This sounds like an unhealthy dependence on work to me. I enjoy my work but have far more fulfilling and enjoyable activities outside work. But hey, to each their own I suppose.
the bureaucratic bullshit, the HR bullshit, the "team building" exercises - i don't care if it's bowling or drinking alcohol, asshole managers, toxic co-workers, at-work politics in all it's wonderful forms.
i say this for large companies that pay well but treat you more like a number, for the small places that expect everything from you but treat you like family (at times), the startups, the regional companies, the tech companies, the non-tech companies, the customer facing roles, the backend roles.
it's all life sucking and life draining and there's no such thing, on a long enough time line (this is variable to people) that keeps it fulfilling. even changing it up all the time once oyu approach burn out.. .has it's breaking point where even that doesn't do shit for you.
work is a thing you do so you can live when you're done.
work sucks.
best job i ever had was working a kitchen of a BBQ restaurant. 2nd best was building walls and door frames for new houses as a teen. everything else i've ever done, blows and I'm 40.
That's an awful way to look at life. Work already occupies your most productive working hours, why wouldn't you try to make it the most interesting and fulfilling activity in your life?
Unfortunately
> why wouldn't you try to make it the most interesting and fulfilling activity in your life?
I can’t. I’d do it if I could, but everything the appears fulfilling seems to end up being a scam or not obtainable or not worth obtaining for the pittance it would pay.
To the question though, with “can’t” being used loosely:
- Anything that I lack the correct aptitude/intelligence to work on. There are a number of options in this category. Things that while I could probably do in theory, I’d be unable to keep up with the competition in a professional market.
- Anything with limited options for employment. Sure I’d love to be a ~~Haskell~~ ~~Adga~~ Idris developer or researcher in some crazy field with absolutely zero immediate monetization strategy, but there just aren’t many jobs to apply to. Even if I did anything right I’d still be likely to fail.
the most interesting job gets grinded down by process, by toxic co-workers, bully bosses, unrealistic expecatations and pressures, dealing with shitty "customers" (be them internal employees or external to the company).
my wife, my kid, hiking, camping, hitting the beach, listening to music, going to a concert, watching a movie, reading a book, gardening, yard/house projects, having my cat sit on my lap ..are all infinitely more rewarding than any piece of shit job could ever be.
I wish my work could enrich my employer more.
They can only deploy the smallest fraction.
I'm getting better at a faster rate than they are.