don’t care about your emails, your meetings, your commission structure, your CRM software and building out the client base. I’m not in a big hurry to find another job either but know I need to in the next four months (unemployment runs out). The thought of staring at a computer for eight hours a day makes me a little nauseous. I’m strong and healthy and really would love a mentor to learn a trade. Anyone else DGAF as the world is on fire?
Godskin_Duo@reddit
Damn, if your house and car are paid for, you're far better off than most of us.
opendefication@reddit
I've been a licensed, self employed HVAC contractor for decades and haven't really gained anything but aches and pains as I age. I wish I was just burnt-out. I'm aging out of the business and completely lost interest because. It's not a challenge anymore, it's a chore. I cringe every time my business phone rings. But, I do have a couple of side hustles that are still, barely in this economy, profitable. The wife and I enjoy a little online resale, not the regular stuff though, I repair and restore vintage audio gear. Turntables, guitar amps/effects, tape decks, etc....We also have a booth at the local Farmers Market, I grow shit like a pro and like to show it off. I specialize in heirloom tomatoes, all colors and flavors. We've become the tomato people at the market, no one compares. I'm pretty much retired at 54 to get shit done while I still can.
BalkanbaroqueBBQ@reddit
Yea idc. Never did honestly. I focused on the money and by now I’m prioritizing time. Thank godI’m not in corporate, and wfh when and with whom I want but still. Time is the most valuable thing.
curiousme123456@reddit
Bingo ! Part of RIF at a awful SaaS company about 4 months ago. Still looking with interviews here and there. Fact is no one is looking for older or any GenX people. I’m 57.
Burnout oh yeah I hit that about 2 years ago, helped i’ve been in consulting for 10 years so it’s a different mindset.
At this point, my goal get to 62 maybe 63 and I’m done. Already told the spouse and our financial planner.
So 100% burn out lack of enthusiasm also probably indifference because I’m path frustration with the way corporate works now with regards to indecisiveness, lack of accountability, inability to face realities at the company with its people what’s going on in the marketplace
It’s unreal the shit you see as a consultant if you talk for now, how many people you talk to at a company and they say it indirectly to you .
So it’s everyone even some millennials
Specialist_Sound9738@reddit
100% yes. I have a great job that pays well, but nobody actually cares about it and it feels so empty and pointless.
bassicallyfunky@reddit
I volunteered for layoff a couple years ago due to burnout. Really pissed I didn’t just take LOA as this market it horrid. I’m going to try and just run my own small biz instead of continuing to try and convince people I’m sharp AF still. Whatever.
neanderthalman@reddit
Oh yeah. I give so few fucks at work you’d think my hypnotist died mid-session.
And work seems to love it. The prophecy was true.
paperbasket18@reddit
This is where I am. I’m basically done working hard, but my current employer loves me, so I’m going to ride this shit out as long as I can, hopefully til retirement! Ironically, when I actually was working hard in previous roles, I was getting paid way less and getting criticized way more. It’s bizarre, but I’ll take it, I guess.
rfriend73@reddit
"So I was sitting in my cubicle today, and I realized, ever since I started working, every single day of my life has been worse than the day before it. So that means that every single day that you see me, that's on the worst day of my life."
wanderingscientist52@reddit
I’m the opposite. And for many it’s insufferable. Every day is better than the last. So whenever you see me it’s the best day of my life 😁
ZeroCalorieCoffee@reddit
Should have taken the sign when I saw this movie at 24 …
hkusp45css@reddit
"That's messed up"
Yangoose@reddit
As somebody who retired a few years ago at age 47 let me tell you...
i did absolutely nothing and it was everything i thought it could be.
I just got back from a nice walk on this lovely spring day. Now I'm probably gonna put on an old movie and play some video games.
Acceptable_Work_259@reddit
Retired at 38. Living on 120 acres piece of heaven in the Ozarks living the life of a Gen X kid. I’m 46 now. Life is good.
neanderthalman@reddit
Fuuuuck yeah that’s the stuff.
Still a ways out myself, but I’m up to my shoulders in seniority in the union, in an industry guaranteed by thermodynamics, in a company guaranteed by the government, with a defined benefit pension glimmering like dawn on the horizon. Just gotta glide from here.
hkusp45css@reddit
People ask me what I did on a given weekend and I nearly invariably say "My favorite thing! Nothing at all!"
HarpersGhost@reddit
I was fully on the corporate track until right before Covid, when I absolutely hit the wall.
Spent a couple years of Covid as a basic contractor, the got a remote sys admin position.
Now I'm the oldest person on the teams calls, the lowest position, and the most qualified. I've done all the stuff that corporate wants: I've managed systems, projects, programs, product launches, hiring, blah blah blah, but I'm not doing anything else except for staying in my lane.
But it does make me the smartest sys admin because I bring up all the risks that need to be mitigated (hell, I know what mitigating risks is) and how to communicate with the C suite, and so everyone above me loves me because I can cover their asses. It also helps that they know that I don't want ANY of their jobs.
It may seem like it's a lot, but it's just saying the right thing at the right meeting, and I'm free to do whatever I want.
ZzzzzPopPopPop@reddit
Ha that’s good, took me a minute to get that it’s an Office Space reference
technonoir@reddit
I’ve always felt that calling a job a “career” has always seemed silly to me. A career is working in the same and similar fields, growing, developing, innovating. I have only ever worked jobs that liked to call themselves “careers” only to prove to be anything but.
So, yeah, sure, call a job a career because you’ve worked it for so long, you don’t remember how long ago you started. Are you recognized in your field as an expert? Does your company tout you as a proud addition their team? Do you have the freedom to develop new products, ideas, and such in your field? Do you publish papers on your chosen field? Do research? Have the respect of your peers? These are marks of a true career.
MMMDowntownMMM@reddit
I poured my heart and soul into a recent job the last 7 years. Now the position is being eliminated and my company has no comparable positions to offer me- I either take a pay cut or am just done. Some days I was giving them 15 hour days and taking work home on the weekend, but I loved the job, the people and truly believed in the mission. Now to have it all stripped away and mean so very little- after it’s been my recent life’s work just feels like a kick in the gut and that whatever I do next just needs to be work I get done, a paycheck I collect and to not even have to think about it once I go home. It doesn’t pay to care. 😞
RemySchaefer3@reddit
Had it. Been working in an office since I was 12. But I love nothing more than hearing people who worked part time remote go on about their early retirement - and how we should "plan better". Yup. Actual words. And we are on Plan Z, at this point. Not that they would care to know. From what are they retired? We don't know.
I love even more hearing my lovely MIL going on about me "getting out of the house at my age and getting a hobby!" WTAF? Me being in the office five days is a hobby? Oh really, wow, I did not get the memo. If this woman knew anything about me, at all, it would kill her to know. If only. Yes MIL, bc we are all in the situation you lucked out to be in. Are people this stupid - to not realize when they simply have good luck?
arthurdawg@reddit
While hard work can play a role… it is amazing how incredibly hard it is for people on the higher end of the income scale to admit that a substantial component is just sheer luck.
RemySchaefer3@reddit
You can be extremely hard working and still get cut for reasons having zero to do with performance. Not everyone wants to be in one of a small handful of professions that are allegedly immune. Some of us have to sacrifice with prohibitive commutes, etc. Not everyone is handed college, wedding, close in expensive starter house, etc. - for example. Spoiled people have no idea about "planning", in the perspective that those without help, or any leg up have. They can talk to me about "planning" when they have been through half of what we have, including our having helped others constantly, to our long term detriment, with no one helping us.
micfost@reddit
Yes. I'm 56 and on my 7th company (which was also my 2nd company, I'm very glad I left on good terms). The job can be interesting some days, but most days I feel like I'm counting the hours. It doesn't help that I have a lot of moral problems with the product we make, but the benefits are pretty good, and there's a flexible work schedule. I would be looking forward to retirement, but there are so many examples of coworkers around me staying well past retirement age that I'm not sure what is going to happen.
Aggravating_Note_572@reddit
53 I hit FI about 2y ago, once I hit that it was a different mindset just don’t really give a shit about working anymore. I’ve always had a job since I was in hs, maybe a week or two between jobs but that was pretty much it. Just kinda coasting on the job, come and go as I please , go to the office 1-2x a week. I’m planning on 55 at the latest if it comes sooner that’s ok, but just want income for another couple years to pay for some house projects, new car etc, so don’t have to dig into our broker acct.
MammothComplete2500@reddit
I left my job at a university after feeling burned out for years. This happened at the beginning of April and I had been unhappy there for at least five years. The idea of going back to the grind sucks, but I need health insurance. I wish I had enough to cash out and leave the states.
FallOutGirl0621@reddit
I plan on cashing out and leaving the US. Private health insurance in other countries is affordable, unlike here.
korova_chew@reddit
I'm no longer trying to climb up. I got laid off from a major tech company a few years ago after almost 12 years at this company. I was in the mode of being available 24/7, and didn't realize how burnt out I was until it was over. It took me longer than I expected to find a new job, but so far I'm loving my new job, working in hospital (IT) instead of big tech. It's 1/2 the pay, but the benefits (especially health), is a fraction of the cost. Good health coverage is more important to me right now, and having no job responsibilities after I clock out for the day.
najing_ftw@reddit
I went from a defense contractor that required me to track my time in 6 minute increments getting paid a lot. Now I work at a nonprofit with decent money, great benefits and a laid back and very positive culture. I have a job I love. Never thought I’d say that.
This week we are hosting a street festival where everyone pitches in. No emails this week. I wrk 30-ish hours a week. I volunteer for all my kids events and teams, never work after 4:30. I get to watch the setup of shows that will later be on Broadway, and get fistfuls of comp tickets. Inevitably I will look at the clock and it’s 2 hours later than I thought. I am happier than I have ever been.
FallOutGirl0621@reddit
6 minutes? You must be an attorney. I'm so burnt out and I just want to retire. I'm considering several non-law options even though I own my own business. I wish I could just sell everything and move to a more cost effective country. Unfortunately, this is not an option yet.
I'm only expecting to live until about 85. My father just passed away at that age (poor health, dementia, couldn't walk, etc.). I'm going out on my own terms. I don't have children so it makes this choice easier. My father was an attorney and the decline I watched absolutely broke me. Just because doctors can keep you alive until 100, doesn't mean they should.
I've spent the last 8 years traveling 2 times a year for 2 weeks. I've been to 17 countries. I want to enjoy what I have left of my life.
tmwilson524@reddit
Everyday. I used to love my job, like I was happy to go into the office and everything! We were a small homegrown business, the kind where management would buy out a movie theater and invite all of us for first run movies, popcorn, and soda for everyone, a place where supervisors made breakfast for everyone, where you called it a family because it really was like that. Then we were bought up by a huge international company and now, I won't go into the office and it feel like we're just sinking lower and lower. I used to say I planned on dying there, now I can't wait for whatever full retirement age is for me. The work we do is important and I love it, the actual work hasn't changed, just the community, culture, and inclusion that we had before.
Bl1nk9@reddit
Work hurts these days. It’s the part that makes it challenging to keep showing up sometimes.
mothraegg@reddit
I understand that! I was on pain medication for years just so I could work. I was able to get off of it once I retired. Now I only need a couple of motrins if I have pain.
Bl1nk9@reddit
A lot of raw dogging life here. Not fully, but a lot.
ClumbsyVulture@reddit
You are def not alone. I had that fire to advance and succeed a long time ago but in my 50's now, I just don't care anymore. I just want to do a task/job and just go home.
Aggravating_Piece232@reddit
I'm in the corporate machine and couldn't give a crap about my job. I want to do decent work, but only so nobody asks me to re-do what I already did. I'm jaded and annoyed and hanging on by the skin of my teeth for the health insurance. I wake up and it immediately pisses me off that I have to work.
In the corporate world, everything is 95% theater. Likeability is critical, huffing and puffing peppered with buzzwords makes people think you're working so hard and pretending to be excited about "synergies," "streamlining" and other BS helps the higher ups trust you. I hate most of what comes out of my own mouth.
I'm employed and looking for a new job, but largely because I'd rather be fully remote and work for a mid-sized company vs. the behemoth I'm working for now. Also, I really like my team and there are literally no opportunities for growth except for someone to grow into my job, so if I can vacate it via attrition, I'd like to make room for one of my directs because it's important to her and she genuinely cares. I don't think the company deserves her time, but she does and I want that for her.
Awe3@reddit
I know the feeling. I spent nearly 40 years in manufacturing. It took Covid to finally break me out of it. When the economy crashed in 08’ I tried going back to school but I was a terrible student. I ended up doing more manufacturing and warehousing. When Covid hit I lost my machining job due to downsizing. I was a little lost. I finally took a shot at working at a hospital. Best thing to happen to me. I’m still doing material management but it’s a small scale and I’m trusted to do more at other clinics in the organization. I’m also currently taking courses on medical coding. The opposite of you, I’m trying to get a desk job. My body is beat. What I’m trying to say is there are options for you. The hospital I work for has many opportunities at every level. Look around and see what interests you. Sometimes a switch in careers is what you need.
