Comment by johnward | Hacker News Reader

Comment by johnward | Hacker News Reader

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I thought that feeling was just normal. I've experienced it basically since I started working in tech. I can't imagine most people want to actually wake up and go to work. It's not possible.

The funny part is I find myself dreaming of going back to stocking shelves at a grocery store like I did in high school. I'd never make enough money to support myself doing something like that though. I romanticize the Peter Gibbons move to go work in construction even though I know I probably wouldn't be happy doing anything. I long for stress free days. Especially when most of the stress I experience is just completely artificial or manufactured by my boss or company. Most of the problems I have at work shouldn't bother me after hours but they never leave.

I also thought that feeling was normal. I sure have felt it during my entire career.

It's getting worse though. I've soon reached the point where I really can't give a rat's arse about my job. The software I get to develop doesn't help making the world a better place. It doesn't help people, other than making rich people richer. It doesn't advance mankind. Not does it bring joy or excitement to anyone. It's just so pointless, drab and dull.

It is possible. I actually love going to work. Just wanted to provide a counterpoint here.

I didn't always feel like this. I used to work for a depressing place. But since I started working for my current company, the culture, the people, have made it worthwhile.

These people do exist, I actually do enjoy getting up and going to work. I've had a few multi month spans of unemployment, and found that sitting around the house/apartment all day was not for me. Also, now that I have small children at home, and a spouse that works, going to the office feels like a vacation.

It's the lack of feeling you've completed anything. I work for a major telecom company doing field support, mostly patching holes in the dike, and because of this, I can only rarely point to something and say "I did that" and feel good about completion or a job well done. It comes down to fighting the fire and moving on, which when combined with no feedback from management is a great way to leave work dissatisfied every day, and dreading the next.

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