Getting increasingly bored of work at startup
So I am working at a startup for around a year now. Everyday I see, it feels, what am I really doing? Where is the life headed? Doing bare minimum or doing your tasks and fucking off isn't enough. It's expected that we outgrow constantly, as if it's this work that we can always think about and nothing else. At the end, am wondering if it's still worth it? 1 day it feels that let's just quit it! Next day I feel, okay, I do want the money. I ain't looking for suggestions here, just wanted to see if anyone else felt this way
Been there, but money is very important especially for a middle class family, for most of us we are earning 5x more than our parents at least and have huge expectations from families to provide them with good life
@Kira92,
Been there? You are not right now in it? How did you get out of this rut?
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Bereal
Stealth
a year ago
Your dopamine receptors are fried. Get rid of social media apps and get a dopamine detox. I know your aren’t looking for suggestions but trust me this will help you.
A lot of us are feeling the same way as you. We are constantly looking for new things in life, something that can give us a kick. That’s not how world works.
If you are getting bored, go deep in your work, deliver something more and keep at it. You won’t be paid more but trust me you will be damn satisfied.
devkaizer
Stealth
a year ago
You make a very fair point!
I am not complaining that I am not satisfied. Believe me, when I go deep, it's damn fun! That's when the true fun is! But, I still feel I don't know why I am doing it! What's the point of all this? At some point, it just doesn't add up the amount of work you do and the pay you get. The constant need to be in the rat race, the constant comparisons, politics, managers being managers and only thinking about using you. The moment your use is over, you are made to resign / fired (klubworks TA team, or in general any TA team from these unicorn startups as well).
I honestly feel it's not fulfilling at all! I can't do what I want. Let's say I want to be on leave today, but there are so many deliverables to do that you cannot be.
You are forced to come to office now that corona is over. It's now even in FAANG.
We earn thinking we would have a luxurious life, but I honestly feel we aren't living (atleast I am not!). If my life is what is done on weekends, then I honestly feel I ain't living! I feel life isn't about earning a lot, it's about what do I want to do everyday, how do I want to spend my everyday! This should be our definition of life. And I honestly ain't living it
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Barbaadeshwar
Stealth
a year ago
Everyone feels the same. Only sociopaths and lifeless zombies find 'enrichment', 'meaning', 'purpose' from working the way we do.
Not true. I have people in my circle who absolutely love it! They even do more and more learnings on weekends! Man, seeing them it seems as if I am stupid or someone who's not in the right field
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GrimBeard75
Stealth
a year ago
I felt the same way at my last startup. Was laid-off next month.
GrimBeard75
Stealth
a year ago
Well, I'm laid off right now and looking for opportunities so no, I don't feel bored right now 😂
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Toph56
Stealth
a year ago
Many people go / went through this - including me. We spend 50%+ of our waking time at / doing work - so is it unreasonable to want more out of it? Not at all. But there are practical aspects to consider around financial stability / runway / dependents needs etc. I have interacted with people whose experience ranges from 5 to 15-20 and have formed my point of view based on that. You have to know what drives you - could be money, material possessions, learning, networking, status, social life, spending time with family, achievement orientation etc.
I see a few potential paths that could be sustainable over a longer period of time depending on what drives you -
1. Work at a place which solves if not all, but most of these aspects - a. you love what you are doing, b. you are inspired by the company's vision, c. you work with great peers from whom you can learn so much more / groom really smart people and learn so much more, d. you feel good about the impact you are creating. Yes, it's a difficult one to crack but also an ideal one. The usual optimisation variables like compensation, designation etc. are secondary here.
2. Start your own business - pick an area you are passionate about and build it your way. Employ good people and improve their lives. Do something that you'd feel excited about solving everyday.
3. Think of job / work as one aspect of your life. Can you learn / outgrow / create impact outside of it? I know friends who were going through this phase who picked up new hobbies / difficult things to do outside. It ranged from teaching physics to kids on the weekend to working with young entrepreneurs and advising them to learning swimming / boxing etc.