Ambitious_Unit1310@reddit
I’m not there yet and I’m shifting the focus to me. Fortunately I still enjoy what I do so there is an opportunity to find balance
mothraegg@reddit
I was a school librarian for 20 years. At the end of the 22/23 school year I decided I would take the next next golden handshake that my district offered.
At the beginning of the 23/24, the superintendent said they were going to have an offer. I marched into the pricipals office and told him it was my last year of work. I didn't even know what the offer was, I was just so burnt out after Covid. So I was able to retire at 58. I couldn't be happier!
aaronwcampbell@reddit
I sincerely thank you for your service. School librarians saved me in my teen years.
mottledmussel@reddit
I just want to get my kids through college and my mother squared away. She's the big wildcard and can't afford to support herself.
But I'm so done right now. Just completely burned out.
jmkul@reddit
I still enjoy my work, but I don't want to climb the corporate ladder any more. Where I am is perfectly fine. I also don't work more than my paid hours anymore, and I regularly schedule annual leave (today was my last day of work for 4 weeks - am taking a month of my long service leave, and will have 5 weeks of annual leave owing by end of year. Yay!)
My house will be paid off next year, I travel and explore every year, and as my parents are now aged, I make time for them every week to help with whatever they need, and to chat. I'm now single, CF, and happy with my life.
Working to live, and not living to work is my preference. It's healthy.
KGBspy@reddit
I retire in July at 55, I’ve had enough.
caf4676@reddit
Bravo! I hope the KGB’s pension plan serves you well!👍🏾
KGBspy@reddit
Thx, ill (knock on wood) do ok, health is more important and I’m tired of sleep interruptions.
Nick_Fotiu_Is_God@reddit
Oh yeah. Just turned 56 and when my eight year old company decided they wanted a Director in my department, I turned down the opportunity. I don’t want another job I have to take home with me. So I ended up recruiting my new boss, which was a little weird but he’s a great guy, does a great job, and I’m happy with my firm 9-5.
Not pursuing upward mobility at all. I just want to get a few things done and go home at 5pm to my real life.
owzleee@reddit
After Covid lockdown I really just lost my ooomph with work. I’ve just retired (early) as I couldn’t do it any more - especially with return to the office being imposed.
Drewness326@reddit
I am living the NIN song, Every Day Is Exactly the Same.
Lyrics: I believe I can see the future, because I have the same routine!
I hope I can make it to the point I can retire, or play retire with a part time job.
But the reality is I will probably work until I am almost 70.
So, everyday is exactly the same!
AdSpiritual220@reddit
I hear that
kathink@reddit
i have the most dead end job and everything is against me but i want to fight them to keep my dept open but i hate everything about my job so much that i almost have a panic attack once a week…. and i make nothing.
i run a print department at a uni and no one knows what we do there but they want more money so… they will destroy us without asking how we could really do better.
i fucking got a masters degree in library science to get out of the printing industry …….. i now work in the basement of a library
AdSpiritual220@reddit
Oh noo! I hope you can do something you enjoy soon!
Papa-Cinq@reddit
I care about collecting my paycheck. I’ve never got burned out from receiving that. That’s where I focus my mental and emotional energy.
AdSpiritual220@reddit
Good point!
ILookLikeTheDude@reddit
Huge digital/software/OS/online account management burnout right here. 10 things a day every day. It's to the point now where if someone's UX is shit, or the TFA isn't working, or too many clicks, I just drop the phone and go do something else. I don't care if I lose my data. Fuck my data. I don't care if my cloud storage is full. I don't care if I don't get the $100 rebate that I gotta jump through two days of hoops for. Fuck everything digital. I'm over it.
AdSpiritual220@reddit
You got that technology crap right!! Enough of it!
Capital-Mark1897@reddit
(57 F) Got laid off July '25. Looked for a new gig for 8 months. Now I can't stand to look at job descriptions and I have decided not to go back. $1.6M net worth. Going to try and make retirement work.
Aussiechicky@reddit
Same .. ive loved my previous high pressure National career but nowdays... im all care, no responsibility, i work to pay the rent
wanderingscientist52@reddit
I’m feeling on top of my game. I’m finally doing work I think I is important and I’ve got like 10 more years to make a difference
palequeen42@reddit
Laid off 3 times in 8 years and my current company is being restructured and doing quiet layoffs as we speak. I have zero motivation or interest anymore. Corporate bullshit is nauseating. If I could retire tomorrow I would. I’m 50.
thisoldguy74@reddit
This is my first layoff or unemployment that's lasted beyond a week or two between jobs.
It's driving me nuts, tbh. I'm raring to go. My dogs are spoiled that Dad's been home every day since December. They're in no hurry for me to find my next job.
I heard my wife telling one of my adult kids in the phone "just imagine your Dad not working. For months. Like 5 or 6 months. Can you even imagine?" They could not.
However
If I were in a better financial situation, retirement doesn't look as boring or scary as it once did.
irving47@reddit
I'm fucking DONE with IT-like work. I say "like" just because we were an ISP/CSP for condos, but since management and sales couldn't say no, we basically became a managed services provider for every numbnut who couldn't get their printer working or their lock on wifi.
Just quit 3 weeks ago. So did 3 other people from a 5-7 person department, depending on how they were counting us. "Operations" shall we say.
Private Equity company bought us about 2 years ago. Told us flat-out they were gonna sell us. OK, fine. thanks for telling us we had 5 years on your plan, so at least 3-4 probably/hopefully. Appreciate the warning. Can at least respect the up-frontness. Too bad you kept the previous owner as CEO, though....
"We're going to get you streamlined" meant not simplifying out systems and getting them automated. It meant buying two other similar companies with similar size and close footprints..
Each with multiple systems that we didn't know, and employees they didn't feel like keeping around/paying to keep it running. Those other systems? No we didn't get trained on them one bit. The people that could have maintained/taught us? They were told to learn "our" systems too, and by the way, take a 25-30% pay cut. They laughed and left instantly. Management couldn't even be bothered to bring the vendors in to train us, either.
Suddenly each ticket became a treasure hunt, and 3 times as many. If we were lucky, we had a spreadsheet with IP addresses on it. A relay/jump-box got used to access their network because no time would be given to get re-IP'd or even set up a VPN.
So, same staffing level, 3x the number of customers. No raises...
At the same time they switched ticketing system that showed a clock ticking up time for every minute we spent on said ticket. "Oh by the way, log your time manually, too, in a spreadsheet so we can see what you're doing all day. We switched to this system so we could track you, and we know it takes 3-5x longer to process/open/close/transfer tickets as before, but it tracks your time, so we need it for key performance indicators."
I saved a lot just because I didn't have a mortgage or car payment, thank goodness. I'll eat savings for a while trying to find something after a brief break. Something's gotta change. Fuck the entire industry. I'm sure it sucks somehow, everywhere, though.
I expect to be delivering for Dominoes for more money soon. Yeah, the pay was that bad.
2_Bagel_Dog@reddit
I tip my hat to those who deal with the general public in their job on a daily basis. I don't have to and am ready to be done (don't tell my boss, but I'm counting down). In all fairness, SOME of my coworkers are pretty awesome....
Acceptable_Work_259@reddit
I was beginning to feel like this at the end of my 21 years in the army. By the time I retired I was definitely done. Good thing about military retirement though is that I knew no matter what came next that I would always have a roof over my head and food to eat. With that in mind in 2018 I set off on a new adventure. A buddy of mine was a lineman and convinced me to try it out. Never one for the office I said fuck it even though I hate dealing with electricity. I absolutely loved it. Started off as the lowest of the low but as luck would have it you learn a thing or two about work ethic in the army and coupled with the fact that I didn’t need a job and could punch anyone in the face at anytime and be totally fine with it no one fucked with me. It wasn’t long before I was in a bucket learning the trade. Age catches up with you though so I climbed out of the bucket and settled in to the heavy equipment operator position on a line crew. Perfect. Had knowledge of every aspect of the job and a good work ethic. Now I just do storm work for a Union contractor. It’s on call. I get that excitement and I get to continue helping people when they need it. I work all over the country for about 3-4 months a year with some awesome guys. No PCness or hurt feelings allowed on the right away. Just hard nosed blue collar men turning the lights on. My wife says it’s like I go n vacation every couple weeks with my buddies and she’s right. So I’ll end by saying no. I picked two jobs that Ai can’t do and are in high demand. The latter pays a LOT more than the first. Ironic how the shop kids are out here killing it now though lol.
GboyFlex@reddit
My first cousin just retired after 30 years of being being a lineman in southern New Mexico. His pension could choke a horse..one hell of a career.
Acceptable_Work_259@reddit
Yes it is. Great pay that compliments my military retirement well and as an extra bonus I’ll get another pension eventually.
daddyd@reddit
just a few more years and then i'm done, pension, i'll have enough money, hopefully to make it till the end.
bryancole@reddit
Same. After a cancer diagnosis and 2 years of treatment, I now live for myself. None of us know how long we've got on this earth. Make the most of every day.
Fun-Room-6501@reddit
12 years as of October and counting down to retirement. My god this is a slog!
HissTankDriver@reddit
12 for me too! I throw every found dime in the dividend portfolio and dream of the day.
mettaCA@reddit
Many people are starting their own companies right now and using AI to help them do it on their own.
Lawndemon@reddit
That's sure to lead to long-term success /s
HissTankDriver@reddit
I think we get to a point where we know how to be efficient and get the job done while removing unnecessary performative steps from a task. It's like get out of the way - I know what I am doing. I don't feel burnout so much as I don't want my time wasted.
I definitely have a retirement goal in mind now, and I see the job as serving that end, as opposed to doing the job for the love of the dream job.
BonezOz@reddit
I work IT by profession, and have done so for over 20 years. I too understand being burned out, but unfortunately IT pays the bills. I did have a stint over 2 years ago where I had finished a contract and was struggling to find a new role. During that time I got a job with one of the local can and bottle recycling centres. 8 hours a day of non-stop monitoring of the collection system, moving ultra heavy containers full of either glass bottles, plastic bottles, or cans, sweating so much because it's 100F outside and nothing but fans in the warehouse. Damn I loved that job. I didn't have to think, just do. If it had have paid more, I probably would have stayed, but an IT role was offered to me at double the recycle centre, so back to IT.
Witty_Farmer_5957@reddit
Senior master certified auto tech or auto service advisors are the jobs I hear about that are in high demand.
Wolfy2915@reddit
How difficult is it to mount tires? I used to buy them on line and go to my local mechanic but moved & there is a lack of reasonable places to mount them. I have received quoted $50-$70/tire to mount & balance. Start up costs seem reasonable.
adudeguyman@reddit
Can you be an honest auto service advisor and still make decent money?
DiverDownChunder@reddit
30+ years in my industry, well respected and I basically checked out. Didn't do anything just sat at my desk. Caught a layoff because of that, went back to another outfit doing the same thing lasted 6 months.
At this point I'm looking for a BS job that keeps me even until I retire... I guess you could call it semi-retired.
Guest1019@reddit
I feel this
DiverDownChunder@reddit
The condition is rel and seeming to be less and less uncommon.
I would like to start a produce farm, geothermal solar farm. Put all that M&C and automation into play for a nearly hands free farm.
Grannypanie@reddit
Retired on the job.
DiverDownChunder@reddit
Thats what I was doing but one of my coworkers submarined me as we are a remote facility. Jokes on him, they hired a guy grossly under qualified to replace me and he has to babysit him 24/7. Where as for me I know what I'm doing, needed no help and he came to me for advice.
And the other guy onsite is about to retire that knows whats up. I expect a phone call when that day comes asking me to come back.
Also I was the only guy they had that knows TTAC, so now if they get a TTAC/Launch/drift mission they are flying blind or paying for visa's to bring people in to do the job. Oh and I was the only heavy equipment operator onsite, I cut my teeth running backhoes and excavators when I was 15.
CptBronzeBalls@reddit
I spent 26 years in IT before I flamed out. Now I’m taking care of IDD adults in a residential setting. Super easy and low stress. I spend almost my entire 12 hour shift playing games, writing, or fucking around on Reddit while they sleep.
The pay’s shit, but 100% recommended.
kent_eh@reddit
With each new CEO that came (and went , taking a golden parachute with them) my {DGAF meter](https://media.tenor.com/TO5lrEWDPDcAAAAC/give-a-fuck-o-meter-fuckometer.gif) was plummeting.
For my last 3 years I had a retirement countdown app on my phone (targeting the first day i was eligible for full pension). Each time the upper executives did something stupid (especially if it made our department's lives harder for no benefit to anyone else) I would send a screenshot of that retirement countdown to my manager.
About a year before my planned retirement date, the company offered a bunch of buyout packages to basically anyone with 20+ years of seniority. Obviously I jumped all over that .
Early retirement for the win!
mothraegg@reddit
Early retirement is awesome!
kent_eh@reddit
It's the best career move I've made in decades!
notyourmama827@reddit
It was 5 years ago but I walked away from the retail industry after working some form of a retail job for almost 40 years. I was so burned out that toward the end , I would sometimes eat edibles an hour or two before leaving work . I liked some of my customers but I just could not take the industry and it was during covid in the US.
