Been a long time lurker, first time poster. I have had a constant history of being overworked. Straight out of high school I started as a hydraulic lift assembler working 60~ hours a week.
About a year later I wanted a change and enlisted in the Army as a combat medic. I think the workload of active duty military goes without saying.
4 years later my contract was up so I decided to get out and try city government work as a correctional officer because it paid good and I needed the money. I signed up for the job posting that claimed 1 week on of 12 hour shifts, 1 week off. They failed to mention that your off week came with a mandatory minimum of 36 hours on shift so you really get 10 days on, 4 days off- if you were lucky enough to slip through the cracks of scheduling with the minimum.
After 18 months of that shit show I left and moved back to my home state with my wife. I went through a couple jobs and countless interviews after moving back before I started as an animal welfare officer for my city. I love helping people and love helping animals even more. I genuinely enjoy doing this job and if I work through my lunches and eat on the go I now work 45 hours a week, 8-5.
How crazy is it in this late-stage capitalism nightmare that I am overwhelmed with relief by working what my parents’ generation were crying about?
TLDR- started a 9-5 after working overtime for years at different jobs and now I’m happy for the first time since high school