Why Do We Hate Work but Feel Lost Without It?

 

The Strange Relationship Between Work and Purpose

Lately, I’ve been thinking about something interesting—how we feel about work. When we have a job, we complain about waking up early, dealing with coworkers, the long hours, and how much we hate it. But when we’re unemployed, suddenly, life feels empty. We get restless, frustrated, maybe even depressed. It’s like we lose our sense of purpose.

Isn’t that weird? It’s like we don’t want to work, but at the same time, we need something to keep us going.

Maybe it’s not just about having a job. Maybe it’s about having something to do—something that makes us feel useful or gives us structure. When we work, even if we don’t love it, we have a reason to get up every day. We know there’s a task to complete, a paycheck to earn, a place we’re supposed to be. But when that’s taken away, we start questioning things. What now? What’s my purpose?

I think the real challenge is finding balance. We don’t want to be trapped in a job we hate, but we also don’t want to feel lost without one. Maybe the key is to look beyond just working and focus on meaning. Finding things outside of work that fulfill us, whether it’s a side hustle, a hobby, or just learning something new.

What do you think? Have you ever felt this weird contradiction between hating work but needing it at the same time? Let me know in the comments.