Gentri@reddit
Decided in 2011 after I got fired that the whole working gig was rigged in the employers favor... still working for myself today and don't regret it, but it has been rough going sometimes. Helps if you have shit paid for and just don't gaf about keeping up with the Johnson's or Jones's etc...
HeyMikeFalcone@reddit
What kind of work?
Gentri@reddit
renovation/homerepair/maintenance If I had a do over I'd probably be a plumber/electrician/xray tech, but IT was easy money for a bit. Lineman is $$$. All physical jobs... xray tech is good $$$ too.
Xander_CK@reddit
Yep. I fantasize about a 9-5, weekday-only, hourly job at a workbench fixing… stuff. Doesn’t even matter what really
BowleeLacuna@reddit
I'm just trying hard enough to keep from getting fired cuz I need health insurance.
Tiny_Noise8611@reddit
Yep 👍🏻
Flembot4@reddit
I care but it seems like they are skipping over Gen X. Boomers are leaving and millennials are getting the positions.
TheFeistyKnitter@reddit
Yes. Just quit my job after 27 years and a few years short of retirement (I can still collect my pension in a few years) because I was burned out and I decided I wasn’t going to be shit upon for another 4 years. I’ve been through some stuff (cancer survivor and other things) that changed my perspective. I also should work again but like you I’m not in a huge hurry. I’m also willing to take a substantial pay cut and I no longer care about advancing or climbing the next mountain.
EBN_Drummer@reddit
I never cared for the "career" so I became a musician. I lucked out meeting my now best friend and we get to play music a few times a week and get paid to do it. Just did three days in Mexico for a "working" vacation. It's not the highest paying job in the world but our family's needs are met and I have a ton of free time to work on other side jobs, projects and hobbies.
Rocketjen@reddit
Yes! If I didn’t have two kids still in high school, I would chuck it and move to an island somewhere warm by the water.
Yogalien@reddit
I still care, just less than I used to
87YoungTed@reddit
Yep. I've decided if I have to make another change. I'm selling all my assets and retiring out of the country.
standsure@reddit
I got a radical case of CFS/ME 8 years ago. Haven't been able to work since. I'm basically allergic to capitalism at this point.
mosephis13@reddit
Yep. I’m 53 and just found out I can afford to retire anytime.
I’ve been burning out the last few years, but no one has noticed the flames.
Not sure I’m ready to completely retire, but seriously considering stepping down from leadership and politics.
FlatSixFun@reddit
I’m almost 47, and retired last summer. I was also hugely burned out after a career in high tech. Retirement is amazing, highly recommended. It took 6-9 months to unwind the burnout, but I’m happier, less stressed and healthier than I’ve been in years. If you have the opportunity, take it and enjoy these healthy “younger” years.
mosephis13@reddit
Thank you for your perspective. I’m still having a hard time wrapping my head around that I’m “allowed” to retire at this age.
FlatSixFun@reddit
I've been coming to terms with the same feelings, but it fades when you're having fun and living with much less stress. Lots of people don't understand it or have some mix of resentment, but ultimately that's their issue, not mine.
mosephis13@reddit
And after losing my dad and MIL, and watching our two remaining parents with declining health, it’s painfully obvious that you only get so many “good” years.
I don’t want to waste mine with my ass in a desk chair while I’m glued to Zoom meetings.
FlatSixFun@reddit
1000% this. Watching my mother go through Alzheimer's at age 70, other friends and family going through health issues including my wife, all I know is that tomorrow isn't promised.
I had a good run, really loved what I did for 30 years (started programming at a start up at age 16), built companies... a lot of my personality was wrapped up in that career. An interesting part of retirement has been figuring out who I am without the all encompassing career in my life. But at least I have the time to figure it out.
And running errands in the middle of the week when no one is out and about never gets old. You get more done more quickly with 80% less aggravation.
And if you get bored (I haven't yet), you can always find some work or volunteering to fill in some of the hours.
mosephis13@reddit
I wish you many more good days. :)
FlatSixFun@reddit
And to you! More relaxing days are in your future.
ZandarrTheGreat@reddit
40 years of financial services. No fucks left to give. Sick of emails celebrating the company. Sick of them talking about how I can be more efficient for the company. Fuck CEOs and their 33% pay raises each year while the rest of us go backwards thanks to inflation and healthcare. I am fortunate enough where the next layoff will be my last. Not living for them anymore
Fluffy-Mine-6659@reddit
Hot take - I think we are all burned out. All generations. A side effect of this new world war and upcoming tech change.
I’d love to see stats on average screen time across all people of all generations. I’m a formerly highly productive person. Now I’m hopelessly addicted to screens and get no pleasure from ordinary “healthy” activities. I suspect this is the majority of us now
sanityvoid@reddit
All generations are completely fucked by corporate greed and the ever increasing need for more profit. People in earlier generations retired earlier, but lived longer. Now we retire later and live less. We’re nothing but a commodity of the big corporations that try to make more money for the billionaires and elites.
Guest1019@reddit
Dystopia 1.0
Responsible-Type-981@reddit
I was ‘done’ after 18 yrs with a big high tech firm, got lucky and caught a nice voluntary severance offer. Planned a year sabbatical to figure out what new career I wanted to go into but ended up going back to work at a non-profit with a mission that aligned with my values doing the same type of work and it’s been great! Took a heft pay cut, which was hard, but no travel, no night time calls with offshore teams and I feel like I’m actually contributing to a worthy mission instead of just being a tiny cog in a giant machine. Also after a number of years they let me go to part time and remote so I could move to the PNW, about 6 months before Covid hit. It’s a great work life balance and I get benefits, just pay a little more for my portion of them, I say I’m on the slow road to retirement. Have to work for health insurance for me and my daughter and get her through of college. I’m a lot poorer than I have to be but it’s totally worth it.
GimmeMyMoneyNow@reddit
Amen
Perplexio76@reddit
I used to work for a distributor that sold fasteners (nuts, bolts, screws, washers, etc.) to the Aerospace industry. It was a desk job, So that's not the kind of job I'm recommending.
One of the common issues I heard from our suppliers was that they were having trouble finding machinists to operate the machines that made the screws. So there is definitely a need out there to learn certain trades.
The company I currently work for IS a manufacturer (but again, I have a desk job), and I know there's a high turnover with workers on the factory floor.
So the demand is definitely out there.
Trap-Lord-Supreme@reddit
100%
hiner112@reddit
I never really cared about the career. I went to engineering school and just wanted to solve problems and never get "promoted" to management. I'm not quite sure what "corporate" even is, really. I accidentally ended up as team leader of half a dozen people for a few years but have managed to get out of that position. I just need to keep the top spinning for a few more years to get the kids through college and the house paid for. The lord willing, I won't get "promoted" again.
greenbeancounter@reddit
I unfortunately really feel this but am the business owner! Tired of worrying I’m behind on AI trends, tired of realizing that as a young GenXer I still need to work for 20 more years - or longer depending on the economy, what happens in my own life between now and then, etc. I’m 14 years in and something just hit me this year that I am TIRED.
arthurdawg@reddit
Yes.
valencia_merble@reddit
My burnout disability ends in 3 weeks. My country is an employment clusterfuck. My SI is becoming my retirement plan.
tanhauser_gates_@reddit
Not in the least. Still looking for ways to increase money coming in.
TraductorPerdido@reddit
I got laid off about two and a half months ago, and that part felt like an act of grace because that job definitely took its toll on my mental and (most likely) physical health, and I would've left it a long time ago if it hadn't provided insurance. But it was kind of a dick move for them to do it over Microsoft Teams, while we had our microphones and cameras blocked, and then to shut us out of the computer system shortly afterwards – with no severance pay or PTO reimbursement (unless mandated by the state where we lived) to speak of. It was also in the middle of a Wednesday during the first week of a pay period, too.
I've started doing freelance and government contract work in the time since, and I tend to have one gig or another just about everyday. It's just that more than a couple of my client entities are taking their sweet time to pay me (one still owes me for something from the day before the layoff), and that could become an issue if they don't start to get their asses in gear.
LittleLarry@reddit
What do you do? My friend was also “let go” over a video call the week before Christmas. Pretty dick move.
TraductorPerdido@reddit
I'm a Spanish interpreter, and I was receiving calls by video. They got rid of at least 200 of us in one go, in favor of much cheaper counterparts in places like Mexico and Costa Rica.
Oh, and speaking of dick moves around Christmas time, they sent me what was purportedly a link to a $50 Amazon gift card in appreciation for all that I'd done for the year. I already knew it wasn't real because Microsoft Outlook flagged it and I'd even entered the number on Amazon to confirm, but the link just turned out to be to a phishing test – which I'd apparently had yet to take because either Outlook had flagged all the others or I'd just recognized them outright for what they were at first glance.
LittleLarry@reddit
hahaha! I just clicked on one of our IT dept’s Teams meeting phishing emails last week! Then they sent me a video to watch because I clicked on it and instead I reported that email as Phishing in Outlook. I’m still waiting to hear from the IT dept about doing that. “Chuck it in the fuck-it bucket” is a good motto.
TraductorPerdido@reddit
Hell, the only thing keeping this from being on any kind of GenX clan crest is the fact that "WHATEVER" is so much sorter – and probably much easier to render in Latin.
LittleLarry@reddit
Haha! I’m going to spend sometime at work tomorrow drawing that GenX clan crest.
a_sheila@reddit
The dickest of moves.
sunfish99@reddit
Sounds like you need to mark your invoices as net-30, otherwise some people will drag their feet forever until you threaten to sue.
TraductorPerdido@reddit
I would, but considering that the entity in question is a courthouse, that may prove a bit difficult.
The thing that really galls me is that parking garage that's closest to it went fully automated a couple of years ago, and the machines at the gates don't accept cash but also don't generate receipts whenever I leave. And since the court suddenly went to back to requiring some proof of the expense alongside the invoices earlier this year, I finally resorted to taking screenshots of the transactions in question from my banking statements. After I'd sent a few of them, the lady from the court administrator's office told me that they didn't include the amounts that I'd spent on parking. I told her to scroll to the right, and she'd find them. And she did, but then told me that she'd resubmit the invoices.
sunfish99@reddit
Ugh, that sounds difficult. What does your contract with them say? How long have your invoices been outstanding, and what level court is this? If it's more than 90 days, maybe your local government rep can help.
Cherlyndria77@reddit
Still working to pay another $300K off my mortgage. Hubby had a stroke at age 42 leaving me as the sole income earner. Both adult kids still living at home while studying. FML - sometimes I want to run away, like to an Ashram in India but I can't afford the airfare
NegScenePts@reddit
It's sad when it takes people as long as our age to realize that caring about ANY of that stuff is all just brainwashing. Go to work, do a job, check out at day end and get paid. Repeat.
I retired two months ago and it fucking HURTS that something I looked forward to my whole adult life is hard to adjust to. The sheer amount of brainwashing and shit we get put through is staggering. Like, I NEVER wanted to work, but now that I don't have to...I feel GUILTY. Get out of my fucking head!
Modern society actively robs us of something, and we only find out when we're at the age where we are beginning to be seen as surplus. I split two years early and I simply adjusted my life to fit my new income. Now I get by just fine and as soon as doing absolutely fucking nothing stops making me feel like a criminal...I will enjoy myself.
Grouchy_Vet@reddit
I retired in 2020. I felt so guilty for relaxing. I had been spending 3 hours a day commuting for years. Longer if it snowed or rained. It took a year before I allowed myself to enjoy it.
PipEmmieHarvey@reddit
Absolutely. Our current government is hell bent on destroying the public service. Got made redundant February last year. Went to work as a consultant. Got made redundant again in January as budget cuts means agencies can’t afford consultants. Just picked up some contract work last week. If we didn’t need my income I’d go walk dogs for a living.
Worth-Artist-6962@reddit
I've hit the wall a few times and wonder if I can make about 5 more years until I can retire
Ms_not_Mrs0771@reddit
5 years for me too! I hate to wish my life away, but i’d pay dearly to skip these next five years of my life to get to retirement
68024@reddit
Also a member of the 5 year club
TheWuziMu1@reddit
If i could afford to retire now, I would.
68024@reddit
Same
emdentremont@reddit
Same.
DataZigZager@reddit
I read several articles on this topic recently. It seems GenXers are retiring earlier than Boomers because our careers are bumpier and we are burnt out. I found the articles while researching the handoff between Boomers and Xers, which isn't happening. Xers are retiring at the same time as Boomers, and everything is being handed to Millennials.
citizen_stooge@reddit
This was how the powers-that-be always wanted it. Boomers forever (and ever and ever…) and when they finally die or fill the nursing homes, all the power and all the wealth skips over Gen X and goes directly to the boomers’ evil spawn, the Millennials.
DataZigZager@reddit
It's usually Boomers vs Millennials. This is the first time I have read a comment that is anti both. Kinda funny. Is it normal for Xers to hate them both?
Redebo@reddit
Xers don’t hate any generation. For us to hate, we’ed have to first care.
Paddington_Fear@reddit
fuck a day job homie I fuckin' HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATE working!
