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Welcome the to the real world!

Do you recall someone ever saying that to you after you started your first “adult” job?

Yes, it’s a bit condescending…but it’s also a bit of a wake-up call, isn’t it?

You can say that again!

The fella who wrote this job opened up about why the “adulting” phase of his life isn’t going as planned.

Let’s take a look!

I don’t hate my job. I just hate working.

“I’m 24 and recently started working full-time after finishing grad school, and I genuinely don’t understand how people do this for 40+ years.

My job itself isn’t even terrible. My coworkers are nice, my boss is nice, and the work isn’t particularly stressful. I think I just hate the structure of working full-time.

It’s quite a slog…

Wake up, commute, spend 8+ hours at work, commute home, have a few hours to yourself, sleep, repeat. Five days a week in exchange for two days of freedom.

What gets me is how different life felt in school and college. I was surrounded by people my age, involved in clubs and sports, constantly meeting people, and always had something happening or something to look forward to.

Life felt spontaneous and exciting.

Now what…?

Now every weekday feels predetermined. And when people say “welcome to adulthood,” I just think… seriously? This is what I’m supposed to do until I’m 65?

I know I need money and that working is part of life. But I hate having so little control over my own time. Even getting a better job or making more money doesn’t completely solve that.

For people who felt like this in their 20s: did you eventually adjust? Find work you actually enjoyed? Go remote or part-time?

Start a business? Pursue financial independence? How do you accept doing this for decades?”

And here’s what folks had to say on Reddit.

This reader had a lot to say.

Another individual shared their thoughts.

This Reddit user spoke up.

This person weighed in.

If you enjoyed this story, check out this post about an employee who found a way around his company’s denial of company time to study for his Commercial Driver’s License.

And another reader knows all about it…

As I like to say…

It is what it is!

You gotta work to pay the bills…it’s just the way it goes!