How do you fix this? For the last 10 years of my life I've basically woken up each morning and wished I hadn't. I don't like what I do. I can't afford to not do it anymore. I don't even know what, if anything, I would actually enjoy waking up for.
Really though, I don't know your situation, but it sounds like you gotta grab your huevos and change something.
If there are financial issues, get rid of them as best you can. Explore other options for making money or getting out of debt or whatever you are in.
If there are family/emotional reasons, remember that other people have feet too and can walk with you to a new place.
If there are depression reasons, I hear running and weight lifting are great for it. Docs too, as I said. Also, music and dancing seem to be good too.
You gotta plan for the end of your life just as much as the next meeting. And only you can do it for you. Take baby steps though, but keep them rolling.
> I don't like what I do. I can't afford to not do it
> anymore.
I've been consistently amazed at how much I can squeeze my outgoings and maintain a pretty similar standard of living / happiness. The book "Your Money Or Your Life: Transforming Your Relationship with Money and Achieving Financial Independence" really goes to town on this idea.
I've also been surprised by the degree to which I can sit down with a bright friend and brainstorm out changes I can make to my work that dramatically increase my enjoyment of it. Assuming that your enjoyment of your work is out of your control, rather than working to bring it in to your control, is a mistake.
How do people have time for social activities and things? I mean on weekends I usually work around the house to catch up on things I missed during the week. It takes me 5 hours to cut grass so that doesn't help. Maybe once every 2 months or something I will go out with my wife.
I thought about pulling a Peter Gibbons and getting in to construction or something a little bit physical. My family are all in construction and most of them make more than I do and spend a few months per year laid off (meaning time to do other things besides work).
Outside of work I like lifting. Am trying to get back into running and even some competitive sports (ice/roller hockey) but it's hard to make time for it. Especially with travel.