DudeWhoGardens@reddit
Just holding on for 7 more years until I hit my $ and then I'm out because I wake up every day not caring a single bit about work
68024@reddit
Me prob 5 years but I would quit yesterday if I could
Dog-Is-My-Co-Pilot@reddit
Yep, I DGAF about my job at all. But I'm trying to pretend to be engaged and am learning to use AI tools so I don't get laid off. Still have mortgage payments and need the health insurance coverage.
Hoping to make it 6 more years (when I'm 60 and my husband is 65 and eligible for Medicare).
But I really DGAF. Just trying to survive the quarterly RIFs.
LittleLarry@reddit
What will you do for health insurance? Buy it on the open market for just yourself? My retired husband just became Medicare eligible but still on my work plan. When I looked into retiring this year the plans even for just myself were pretty costly (easily $1000 per month for something similar to what I fancy now.)
Dog-Is-My-Co-Pilot@reddit
I'll Cobra 18 months for myself, once my husband is eligible for Medicare. Then probably open market/ACA for 3.5 years.
We've budgeted for it, but I will also probably get a part-time gig, maybe 20-25 hours per week that could hopefully cover it. And yes, in my quick look, it would probably be $1000 a month for just me to have something comparable to what I have now. (I work for a 70,000+ person company, so we have excellent insurance options.)
LittleLarry@reddit
I’m debating retiring early and going on my job’s COBRA, too, and then working in a bookstore or something similar PT to help pay for ACA insurance. The older you get the more you realize your trading minutes of your life for dollars. Fortunately I do get some satisfaction from my job. I wish I could go PT here, but it doesn’t exist.
kambui1080@reddit
Me, in a nutshell.
VanillaHuel@reddit
Three more years for me!
Crawberg420@reddit
Absofuckinglutely and I had to find a job while feeling that way.
claude3rd@reddit
My dad had a massive heart attack that required a triple bypass, when he was around my current age. After that he could barely get enough energy to walk to the car.
I don’t want to risk the same fate. I want to finally have time to travel the world with my wife. I’m hoping to retire around age 60. She’s a little younger so she can carry health insurance for the both of us until I can get government health.
CampRelative6076@reddit
I relate
DeadCatBounce00@reddit
I’m mid 50s and retired 2 years ago. Just havent told my work yet
Rrebeck61@reddit
Gold!
ComprehensiveShip720@reddit
OMG yes I feel this.
MomtoWesterner@reddit
I will work 5 years plus 5 months till I am 65 and get medicare. Then retire. I do love my job and the idea of retirement is causing anxiety for me. But I will still retire and see how I like it. But I do admit since I finally decided 65 is when I need to retire, I am getting ansy at work. And my brain says hang in there 5 years flies by.
bloobityblu@reddit
You guys have a career?
chigurh316@reddit
I'm more burnt out on suburban upper middle class life than my career..said life being the reason I have to keep working. And I just lost the best person I ever had working for me because they saw no hope of ever being able to afford a house where we live. So I have a summer of hell ahead of me doing 2 peoples jobs for 3-4 months most likely.
I only care about taking care of my kids and my wife not divorcing me for not working. We live in a very expensive area of the US and lifestyle creep is a major factor...not for us, for our kids. We drive 30K cars for 10 years, don't go on expensive vacations, have older beat up furniture in our house, etc. But I gave in and allowed my oldest child to go to an out of state college, nearly doubling what I had intended to spend, and my younger one we spend a ton of money on sports, keeping up with the Jones in those areas, and in a few years they can ask me why their sibling got to go out of state while they can't, etc.
If we had stayed in the 2 BR condo we lived in 15 years ago and not bought a house, and let the kids deal with appearing to be the poor kids in an upper middle class area, I'd easily be able to retire right now. I have it all on spreadsheets.
LittleLarry@reddit
Amen.
Junior_Lavishness_96@reddit
Can confirm. I’ve been like “temporarily retired” for a couple years and have absolutely no desire or motivation to return to the same type of environments ive been in. I’ve applied for jobs that are somewhat similar or in a completely different industry that the starting pay is less but got rejected anyway.
Beneficial_Flower_90@reddit
Oh I am so happy to find this conversation. So nice to feel I’m not alone. I feel stuck in a house I love in a very expensive state. 60th birthday this week. To start: no more working for assholes.
LittleLarry@reddit
I turn 60 next week. High-five!
Independent-Dark-955@reddit
Until recently, no. I went through septic shock this year, and work a mentally challenging job. For the first time ever, I long to retire. Financially, waiting 2.5 years is important. Waiting 7.5 years is a better idea, because then our income would be level with what it is now. Working is just mentally fatiguing even though I work with great people. For my particular area, I’m a team of one. I felt buried alive coming back from the ICU and being able to take vacation time always feels like there is a payback as the workload doesn’t go away. So, burnout is unfortunately feeling like a yes.
caf4676@reddit
Hang in there, amigo. Those 7.5 years are going to fly by!!🛫
designocoligist@reddit
I haven’t cared for years. I’m just doing this so I can retire reasonably soon.
WimpyZombie@reddit
I'm in a career I never wanted to be in. It has absolutely nothing to do with my college degree (An associate's degree in a technical field). But 30 years ago I lost my drivers license due to a medical issue, and I needed to find a job with a location and hours that cooperated with the local public transit.
Today I had one of my worst days ever. I am so close to telling my boss to fuck off I'm ready to explode. Problem is, now I'm 60 and I don't have anyone to fall back on (financially).
I am taking some classes to get a certificate to work in a different field, but it's going to be at least 6 months before I'm able to pass the certification, and even then, at my age, will anyone hire me?
Ms_not_Mrs0771@reddit
Ageism is so real! I watched my poor mother get laid off at age 63 and then never hold a decent job again until her death (prematurely imo) at age 69. By decent I mean she was getting paid OK compared to what she was making before but it was all part-time work with no benefits so thank gawd she was on Medicare or she would’ve had no healthcare whatsoever. I am turning 55 and just hope that I can hang onto this job until I’m 60 when I can retire early otherwise nobody’s gonna hire me with my graying hair and my antiquated GenX attitude! I’m an RN but I’m telling you I have been a unionized, administrative/paperwork RN for the past 20+ years so I have zero bedside skills that are marketable. Burnt out and desperate to get to the end of all this BS!
odyseuss02@reddit
I would quit tomorrow but my health insurance is $1500 a month. So I have to keep plugging away at it.
GwonWitcha@reddit
Been working moderately to highly physical work for 30+ years…lost count, but it’s around that.
Now 50, my body is crumbling…fast. Shoulders are about gone, can’t raise my arms over shoulder level without pain. I don’t have a slipped disc in my lower back, but an entire ghatdamn vertebrae. Knees & hips are wonky, too.
But I still carry on. Because I can’t pay bills with my pain levels. Everything would be paid off with a shit-ton in the bank, if that were the case.
SunnySTX@reddit
Live life...change everything to be at peace. Time and health are the 2 most important...nothing else matters. Have fun...and help others.
FarceMultiplier@reddit
I've been with my employer for nearly 20 years and I've been on mental health leave for 8 months. The incredibly intense negativity and lack of support (and empathy) finally broke me. I was giving it everything I had and it was never enough - and it never would be. I really wanted it to be a great end to my career before retirement, but the job chewed me up and spit me out.
Management hasn't even asked if I'm okay.
arawnsd@reddit
I have someone off on an extended leave for similar reasons. I’m not allowed (by HR) to reach out while they’re off. I’m worried and concerned, but have to not reach out. It sucks. HR says it can be triggering and can force a feeling of pressure to return. I don’t know your situation, just sharing a similar one in hopes it might bring you a bit of peace.
AriadneThread@reddit
Just curious, did the office hire anyone to fill in for a while?
arawnsd@reddit
Nope. It’s a max 2 year leave, we’re at 21 months.
ediblepet@reddit
Reach'em out. Be a human being
arawnsd@reddit
I actually did the first three months. Sent a short polite “hope everything is going well, here’s a quick update on what’s happening” type messages that leaned more into the people than work stuff. HR told me to stop.
_Losing_Generation_@reddit
What makes you think your employer cares about you? Don't be naive, employees are just a mechanism for them to reach their goals, they are replaceable. Sounds like you should look for another job then quit
game_over__man@reddit
I worked at a job for 30+ years and early retired myself due to several mental burnout, panic attacks, paranoia. I told them too in my exit interviews and surveys. They didn’t care one bit. Never heard a thing from HR or most of the people I worked with for half my life. 🖕
Antsygrl1@reddit
I honestly like the people I work with but have absolutely come to despise private equity. They've ruined retail to the point I think I'd be less stressed going back to counseling, which I went to college for. And I've been in retail leadership since 1998. Labor is squeezed to the absolute bare minimum where one person is doing what used to be 5 peoples' jobs. Customer service is almost non-existent. Benefits dwindling further and further towards nothing every year. It's just no longer what I signed up for. But I'm paid so we'll, it's hard. I figure I'll be working till I'm dead anyways, can't afford to save a dime in this economy.
Cactusandcreosote@reddit
Present! 🖐🏾
Particular-Walrus439@reddit
Every single day!
Not_a_fan_of_me@reddit
I was actually recently scapegoated at work and lost my job of mostly 23 years. I was considering a change BEFORE this happened, but the timing wasn’t right. Guess they made the choice for me.
Bright_Broccoli1844@reddit
I am sorry. I hope you have a brighter future and become a fan of yourself.
Not_a_fan_of_me@reddit
I’ll at least re-find myself…I had probably reached the point of malicious compliance so it was time to
_Losing_Generation_@reddit
Sucks, but sometimes when the decision is made for you, it works out for the better.
Ok-Nature-5452@reddit
Yes, retirement age should be lowered. I have worked and paid taxes since 16 and burned out is a mild descriptor.
Sevenandahalfsquared@reddit
3 years ago I had to move states to be with mom in her declining years. I took a job at an aerospace manufacturer doing assembly bc it was easy to get. I was going to just do it until I got a “real job” in my field, where I was on salary and working60 hours a week to cover my job and my teams absences. With zero appreciation, of course.
When I tell you that clocking in, going to my station, working with my hands, joking occasionally with a coworker who walked by, and clocking out has never felt so good. In the beginning I was making a small chunk less than I would at my real job but I live in my mom’s basement now so it offset the expense.
3 years later, here I am, now doing 3/12’s and making barely 1$ less than I used to. When I walk out the door, I don’t think about the job or stress should I say. 4 days off a week. Zero regrets.
oakmeadow8@reddit
I did the same thing!! Left my career of 20 years after catastrophic burnout and coasted for a couple years on savings. Finally decided to get a job at a warehouse while I figured out what to do next. It's been 4.5 years and I'm still in the warehouse, lol! I just do whatever I'm assigned to do, there is almost no stress, and when I leave I don't think about it at all. As a bonus, I'm essentially getting paid to get a great workout and I'm healthier than I have been in decades. I'm never going back to the professional life.
seeingeyegod@reddit
Yeah if you get a job like that and somehow manage to avoid "were sorry, your contract has ended" or otherwise get downsized, its nice
deadbeef4@reddit
There's something to be said for a job that doesn't follow you home.
Sevenandahalfsquared@reddit
That part!
ddnut80@reddit
Just went through my second layoff in 6 months. I have less than zero desire to try and get a third job within that time frame. I am trying to get into something on the tech side.
No. More. Sales.
Independent-Fan4343@reddit
29 years in civil engineering. Passed up 3 recent advancement opportunities because the modest pay bump wasn't worth the hassle. Learning money doesn't buy happiness and valuing a simplified life has brought me peace of mind. Professional ambition is mostly gone. I just center on doing a good job, go home and turn it off while enjoying my life. The work will be there when I return.
AriadneThread@reddit
Let me guess, promotion to management? Good call if so.
gldngrlee@reddit
Amen. This is my perspective as well.
MaleficentMousse7473@reddit
I definitely care that the world is on fire. That perspi makes me care a lot less about the profitability of my multinational corporation though. I’m trying to appear to care enough to get a promotion, but I’m more checked out than i have ever been at any job in my life
williammunnyjr@reddit
Emphatic YES
ScooterTheBookWorm@reddit
I'm cooked, but I have to keep going because I have one more kid to get through college. I'm with you. I'm sick of higher expectations and less support. I'm fucking done with leveraging synergies to maximize KPIs and throughput, taking things offline and circling back to follow up and actions or gaps in expectations. Add on top of that, they can blow all this AI bullshit out of their golden parachuted asses. Seriously?! Have all these kool-aid drinking leadership mofos just been getting high on loving the smell of their own farts?
AriadneThread@reddit
Well put! Leadership taking themselves waaaaaaay too seriously
Continuum_Design@reddit
Leadership has no clue.
Daohaus@reddit
I've said it on another similar post. I'm just tired and burned out. nearly 20 years with the company, got laid off in January. Currently living off their generous severance package at least until October. But I'm seriously contemplating tapping into my 401k now that I'm over 55 (57 to be exact) and the rule of 55 has taken into affect. I just am not motivated like I was
intheether323@reddit
Yes. Soooo burned out. Trying to coast till I can retire
PrimalSixFive@reddit
I retired 8 years ago. Work is over rated...
jarhead3088@reddit
I feel you..33yrs in retail automotive ..hit the wall hard in dec and just quit. No gold watch..no cake and retirement partys..no pats on the back..Just put in my two weeks and poof ..im lost
fizzymangolollypop@reddit
I have no idea why I am telling you this but maybe try being a substitute teacher??