You have to think for yourself what really drives you and can you progress towards that with your current job?
@Toph56 , loved the suggestion! Truly! I just am unable to decide what really drives me. Could you give some pointers as to how to find it?
Toph56
Stealth
a year ago
Few things to try -
1. Create a log of what activities in the day were driving positive energy for you and which were negative. Write it daily for a few days to see if there’s a pattern.
2. What tradeoff are you willing to make on a relative basis - what’s the most important aspect for you in your life at this moment if there are no constraints whatsoever, what are rank 2, 3, 4 and 5. Why? This is your reflection so have to be honest and solve for yourself.
3. What’s the time horizon / milestone that might change the above rankings? Now think about constraints and see when / how you would like to solve each of them.
4. Six months from now - what will be the 3 things you’d love to have achieved and would be proud of -
An example - I realised at some point, working on my health was the only thing that mattered for the next 6 months and the rest of the stuff in my life was lower priority and I focused on that. I achieved some milestones there (building a habit, being more deliberate about it) and now I’m back to figuring out the priorities again.
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Been there in startup, been there in corporate - can’t agree more to this, but at the end when we see a beautiful smile on family’s face, everything seems worth it.
But is it true? Do you think our family expects our lives to be miserable? In the process of gaining money, I feel I have lost myself. Don't know what I am doing, don't know why I am doing. Don't know if not giving time to my family is the way to see their smile?
Try to bring some excitement in life. Take break go for vacations and come back with a vibrant energy
If this was a burnout, sure, I would've. But this isn't. This is about answering the question - where am I headed? What am I bringing to the table?
I feel vacations can solve burnout problem, but won't solve these existential questions
Do a little introspection about what is missing in your life. What do you like doing ? What is the aim of your life ? How do you want to spend your time? Is it just to earn money or something more meaningful?
But please don't just get quit this job. Find another job then only quit this one.
Yes, I am on the path of introspection, I am not getting any answers. Will dive deeper into first principles to tackle this.
Curious to know, you are a freelancer. How's that Going for you? Is it more peaceful to be self employed and away from all this rut?
Fantastic_returns_77
Stealth
a year ago
Tc?
Fantastic_returns_77
Stealth
a year ago
Read some philosophy brother. You might get some help.
I am 2022 graduate and after getting laid off from previous company, I joined seed funded startup. It's been 5 months since I joined and I am feeling the same as you. Even pay is not that great. What should I do ? Switching after just 5 months doesn't look good to HRs.
Do you think doing something of your own would help? Say a business, blog, content writing, freelancing? If yes, why not pursue that?
I don't have any problem with my profession, my problem is unhealthy working hours. After working all night in the office for a week, when we refuse to work on weekends, our manager treats it like an insult to him. He expects us to work 24x7 but he enjoys watching some random YouTube videos and web series while sitting in the meeting room.
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Can totally relate to this. It's been 6 months working at a startup and at certain times felt like what the fck am I doing
coderx
Student
a year ago
Been there
DarkerKnight
Stealth
a year ago
Absolutely true.
Randomization
Stealth
a year ago
Feel it everyday.
Especially the first 2 questions.
ShiroToki
Student
a year ago
It is for the money, otherwise why would anyone even work
Not really. People also work for creating a difference in lives of fellow people. If money was the reason, then all top ceos would retire after gaining money, right? Bcoz after a while, more money doesn't mean anything. It's like what's +100 on infinity?
There are so many people out there who work for solely making a difference. Like, take Raghuram Rajan for example, that guy didn't need money, he just wanted to do good and live his dream of being RBI governor and he did. Did he do it for money?
There are so many IAS officers who deal with transfers for their work, do they do it for money?
Same. At one point you start feeling bored. And ask yourself why you are even doing it.
Bored is not how I would describe it. I've been so much busy over the last year I don't even know what day it is. If I'm not busy working I feel I'm missing something even if it is a weekend
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