IBroughtWine@reddit
I care only enough to keep me employed. We were not out here to work.
GoatBnB@reddit
Been checked out for at least a decade, going through the motions of whatever pays the bills for the most manageable amount of headaches.
radiosilents412@reddit
I like my job in theory but lately I’ve been massively distracted and more uncaring than I’ve been in a long time. Not sure if it’s the company or if it’s just me. About to turn 56 with very little retirement savings so probably working another 20 years. At least I work remotely! But yeah, I’ve become so apathetic.
dfin25@reddit
Yes and it goes beyond careers. Outside of family baseball and boobies I really don't give a shit anymore.
JasterMereel42@reddit
Depending upon where you put commas in this statement, it greatly changes the meaning of it.
dfin25@reddit
Who can afford commas in this economy? Especially the Oxfords? That some elite grammar right there
posicivic@reddit
Fine. Enjoy your family boobies, I guess.
scott_beowulf@reddit
Ahem… family baseball boobies.
MrBrawn@reddit
That sounds like depression.
dfin25@reddit
Could be, I'll never know for sure. 😀
hellcatz_hq5@reddit
Same, except football. For me, baseball is just too much with far too many games.
dfin25@reddit
That's alright. I used to really like football too before the started throwing so many flags. I remember when the Cowboys and the Igles would try to kill each other in Human gladiator games. Good times.
Ennuiology@reddit
Ugh. Yes. And they want to “groom me for leadership” and I don’t fucking want to lead anyone.
_Losing_Generation_@reddit
I turned down two different offers to move up in a leadership role. I didn't even really want the role I was in. The only reason I took it was for the salary increase. After seeing how management really worked, there was no way I was going to deal with even more of that BS.
Ennuiology@reddit
Yeah, I don’t blame you.
sageguitar70@reddit
I finally just quit last year at 56, fuck it.
Rocket-Appliances-26@reddit
I work in tech, and I enjoy software development a great deal. But I'm averse to tech management. The ideology of the business schools has taken over and corrupts everything it touches.
anyoutlookuser@reddit
Yea I gave up 25 years to a small company. Great place to work and really was like family. Then the owners sold out. No big tenure bonuses or anything. New owners are ok some of the benefits are a little better and not knocking it, it’s still a decent job but the loyalty is gone.
profcate@reddit
That would be me.
NoHorseNoMustache@reddit
Been an IT tech for almost 30 years. Haven't cared about my career for almost 30 years.
Turns out that when you get a job doing something that you like it quickly turns into something you don't like.
Gay_Stoner_@reddit
SAME!!!
Brother_Farside@reddit
Fuck yes. I’ve been struggling with this since fiscal year started. I’m management in healthcare and stuck between meeting expectations awhile supporting my teams under a new contract that has increased workload.
I’m currently working on my exit strategy.
OneCallSystem@reddit
I never cared.
tc_cad@reddit
Well it was announced today that my company is getting bought out. Since I’m not in production, but rather just support staff I think my days are numbered.
jazzchamp@reddit
Yep. VC sent my job back easy to the corporate office. If you're role is redundant to what they already have...
Sorry
tc_cad@reddit
I’m not redundant, I’m a dev, but this new company buying us out is all about AI so I’m sure AI will replace me. I’m very disappointed in the owner of my company. I understand if it wasn’t us it’d be someone else, but the owner took his big payday as is his right. It just sucks for everyone else here. We’ve had 5 people laid off in the past year as AI has been implemented. Payroll is through AI now and for the first time since I started working here my paystub had an error.
darkon@reddit
I used to, but I fixed it by retiring.
Fulghn@reddit
I was exceptional at being the guy that jumps from project in crisis to project in crisis pulling things out of the fire - but that takes it's toll. Burnout was so extreme there was a real possibility I'd wind up a dark news piece reminiscent of a Jason Statham movie. Instead I committed career suicide, blew that bridge to smithereens, and walked off into the sunset years ago.
House is paid off, no debt, enough retirement savings(I started very early) and other investments to see me through any reasonable life expectancy if I don't suddenly decide I want to be a world traveler or develop a taste for expensive things I've rolled my eyes at my entire life.
tO2bit@reddit
Ha, I am the opposite. I now have a very cushy corporate gig where all I basically do is the play politics to get my team resources so they can do their job.
There was a time in my career where I was the “fix it” guy who only got called in when the project went sideways. I honestly miss that excitement now.
Yamamoto74@reddit
Career?
TurdMcDirk@reddit
I was laid off 2.5 years ago and I decided to just stay laid off. I plan to return to work soon though. Maybe.
RegretLow5735@reddit
Good luck, it’s rough and I have a job.
TurdMcDirk@reddit
Yeah that’s what I hear, especially in my field, IT.
Maleficent_Pay_4154@reddit
All i want is to keep my Job get paid and reach retirement age. I have 9 years máximum to go
Patrol76@reddit
Yep
yarn_slinger@reddit
Oh me! Me! Me! I’m in tech (30 years now) and I’m so fucking done. My company changes our tools every year when they find something cheaper. Now it’s all about AI. They do layoffs every year and give less than cost of living raises. I can’t be arsed to find another job so I’m coasting until I retire.
Saint909@reddit
Same here. I’ve been in tech 25 years and I just don’t give a fuck anymore. I am so bored and burnt out on it. Sick of hearing about “AI integration.” I am looking for an escape route.
captain_ohagen@reddit
I actually like working -- love challenges and building organizations. Got recruited by an tech/AI startup and, after a couple weeks of back-and-forth on the comp, accepted their offer. Tossed a fair share of equity my way, a competitive salary, and very aggressive performance-based bonuses. If all goes well, I'll retire in 5-6 years with plenty of money to do what I...uh...currently enjoy doing: camping and sitting around with friends drinking beer. I'm 55 now but still act like I'm in my 30s. Kind of drives my wife crazy sometimes.
Apprehensive_Row_807@reddit
I was “fortunate”, I guess? After 25 years of teaching, I was able to retire with disability, I had my first back surgery when I was 35. So after the fifth one, I just couldn’t do it anymore because I need to lay down every couple hours. But, my husband, is definitely burned out. He’s a bankruptcy attorney. It’s a very procedural type of law, which he actually enjoys. It’s the clients. Some of the most moronic, incompetent people I have ever encountered, I don’t know how most of them even tie their own shoes. I help out occasionally and I always say my high school students were more aware than these clients. I understand know why the world is at it is. It’s actually quite depressing.
Pamela_Allred@reddit
I decided to retire at the end of April of this year. I am 65 and just enjoyed the money and planned on working at least another year. One day, I realized that I burned out about 15 years ago but just stubborn enough to not give up. Gone were the days of enjoying the work and co-workers actually liking each other. Then private equity.
hyst0rica1_29@reddit
Don’t own a home & my paid-for 15 yo car is starting to show signs its on borrowed time. Debt isn’t wacky big, but every time I’m close to seeing that mythical land of “Debtfree”, some life BS happens & I end up pushed back on that. Burnt out on this job where miscommunication is plentiful & showing initiative or asking questions just gets you smacked down; but the management verbalizes every pizza party how clear communication is the goal & “ideas, questions, & suggestions are welcome!” 😐
Older coworker just told a few of us she’s retiring & I partially envy her. I can’t retire b/c I need daily work to do, but “this job”… 😬
Novel_Willingness721@reddit
Not burnout but yes just don’t care.
Worked 30 years in IT. Everything from retail to sys admin and even data analyst. My last job I worked mostly with older technology and when the HQ decided close the facility I worked at, i discovered that my skills hadn’t kept up with the times. So finding a new job in any IT capacity became impossible: too old for “entry level” and not up to speed for mid to upper level.
Thankfully got a job in data processing that pays decently.
Just gonna coast to retirement.
Glad-Pen5593@reddit
Hi, it’s me.
MapleLeafHurricane@reddit
Retired last week for that very reason. Realized that I continuing to work in a pointless job was not really going to materially make a difference so why keep doing it. I am fortunate to be living where health care and insurance are not tied to employment.
NoOil535@reddit
I hear you. I've been with the same company for 6 years and am fed up with management's hot and cold attitude then dismissiveness. I was training last summer and fall for another position that my supervisor said I knew enough for. Got passed over twice for people that didn't work out, someone's brother and a guy the higher up liked. So second guy gets fired now, my supervisor says I've only had some training the job don't know enough, even though I was doing it by myself before. I'm not even applying for the position because of these attitudes and favoritism by management, just fed up with the whole thing. I'm 59 and been looking for a different employer but it's hard at this age. Places don't hire many older people even though younger people don't have the work ethics we do.
Leading-Fly-4597@reddit
I'm DEEP in burnout mode. I come up for air every few weeks, but it doesn't last long. I'm tired.
Safe-Extension771@reddit
Yes
Medium_Suggestion433@reddit
10 years ago after a 15 year run within association management… completely burnt out… switched to hotel and venue sourcing … and then sold on TT live… now I’ve stopped everything and can’t imagine what I would do!
Mistervimes65@reddit
Yes. Sixty-one and I have an unhelpful manager that was four when I had my first leadership role.
rafuzo2@reddit
To be honest, there's a difference between not giving a fuck and being actually burned out. Like, IDGAF about my career after I left a big streaming company - I felt like there I was able to accomplish what I set out to prove to myself and from now on the career was trying to maximize earnings until retirement. So I went and moved to be CTO of a pre-seed stage startup and promptly burned the fuck out trying to build shit while my toxic business partner put me into the frog-in-a-pot scenario. After weeks of 16 hour workdays where I got 4hrs of fitful sleep every night, ate whatever cheap slop I could shovel in most quickly, and no exercise or barely time for my family, I'd found out what real burnout is. I very distinctly remember being on the commuter train home and seeing a direct path to having a coronary at my shitty standing desk in my hip Flatiron cowering space and my family being like "WTF was that all for".
I left in January. The fucker couldn't even give me a clean departure - screwed me out of a separation agreement and still had the balls to send our head of product to ask for my help on shit he fucked up (which I declined to offer, of course). I spent 2.5 months really doing little else but making school lunches for my kids and scrolling social media. It wasn't until about 3 months later where I felt like I had come out of it.
Burnout is fucking real, be honest with yourself about it!
_Losing_Generation_@reddit
Absolutely. And don't underestimate stress. It may seem like you are dealing with stress and it's not really affecting you, but believe me, it is. I'm not talking about an occasional stressful incident either, but the daily pressures that cause constant stress. It's deadly and has real physical and mental effects that usually don't start surfacing until years down the road.
Nephilimn13@reddit
I wasn't even consciously aware of the stress level I was under until I was separated from it for months. Retiring early was my best decision ever.
Legitimate_You_3474@reddit
This
bored2death2@reddit
Yea I was there \~6 years ago. I worked at a telcom. 100% couldn't give a shit how many IP porn pipes we sold. I left, working in government until retirement. It did re-energize me. I am happier.
deadbeef4@reddit
I was laid off in 2020... 2022... 2023... 2024...
But I found a new job each time, I enjoy what I do, and it pays well, so I can't complain too loudly.
scottyv99@reddit
I care still, I’m just fucking tired man.
SameRegret5975@reddit
Ditto
scottyv99@reddit
I’m trying TRT out shortly. Im going for it. I get to 4pm and I’m done. Cooked.
UnicornWig@reddit
1000%
inomrthenudo@reddit
I’ve been burned out for years, but it pays good and I’ll be retired by 55
wild-hectare@reddit
I was asked for my Individual Development Plan (IDP) plan today after working for this company for 4 years they are forcing me to create one this year....
Looooook....I'm 61 yrs old and my objective is to make to 5PM Eastern TODAY -- i don't have a 1 week plan let alone a 5 yr plan cuz IDGAF
swordrat720@reddit
My plan? I plan on not smashing my head against the wall before lunch. If I can do that, my next plan is to not do the same before I clock out at the end of shift. If I manage that, my plan is the same tomorrow.
Ok_Jellyfish3215@reddit
This is the 4th year of my spouse telling me to hang in there just “one more year”.
I have no desire to get up in the am and do the work thing anymore. I’m 59 and would like nothing more than to just hang out at home doing my hobbies and enjoying my life.
I understand that some people think without a “purpose” you get bored, depressed or just sit around and wait to die. That is not me. My purpose is to passionately work on my craft projects, our yard, our home and if that ever gets boring maybe volunteer.
So I’ll “hang in there” ONE more year. Next June? Peace OUT!
mamabear00420@reddit
It’s me. Hi. I am burnout.
skateboardnaked@reddit
Definetly burn out. For me it's mainly an overtime problem. I could always do a straight 40 hours, no issues. It's the constant working on days off over the last 20 years that burnt me out.
One day, I had enough and decided that I wanted to change my life. I was close, but still about 5-7 years from retirement. I wanted it to be sooner, so I came up with a 2 year exit plan.
I had to do a ton of financial planning. Part of my plans solution became downsizing, to eliminate a house payment, to lower expenses, to ultimately be able to retire sooner.
Been saving every single overtime dollar to pay the last of the house. The 2 year plan will be complete by December and I'll be quitting 5 years early. So stoked, I created a way out a bit sooner. Cannot wait to be done!
Nephilimn13@reddit
Congrats! You'll notice the health benefits: less stress, lower BP, general happiness pretty soon after you're done. You'll also lose track of what day of the week it is but who cares, there's no clock! Welcome to the every day is Saturday club soon!
worrymon@reddit
No, I no longer suffer burnout, nor am I ambivalent about my career.
Because I early retired a couple years ago and will be able to last a couple more years before I have to go back to the grind for a final burst of ~~slacking~~ working for a few years before I can access my 401k.
I'm probably delusional as to how long my money will last but that's for future me to worry about. My mental health has been so much better since I gave up giving a shit.
Werkhorse1012@reddit
I never learned work/life balance and sacrificed so much of my personal life for The Company. About a year ago I hit a wall (partially because of my boss - my list of grievances are long) but mostly because I worked too many hours and never really disconnected for more than a day or two over the course of several years. I'm now doing "100% Minimum" working about 60% of the hours that I once did. At first I felt guilty and was afraid I would be discovered but no one has said anything so far. I no longer jump at the chance to take on a new project, I never volunteer to help with tasks that are outside of my realm and for the 1st time I can ever remember - like it's NEVER happened - I told the boss I could not work over the weekend when they announced on a Friday that they needed "all hands on deck" because the Sales team was going to miss a critical deadline. The silence was deafening when I stated I'd be unavailable and had plans for an off-grid camping trip. I think they were used to me always saying "no problem" and I'd jump in and just make it happen while they'd go enjoy time with their families. Instead the burden fell on a new team member along with the boss but I simply do not care. Not sure how long this will last but I just don't have any desire or motivation to go back to the way things were.
UncleSlacky@reddit
Burned out a good 25+ years ago, been running on fumes ever since.
WaterwingsDavid@reddit
Im absolutely feeling burned out. A friend recently criticized me for not applying for another position within the organization. Realistically in just treading water, trying to hold on. If i could retire id be gone! 35 years, not all at my current organization but im exhausted! It doesn't help that I live in an insane rat-race crime, vagrant and drug city. I want to run away! I need a new, slower paced and more meaningful life.
Junior_Foundation940@reddit
Almost 30 years with the same company. If I can make it 5 more I'm retiring at 55 and not looking back. I'm doing the bare minimum to not get fired.
Nephilimn13@reddit
31 years in mostly independent power after I left the Navy. New owners bought my last facility in 2023, took over operations Jan. 2025 and brought in their own guy so I was out. Honestly didn't realize how burnt out and programmed to the system I was until I was out of it for about 4/5 months and started realizing I wasn't tensing up whenever my phone dinged or rang. 8-10 months out began to enjoy not having to deal with issues, crises, stupid people. By this January I even began using the "retired" descriptor when asked what I do. I had offers, even up to the last month, but don't need it and don't see myself ever getting back into the corporate BS grind. I do a temp gig for the state historical society: Historical Bartender. I get to dress up as an old time bartender and run a post prohibition tavern. Pouring beers and BSing with people is quite a GenX retirement gig. Now the biggest crisis I deal with is kicked a keg and we all know how to tap a barrel! 😁
smokythejoker@reddit
I actually love where your heads at. Like you, I’ve managed to discharge my major debts and I’m now down to just monthly expenses. That affords me an opportunity perhaps to get away from corporate and start a new career doing something I actually love.
Slouchy87@reddit
What do you love and can you make a living at it? Genuinely curious.
smokythejoker@reddit
I love landscaping. Being outside, the hard work and exercise, and the satisfaction of beautifying an area. I know the reality is far from the idea I have in my head, but it’s probably the closest to ikigai for me.
Maybe a non-profit that goes into low-income areas to fight blight, increase property values, and plant trees to improve air quality and lower temperatures.
ApprehensiveWash7969@reddit
Your not alone. I am counting the days and am not making any moves towards promotions. No longer worth the chase. The good thing is that if I just keep my current course I will be able to retire in about 5 years if not less.
Vinslom_Bardy@reddit
Zero fucks left to give. Been working for 45 years doing everything from factory work to lobbying members of the U.S. Congress (rat bastards, all of ‘em). Current (and last) costume I get to wear is that of Fortune 500 Engineering Lead. I’ve been maxing out the 401k for decades, and will have hit 2 million in savings sometime in 2027.
Then I give my two-minute notice.
ClassicEmergency9101@reddit
Absolutely. Laid off, on JSA and starting a creative business. I absolutely cannot do the corporate any longer. No to your meetings, ridiculous last minute demands, open plan office nightmare, and shit that just doesn't matter. Done. Over it.
Ok_Driver8646@reddit
🙋🏽♂️ definitely feeling the burn. Who knew the lack of humanity would have this effect? 🤦🏽♂️🤦🏽♂️🤦🏽♂️🙄
2ndChanceAtLife@reddit
I just calculated potential retirement and I just need to keep trudging on for 7 more years. I hope to retire at 65 but not claim SS until 67. So I need to stash some cash away to supplement those 2 years.
I’m exhausted. I don’t know how quickly AI will make me obsolete. Fingers crossed and marching towards the finish line.
spidermans_mom@reddit
I have a “cool” job and I’m burned out af. I’ve been at it too long. I’m trying so hard to care but I just can’t. Trying to make a move to a different role but one has to make itself available before I can.
Active_Shopping7439@reddit
I don't have a story much different from anyone else here. I just want to say how comforting this thread is
jamescockroft@reddit
Oooo! MEMEMEMEMEME!!!
ComprehensiveMall165@reddit
Meeeee!! I just want to live and not worry about anything
TheNeonCrow@reddit
I’ve been a nurse for 19 years and recently gave it up. I would claim burnout but even that is blamed on the nurse!
Signal_Glittering@reddit
Become a sterile processor
worstpartyever@reddit
I beg your pardon
Signal_Glittering@reddit
Depending on what someone’s income requirements are it’s a very quick way to get a job. Sixish weeks for training at a tech school and there are jobs available. Several sterile processors in my family. It’s a good way to get a new job and get out of a retail rut that op is in
_Losing_Generation_@reddit
Yeah, but what is it?
Signal_Glittering@reddit
What is sterile processing? It’s sterilizing items generally used in healthcare facilities. Like hospitals or surgery centers
Lonely_Owl_3@reddit
I am beyond burnt out. Unfortunately, an abusive first marriage and subsequent messy divorce, left me starting over with nothing at 44. A career working in non-profits has left me with very little savings and no assets to speak of. If it weren't for my husband (I got remarried 10 years ago), I would not be able to afford to retire - ever. I have been working since I was 10 years old and I am just exhausted. I went to university and did all the things I was supposed to and I just thought I would be further ahead at this point in my life.
ObsidianArcade@reddit
Yeah, I’m fairly cooked. I’ve been in the same industry for 30 years and held numerous different roles throughout that time and eventually became the owner of the company I spent a decade at as an employee. 13 years into ownership, I’ve reached a point where IDGAF about most of it anymore.
I saw someone mention ‘perspective’ and what I’ve come to realize is that life offers so much more than the time we have available. Nearing 50, I’ve considered what a second act would look like, despite walking away from great pay and flexibility. I just want to do something different with my time.
mediaogre@reddit
I work in IT as a people manager but I’m also technical. And while on one hand, it’s great that I get to play with new tools like Azure AI and Snowflake, they have me doing way too much to be effective at all they throw at me. It’s the same, tired story wrapped in a slightly different narrative every year; do more with less. I’m burning out for the first time. 50-60 hour weeks since last Summer.
ancientastronaut2@reddit
I work as little as I can get away with every day.
daphatty@reddit
You just explained the premise of Office Space. :)
BigJLov3@reddit
I was there 1.5 years ago. My career hit a wall, and I was too far from the path I wanted to be on to adjust.
So I got a solid job in a tangential industry. It pays a little more and is low stress -- pretty boring, TBH, but I haven't taken this job home one day in the last 16 months.
rfriend73@reddit
It's been many many years since I gave a fuck about my job and career advancement. I now work from home and it's the only thing that keeps me sane. The thought of being back in an office and forced group work activities and celebrations and endless meetings makes my soul wither.
_Losing_Generation_@reddit
This was me until I retired a couple of months ago. Even working from home had run it's course. The increase in micromanaging and the non stop push to meet deadlines and goals made it so it felt like being in the office. Just listening to the fakeness of the CEO or SVP in those meetings blabbering on with the latest buzzwords just made me want to puke. It went from STFU already to I can't do this anymore
hkusp45css@reddit
My boss died Monday. I'm currently debating moving up a rung in the XO org chart, or quitting.
So, I have a lot of ambition AND apathy, in equal measure.
wildeap@reddit
LOL, that’s SO GenX of you!
hkusp45css@reddit
What can I say, I was raised by wolves.
Careful_Tomorrow_653@reddit
I've been telling my friends for ten years I can't wait until these boomer bosses go and GenZ become my boss because they'll be so much cooler.
Kat1836@reddit
Sped. teacher. Kids are ok but the parents are annoying. I do my job but don't go all out anymore. Right after a "teacher shortage" our county is doing layoffs to save $. I look on the list hoping I was laid off.
OreoSpeedwaggon@reddit
I'm not burned out. I'm just bored and trying to get by and make money to survive until I can either retire (ha!) or die.
CommodoreVF2@reddit
Ya, been working in some capacity since I was 12 (former farmboy). Right now I do as little as possible for as much money as I can.
_Losing_Generation_@reddit
This was my philosophy since I started working at 16
demona2002@reddit
This is the way.
Operation-FuturePuss@reddit
It’s not burnout, it’s perspective.
doctorsynth1@reddit
GenX got screwed. It’s not your fault.
PeeCeeJunior@reddit
I was laid off in 2011 and that derailed my career path to the point where I’m only making marginally more 15 years later.
I think COVID broke me. I was one of the few people who had to go into the office and wandering around an empty corporate campus for 2 years turned me agoraphobic. So I do my relatively untaxing WFH job and let everyone else stress out. Life is better with a dog in your lap 8 hours a day.
demona2002@reddit
I am suffering clinical burnout and building myself a recovery plan. I could barely get myself out of bed before Xmas and now getting through the day with reasonable energy doing:
Meets (not exceeds) expectations at work; taking maximum vacation days; attending talk therapy weekly, adjusted HRT & nutrition (was low on testosterone, B12, iron and D); 10 min deep breathing meditation 2x daily with Open app; relaxing mindless hobbies like coloring and crochet and slow walks in the sun ; reading every book I can find on burnout ; built myself a Wellness AI agent and log all of my behaviors, patterns, meals, sleep activities, energy depletion so that I can begin to see patterns and not can suggest mitigations to me.
So far these things have really helped. It’s not a cure. I plan to take 12 weeks FMLA if things get really bad again but so far trending in the right direction. I am 2 years from retirement.
_Losing_Generation_@reddit
I retired early 2 months ago. The one thing that has helped the most is sleep. Just being able to get up at 6:30 instead of 5:00 and to take a nap during the day has made a huge difference. Of course the lack of stress is a big factor too, but real sleep is king
jeexbit@reddit
Damn man, good for you! You seem like you're on it, you got this.
grostequoteque@reddit
This is the way.
jacklogan2972@reddit
Pretty much. Feel like I can make enough in the market to retire in a year or 2. Definitely not motivated.
EntertainerNo4509@reddit
Totally burned out of corpo cannabis (not at all glamorous or fun as it may sound) in just under a year. Now I watch, train and care for dogs professionally.
Bright-Form730@reddit
How’d you get into dog training, if I may ask? Sounds wonderful.
Narrow-Dimension6427@reddit
Look into volunteering &/or internship with a trainer in your area. That’s what I did/do.
Bright-Form730@reddit
Good idea, thanks!
EntertainerNo4509@reddit
I’m naturally good with animals. I spend entire days just observing them and not speaking verbally. They communicate tons of info when we quiet our own minds way down. I’m primarily caregiver, the training is simply an extension of the practical things that clients need to be working on such as basic obedience, thresh hold, reactivity and pack walk training. I mostly train ‘owners’.
rfriend73@reddit
I'm still working my corporate job but 3 years ago I started dog sitting on the side. I work from home so I can do it just as easily at client's homes.
_Losing_Generation_@reddit
Yeah, that's why I retired.
Canaduck1@reddit
Getting there.
I'm holding on for retirement.
I've been with this company for 19 years, if i can hold on for another 7 I'll be 60 and retirement will be in the bag.
GelatinousGoober@reddit
Yeah. Kicked in for me around 17
Trolldad_IRL@reddit
30 years with one company. I’m on autopilot much of the time.
EvolutionCreek@reddit
American Airlines?
UsedDimension7373@reddit
I retired two weeks ago. But, YES!
Bright-Form730@reddit
Congrats!
UsedDimension7373@reddit
Thank you. The money is already free flowing out on my accounts. My wonderful company, to whom I dedicated 36 years of faithful service, stopped my medical THE VERY DAY I retired. I had to pay for a half month of medical insurance out of pocket. (almost $500). They couldn’t even leave me on their plan for the remainder of the month.
Whynot151@reddit
My young employer asked where I see myself in five years, I think I hurt his feelings when I laughed uncontrollably for a couple minutes and called my wife and told her, she laughed. I'm sixty, so as soon as possible I am done.
EvolutionCreek@reddit
Aruba. Jamaica. Ooh I don't wanna to take ya...
TheycallmemissRaven@reddit
No debt, own the car but still have to work. Now I get to deal with ageism-even if I run circles around these whiny kids out there. Especially in this economy. I am right there. What is the f** point? Watching the country and world lose its damn mind. All the horrible things we knew as kids are all coming true. Yep. DGAF about much of anything. 🤷🏻♀️ I am also so damn happy to be older (at least I got to have some fun as a young person) and not young. I feel for those poor young folk.
Bright-Form730@reddit
We had it so good in the 80s/90s. I too feel sorry for anyone under 30 these days.
TheycallmemissRaven@reddit
In so many ways, right? The innocence and hope of being in your 20’s is gone. I feel like these young folk already have the stress levels of people 2-3x their age, right out of high school or college. The brief period of carefree “whee! I’m an adult, without real responsibility yet” while in your early 20’s doesn’t exist for them.
Imagine being jaded before any life outside of childhood and knowing you have 50 years more to go. Ugh.
Sensitive_Mirror_472@reddit
Sounds like you need to retool for a new paradigm and deprecate that dystopian corporate track you've been on and chart a new course so you can self-effectuate an up-leveled sense of purpose and enjoy a more rewarding day-to-day grind!
Go for it!
Willing_Freedom_1067@reddit
Yes. I’m pretty much done, and it’s not limited to my employment.
yroyathon@reddit
Good for you paying your house off. It seems like it takes a layoff to break the spell of company loyalty, the need to contribute to society through one’s job, etc. It’s all a farce. Get in, make some money for the least amount of effort, get out. Live your life, it’s what happens outside work that really matters.
luri7555@reddit
I have a great job. Everything I could ask for. But I’ve been in the workforce since 1986 and I’m sick of it. Since I started my current career late in life I have 14 years to go if I want a full pension. But I may not make it. There’s no way I’m going to work myself to death. I’ve got a bucket list that I intend to check off before I’m too old to enjoy it.
Potential-Dog1551@reddit
I have been daydreaming about working the night shift at a 24 hour convenience store, it would make for great stories and would be much more entertaining than the desk, the screens, the emails, the pressure for fun’s sake, but I had six kids and two are still school aged so off to desk I go.
arawnsd@reddit
F’n kids. I love mine, but I could be retired now if we never had them!
FirstNoel@reddit
I keep telling my wife I have 5 years, probably more 7-10.
I hit 50, and the idea of working my ass off to get another promotion has dived. Right now I'm just more worried to keep myself useful, learning everything I can about AI and code dev in my area. But I really DNGAF otherwise.
I need insurance for my family. and I need to get the bills payed, I have a 5 year plan. CC paid off, loan, paid off, my wife's Masters Degree paid off... then I should be able to pound on the less important/Mortage monthly.
I'm on year 2 of my the 5 year. so far it's going. I'm interested in sitting on my porch in the spring and summer, read, play my guitar, play with any grandkids. And chill.
I'm tired of the rat race, and bullshit. I want to tone out, and let my daughter take care of the world.
jeexbit@reddit
this is definitely key
Diesel07012012@reddit
I ran out fucks last summer and I’m quickly running out of patience for incompetence and people with no urgency. Only 20 years to go.
jeexbit@reddit
I'm hanging on and will take the ride as far as I can. My work situation is good, essentially I've been wfh for 30 years - I have freedom and flexibility, can't complain. Will this last forever? No. Is it good for the moment? Yes. I can't even really think about retirement at this point, not sure what that might look like. Feels like the longer I can go and put something/anything into savings, the better life will be in the long run.
Reliwonga@reddit
If I could disappear and nobody would be effected I'd take that option
theinvisablewoman@reddit
Same
Srw2725@reddit
Yup. The closer I get to retirement the less I care. 2.5 years to go!!
Bright_Broccoli1844@reddit
I have no ambition at the moment. I just need a job that I hate. I need a pleasant job with a window. I need to look out every now and then and see leaves or birds or a prairie or clouds rolling in or rain.
Sufficient_Stop8381@reddit
Yes. Stopped giving af after getting cut in a corp reorganization after 26 years of putting all I have into an organization. Found another job but I despise it and just don’t care anymore.
Happy_Cat_3600@reddit
My case of the fuckits has increased exponentially over the last couple years.
Libertyrose16@reddit
this comment made my day, thank you!
also a proud owner or a bucket of fuckits
KalistoCA@reddit
I’m currently in a box 2 job supporting box 1 co workers
I’m not moving into a box 3 job who doesn’t directly support box 1 cause those are ai risk jobs
I’m on cruise control with medium effort
Haunted_Voyager@reddit
Yep. Been that way for 10 years plus. Unfortunately, I can’t see a future being better than it is today.
Antique-Salad-9249@reddit
1000%. I don’t care about my career and so wish I could quit. I have two years until I’m at a point where I get my job’s health insurance for life, which is really good health insurance. I’d still have to work after that, but at least I could quit my current job. It’s an office job that I never wanted, but has been good to me in many ways. But I am so tired of it.
PowerNinja5000@reddit
Yeah. Pretty hard. I try to push those thoughts out because I'm not close to retiring, so my only other option is dying homeless on the street. Hooray for the rat race, weeeeee!
therelybare5@reddit
Getting there!
TheGriff71@reddit
Yes. After returning to the States 10 years ago, I struggled to find a good job. I finally have. There are way to many days I'd be happy to walk and go hibernate for a year before finding somewhere fun to set up. Bills have to be paid, though.
tonyevo52@reddit
Retired from the military, now work for an insurance company for the last 7 years...not horrible, but 9 to 5 is just draining when it's mindless work...
OhForFuckSake55@reddit
I called out today because I just couldn’t
Beautiful-Habit-825@reddit
26 years child protection office. My brain is cooked. Leaving January 2028 (I will be 59) and plan to work at a grocery store for a few years.
CompleteService8593@reddit
I’m officially in FUCK THIS SHIT mode.
Apprehensive-Ant2141@reddit
Hear, hear!
thermbug@reddit
IT is now my job. Being a parent is not my career.
rbrumble@reddit
You have to get into a trade now as a Gen X? That age is when many tradesman exit, as their bodies are worn out from the trade
wildeap@reddit
I know, right? My husband got offered an entry-level carpentry gig through a friend of a friend with a small construction firm about 8 years ago. Since he was fit, handy, fed up with high tech, and had all the tools, he was like, hey, why not? After all, the industry wasn’t what it used to be and “gO iNtO tHe TrAdEs” was the new thing.
Husband unit thought he’d be carrying, measuring, cutting, and installing lumber and other materials for single family homes. Instead, he was hauling 70-100 lb cabinets and countertops up multiple flights of stairs for a large, future apartment complex.
He lasted three days. If he hadn’t quit, his back would’ve done it for him. His boss—a really nice guy who was about the same age—totally understood.
Because the real problem is, no matter how fit we are and how well we take care of ourselves, our bodies start giving out in our 40s and 50s. Yet we’re expected to work until at least age 62 (the earliest you can collect Social Security).
FriendRaven1@reddit
I love my job (special projects coordinator for a group of companies) , but I'm nearly overwhelmed with work every day.
The president of the group has delegated a lot of his work to me and I'm on the verge of drowning.
I burned out a few years ago and spent a week in the mental ward recovering. While I don't see that coming, I wouldn't be surprised if one day I came to work and broke down.
Add in that I'm dealing with physical and mental ailments and I'm so fucking Tired.
TrainingLow9079@reddit
I care about my job. But trying to climb the ranks and stay competitve? Not enough to try much anymore. I try to put a little extra in retirement investing to compensate for my lack of career-climbing ambition.
copperfrog42@reddit
I never had a career, just jobs. My current job is retail grocery, and it’s not horrible. The benefits are decent and it’s close by, but that’s all I need for now.
pchandler45@reddit
Ya I couldn't bear the thought of going back to an office again. Currently bartending
ButOfCourse@reddit
Right there with you brother (minus the layoff but that likely is coming). I need to care as I’m not in a position to retire yet but I just DGAF.
AdGold205@reddit
I’m semi-retired but we depend on my income.
And even though my job is easy, very part time, and my boss is very reasonable, I still feel burnt out too sometimes.
I’ll probably never quit it because it’s such a good situation for me, but I can’t wait until we aren’t as dependent on it.
We still have teenagers at home, so until they are launched, we’re still in the grind. (One is autistic and I doubt she will be fully supported without us for a long time.)
ebeth_the_mighty@reddit
Mortgage will be paid off in 8 years. Earliest unreduced pension in 6.
I’m actually considering doing a doctoral program to relax by getting a paid education leave.
ZeroCalorieCoffee@reddit
I’m knocking on 50 and I honestly don’t know how I’ll survive to retirement working this current job. Something has to change.
RiverDizzy6085@reddit
49 here. Feeling the same 😑
Marigold1976@reddit
With you. My org is in the midst of “consolidating administrative units”, which will come with job loss for many people. I am in proximity to leadership and I know too much. It’s very hard to be around. Meanwhile I’m in charge of team building events, retreats, etc. I’m ready to walk away, but I can’t just yet. It’s brutal out there, my heart breaks for young people just starting out. I try to remain hopeful for their sake but it’s exhausting.
Droll_hrlady888@reddit
Start looking now.
wahznooski@reddit
Yep, 25 years as a graphic designer, mainly working with marketing teams. Got so burned out during the pandemic I literally changed careers. Terrible move financially, but I’m happier now and WAAAAY less stressed despite the finances. I made a lot more money before, but I never had time for anything else and was always thinking about work. Really nice to have a job I can go home from these days.
NtMagpie@reddit
So burnt out I can't think straight. 5 years, 5 mos, 27 days left. I'm lucky that I know a lot about my job and am personable. I can answer almost anyone's questions and direct you to the person who can if I can't. If it weren't for that, I'd probably be fired.
Worth-Pear6484@reddit
Currently unemployed, and really do need to work for another 10 years or so. Have applied to almost 70 jobs that I don't really care about. Have been in the interview process with one company, and hoping to hear about next steps or maybe get a job offer.
While I'm waiting, I have a few more applications to put in this week, but I care so little, I'm going to go take a nap, then get back to the applications later this afternoon. Or maybe tomorrow morning. Lol. Good luck to all of us!
jenorama_CA@reddit
I started working right out of high school in 1991 and accidentally fell into tech, culminating with 21 years at Apple. Coming back from holiday break in January of 2022, I logged out of an online meeting towards the end of the day and just started sobbing. Came home and told my husband, “I think I need to quit my job.” And I did. After much hemming and hawing, of course—the golden handcuffs are extremely real—and now it’s 2026 and I’m still unemployed. And still mostly okay with it.
My husband is still working (at Apple), so we’re covered for health insurance, earning a good wage, putting away for retirement and I had socked away quite a bit in my time. We don’t have any debt and it’s been nice to just be available for whatever. Right after I quit I went on a cross country road trip with my dad. I took my BFF on a cruise for our 50th birthdays and to celebrate her Bachelor’s, my husband and I have gone on a cruise, my Dad and I have gone on a cruise and then I got to nurse him through the pneumonia he caught on the cruise. Home improvements, drop everything family emergencies, BFF asking if I can be available at a meeting at her mom’s rehab next Monday? Absolutely. Volunteering for my friend’s charity Halloween haunt every night? No problem.
I probably can’t go on like this forever. I’m kind of running out of video games to play, but I need that unicorn job where I can just say, “Oh, I’m not going to be available on XYZ.” Do those exist? I don’t even know.
skunkyskunked@reddit
I first thought it was my husband posting , also got laid off for 3rd time in 6 years and he’s 60 now. We still have mortgage though , not sure where we’ll go from here
Libertyrose16@reddit
Burnout is a thing and I’m retiring this year, tired of working with boomers who run the show and not into hustle culture.
Retiring in Juky.
Droll_hrlady888@reddit
I’m sick of boomers.
deleted_by_reddit@reddit
[removed]
GenX-ModTeam@reddit
No Politics - Political posts or comments of any sort are not permitted. If you wish to have political discussions, you may do so on our other sub r/GenXPolitics.
Breaking this rule may result in bans, either temporary or permanent.
Before you make the claim: No, providing respite from political discussions does not infringe on your rights.
Also, this politics ban was put before the sub over a year ago, and members have spoken.
ConstructionThin8695@reddit
I've worked for state agencies for just over 20 years. I have a bit under 10 years until my full pension and I don't know how I'll make it. I'm dying inside. I loath office work. I'm sick of emails and mindless tasks and idiotic/insufferable bosses. I'm just done. I recently switched agencies, but it hasn't helped. I just don't want to work in a cubicle anymore, doing a bunch of tasks I have zero interest in with a bunch of people I don't want to be around. They aren't bad people. I'm just completely over all of this. But I have bills to pay like everyone else...
Libertyrose16@reddit
THIS
localgyro@reddit
I just quit my nice corporate job last year and am retraining into a mental health career. Also leaning into theater and D&D.
kegsbdry@reddit
I'm aiming to kill all debt before checking out and half assing my way through the rest of my life.
I can always fall back on a job that's less stressful and a higher quality of life... later.
crone_Andre3000@reddit
yep I am done...I literally do not care about any of this crap anymore.
BookkeeperLeading887@reddit
Omg I totally get it . I’ve been with my company for over 23 years - division manager / sales and operations . Lofty sales goals every year and I just don’t give a shit anymore - I don’t mind my job , but trying to reach the growth goals - blehhh . I just don’t have that kind of passion and drive for impressing and pushing anymore . Counting down the days until I can retire . I’m 57 and surrounded by young guns who are building their careers and I feel totally lame in comparison in terms of passion , drive and excitement over it all .
inot72@reddit
Yes. Every day gets harder.
IndependentlyGreen@reddit
As I sit here forced to share my office space with someone who won't make eye contact with me and barely speaks to me, the word burnout doesn't come near to what I feel working here everyday.
I don't want to wish my life away, but retirement can't come any sooner.
Being older, there's not much comrodery anymore in the workplace.
No_Maintenance_9608@reddit
I pretty much DGAF at this point. Been a fed for almost 34 years and will be eligible for retirement with full benefits next year. Wasn't my choice of profession, and through the years had supervisors who weren't properly trained to supervise/mentor. It also didn't help that at home my folks discouraged me from knowing how to talk myself up when it came to trying to get a better job/position. I needed to always be humble and modest which doesn't do any good in this situation.
Now at the end of my career I'm fine with where I am and not interested in taking courses or seminars that talk about moving up in the leadership ladder; should've been offered to me years ago.
Wide-Form-7865@reddit
Yes
bionic_cmdo@reddit
My second layoff and it's back to back. Early 50's still looking for another job to get me to the finish line. Cars and credit cards are paid off. Mortgage payment low. So now really stressing about them. The stress is trying to get back into the job market, I have so much more to save and give to the job.
J-Cal22@reddit
If you want to learn a trade, seek out a big printing company. As you can imagine, the .com wave hit the industry hard and many left for good. If you are dependable, have half a brain and willing to work, any large printer will want to talk to you. Good luck!
TheRealFinatic13@reddit
109 working days left.
jrobski96@reddit
I have less than a minute my left before I retire. It's easier to care a little when you've got so little time left but even easier to let everything go during off hours.
killslikeaninja@reddit
25 working days left and I’m out. It’s been a struggle the last several months.
Goldie1976@reddit
Few years ago I was definitely burned out and took job that looked fun and adventurous. Had no desires of advancement. Just wanted to finish out my years before retirement.
I've gotten more raises and promotion here than I got in the last 20 years of working my previous jobs.
I've had a couple friends do the same because of what I did. I know everybody's situation is different but it definitely worked out well for me.
One-Pepper-2654@reddit
60 here, teacher as second career. Trying to stock it out to 65. Pension will be about 35 k a year. Wife makes a lot more than me. Hoping for a very cautious retirement in 5 years.we don’t need much.
Advanced_Tax174@reddit
Curious how you transitioned into that. I would trade a highly paid corporate gig to teach elementary school but the process seems daunting. Don’t really want to go back to school at this point.
MaximumJones@reddit
jrobski96@reddit
I just sent this to the new kid at work haha
ReweSerious@reddit
55 and over the struggle and hustleto advance. No major bills but the necessities. I wish I could retire today.
Strangely-addictive@reddit
Me. I'm currently at home. Will re-evaluate in September.
Anotherams@reddit
35 montfhs, 3 days, 6 hours until reirement. Flying under the radar for the rest of my time.
Doordasheasthartford@reddit
I never gave a shit about a career I am still here at 55
Vintage-Injun@reddit
Short answer, yes. You are not alone. I agree with a lot of what you said. Currently my place of work is restructuring how and where we work so we can collaborate with each other more. They are requiring more in office and less working remotely. I don’t give a shit about their mandates and rules when we in the USA are bombing the shit out of a foreign country for no fucking reason. Save money so we can do what with it? Spend it on exploding shit to murder innocent people? Yeah, corporate and govt rules are a load of shit.
Sea-Bill78@reddit
GenX = about 30 years of work on average? I think it is totally normal for us to feel burn out. People before us retired earlier.
Careful_Tomorrow_653@reddit
My dad is 90. Still working 40 hrs a week. He enjoys it. But I didn't inherit that. He probably doesn't even need the money.
Bright-Form730@reddit
Or just retired in general. Not sure I’ll ever be able to fully.
Whippity@reddit
I can’t believe I’ve been working (mostly) in my career for 30 years. It’s gone by incredibly fast but these last few years now feel like the slowest it’s ever felt.
MarquesTreasures@reddit
Did 20 years in the military. Spent the last 5 getting out of debt. Now I just garden and DGAF that my neighbor is chasing the next car or boat.
joeyjoejoeshabbadude@reddit
See if you can find a temp job that focuses on working outdoors. It will keep you in shape and you get to bask in that Colorado Sunshine.
Fluid_Anywhere_7015@reddit
I'm 60, in higher ed. They've butchered tenure, no one is retiring until they hit the maximum age, so no advancement in non-tenure track positions. I'm desperately hanging on for another two years at least, but hoping to make it to 65 before I'm no longer abjectly terrified of losing my post.
Funny, isn't it, that at the age where I'm supposed to be building a legacy in my department, I'm instead hunkered down and trying not to draw any attention to myself because this is the single most dangerous time in my career. Too far away from SS and Medicare, and too old to realistically hope for another position that pays even half of what I earn now.
This fucking sucks.
Careful_Tomorrow_653@reddit
I feel this in K12 too. I'm in an uncertified admin position and need this pension but it's 15+ years away.
birdlord_d@reddit
Yes, this is me except I am a fed employee with no raises in sight... which affects my pension. But I just want to hold out for 4 more years...if I'm lucky enough to get out unscathed.
notevenapro@reddit
34 years in medical imaging. 6 years, 6 months and 20 days to go.
Lucky-Ducker@reddit
30 years as a software engineer, and I'm too old to give af anymore and too young/broke to retire. With Ai replacing jobs, I'm just trying to make it another 4 years until I can retire.
Flippin_diabolical@reddit
Yeah I’m so over working. Too bad I have at least 7 more years to go.
rosesforthemonsters@reddit
I don't think I'm burned out, I just DGAF.
I have never cared less about any job than I do about this one. I'm just here for a paycheck.
If I got a better offer, I'd quit this job, without notice, and never set foot back in the place.
varleys@reddit
Heh the timing of this post. I sent my partner a message 20 minutes ago with ‘can we talk tonight? I don’t think I want to do this anymore. I’ll keep investing, take smaller pension, part time job if needed but I’m so burnt out’.
My situation is likely not unique but I have serious health issues (digestive disease), I’m managing 20 people who I’m sure can feel me slipping. I want to stop the 9-5, get healthy, take care of my partner (who doubles my income) and just end the race.
1/2 mill invested, 3k a month pension, no debt… does sound too bad I’d be just fine.
dcamnc4143@reddit
Yeah I don't care either, and they know it. I saved/invested my whole life and can leave when I want, so if they dump me it's fine. In the mean time I collect a check.
Pug_867-5309@reddit
Yeah, this is where I was a couple of years ago. Then an important family member had a couple of very serious health scares over a 15-month period, and I decided time was more valuable to me than more money. So I left the corporate world. No regrets.
DMGlowen@reddit
Me
haz_waste@reddit
I switched careers because of this. I started getting bad reviews at work (not that I cared). I found a new job because I was starting to believe I was going to get fired.
teleheaddawgfan@reddit
Biz owner here. The grass isn't greener over here. The constant anxiety of keeping this thing going since COVID has been one challenge after another and these self imposed tariffs and gas prices aren't helping. The top 10% of earners can't make up for 50% of all consumer spending. It's completely unsustainable and I keep saying unsustainable a lot lately.
I despise this timeline and I apologize to my kids almost monthly that this isn't the way it's supposed to be.
Mulezzz@reddit
I had a job that got more intense and stressful during the pandemic. It burned me out, but I kept on going. We returned to the office and I hated the traffic and commute more than ever. Had an opportunity to go out on my terms. I took it and didn’t look back.
Careful_Tomorrow_653@reddit
I'm on my third career all under the same umbrella (journalism/communications= terrible pay). I'm 50 and jealous of my friends close to retirement or those retiring at my workplace. I wish I could leave the work force today. But I only realized after turning 50, when I woke up from partying for 30+ years, that I don't have a fraction of what I'll need in retirement since I didn't save well or at all in my mid 20s-approx 40, since I kept moving and buying houses and not preparing to leave the work force I despise. So I'm stuffing as much as I can into retirement funds and I'm thankful for a meager public sector pension while hoping a layoff or restructuring doesn't happen. I'm gonna have a financially lean 50s and hope to be able to make it 15 more years in the drudgery. I'm thinking about it 5 years at a time.
EmbarrassedAge7612@reddit
I’m successful at what I do but don’t find the same joy. It’s all become predictable which in turn becomes frustrating. It’s the same issues with the same people. The solution is always the same as well. Lather, rinse, repeat. I’m beginning to think I’m only succeeding because everyone else is too dumb to try something different.
akasan@reddit
Am I the only Genx that feels as if they have stepped into a parallel universe that only resembles the one we grew up in? Things happening that would have NEVER happened back in the day.
pancakeonions@reddit
Yea, I can't tell if I'm now the old that yells at the kids to get off my lawn, or things have really gone to hell. I think it's the latter, but I just can't believe we're here. How the heck did this happen? I've seen my entire economic sector essentially evaporate (global and domestic/US public health), and that has just taken the wind out of my sails. This all adds to my attitude of just not caring deeply about, well, almost anything anymore.
rokken70@reddit
Completely. Haven’t worked in over a year, living off inheritance and house sales. Just working out, writing and doing art. I’m going to keep doing it as long as I can afford it. We don’t owe these late stage capitalists any bit of our effort or care. They wouldn’t think twice to send anyone’s butt out the door if that thought it would save them 50 cents.
Illustrious-Maybe924@reddit
Yeah, I am in the same place really, burnt out and feeling stuck. I'm also a bit afraid of retirement even though I have substantial retirement savings. I've been in the software industry for 29 years now. I would like to work another 10 years. I got very close to closing a new VP gig, but it was put on hold when that company got a new CEO. Partially because of that mind shift around wanting to leave, I am having a very hard time imagining 10 more years in my current company. I am 56 now and may just say f-it and retire at 59.5 when I can draw on my 401K. I do have a lot of home equity to fall back on and could move from my current HCOL area to a less costly place. I know I am in a better position than many others in terms of retirement and feel fortunate for that. The craziness in the political machine is not helping my outlook.
Jah-Pa-Joe@reddit
I don't know if its burnout per se, but I am about 60, and see the end coming so my motivation certainly is not what it once was. I find more meaning in bike riding, quantum mechanics, and friends & family.
Anonymo123@reddit
nearly 30 years in my field and I am not burnt out with the career but with the company. No one wants to do a solid days work, try and suggest a better and more efficient way to do thing.. sorry "why change it". All my career I am here to fix and make things better and this company could care less.
So I am slowly moving into the "quiet quit" mentality. I will do a solid days work, get online on time and off at exactly 8 hours later, zero after work\night\weekend work and I will ride it out until they lay me off. Honestly the pay and benefits along with insanely flexible schedule would be impossible to match.. so i will continue. If i lose my job, i may just retire and reduce my annual withdraw.
But.. i am doing the math on my retirement and being 52, i can't fathom doing this until I am 67. I hope to retire by 55 and have some time left to enjoy my life.
NihilsitcTruth@reddit
I've been burnt out since 2013, my charged husk keeps working.
Good_With_Tools@reddit
I envy you. I'm still many years from being in your shoes. That said, I have some perspective about what you said about trades.
I was a guy in a white van for 25 years. I went from place to place and fixed things. I fixed things that most people don't know how to fix. After 25 years, my body was destroyed. Mostly my hands. I now use my knowledge of this industry to keep a team of about 900 techs moving efficiently. I work from home, but I am in front of a computer for 8-9 hours a day.
Now to my point. The grass is only greener because the shit is fresher. It sucks everywhere. That's why they have to give us money. So, pick your type of suck, and go embrace it. If you want to turn wrenches for a living, look into biomed or dental equipment repair. No real certs needed, and the working conditions don't suck.
OldBanjoFrog@reddit
I’m burned out right now. I got laid off from a job I loved, and am working in an environment that seems to drive me insane. It has me thinking about walking away from engineering.
heynow941@reddit
GenX’ers need to remember that your health situation can change quickly. You may not care about work from a climbing the corporate ladder perspective, but getting a solid health care plan should be a priority.
MisterSandKing@reddit