Why You're Doomed to the 9-5 Trap | Charles Bukowski

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I’ve always hated work, no matter what job. I’m not convinced into loving my slavery. I want freedom

I saw a group of children today. But I didn’t see them as kids. I saw them as future workers and laborers, toiling for the wealthy and powerful. To bring a life into this world, knowing what’s in store for them, for every one of us, doesn’t make sense.

I don't hate humans, i just feel better when they're not around. -Charles Bukowski

"The tired sunsets and the tired people it takes a lifetime to die and no time at all" Bukowski

As Henry David Thoreau said — "The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation." The ultimate goal is freedom. Design your own life and live it on your own terms, life is to short for any other way. Being employed is a false sense of security, the only security is making your own luck and having multiple streams of income. Follow your curiosity, follow that spark down the rabbit hole and see what you find. Ultimately in life, the biggest risk is taking no risks at all.

You spend at least n hour, or two getting ready for, and driving to work. Then at least 2 hours driving home and cooking dinner. Work lasts 9 hours including lunch. That alone takes 5 hours out of your “free time” leaving you 3 hours. Two days off was Never enough. Friday night, your too tired to do much; (it’s recovery time). Saturday you are maybe able to do something fun. Sunday your not; I always Hated Sunday, cuz the next day It’s that dreaded Monday, and it begins Again. Your company expects loyalty from you, when they give you none. Raises of .25 cents once a Year.,and you never Catch Up with your Rent Increase

I hate being told what to do so 9-5 is not for me. I discovered gig work like Uber and Doordash and been much happier no boss trapped in office same coworkers gossip politics bullshit…

This is why I like work from home. It’s not perfect, but it’s way better than when I had to be in office

I used to work 9-5 and dreamed about my own business. Right now I work 14-17h 😅

I work at the post office and used to work as a CCA in Detroit. The worst part for me was getting repeatedly sent out after you think your day is done and watching it get dark. It makes you move slower cuz you don't want to come back to early and get a ton more work which just makes the workload worse for everyone.

Im trying to do my own thing, but its all about ur mindset regarding a 9-5 or anything else for that matter. My way of coping with a regular job is to see it as a stepping stone for something better and developing a mindset of a more humoristic approach to life, to just observe the ant colony of humans and make up jokes in my mind. To think about the absurdity of life and not let any existential dread drag you down, its all in your mind

thats some things ive noticed. i end up not dong anything productive as a hobby beacause im either too tiered or feel guity of not working on my homework. and so i end up looking at videos and playing the games i can play mindlessly (the ones i had time to get good at and can just enjoy).

The critique of the 9-5 work structure presented in the context of Charles Bukowski's life and writings raises profound questions about the nature of work, societal structures, and the meaning of life itself. From a philosophical perspective, Bukowski's dissatisfaction with the 9-5 lifestyle can be seen as a rejection of societal norms and a quest for personal authenticity, a key theme in existentialist philosophy. His struggle reflects the tension between societal expectations and individual desires, a conflict that many of us grapple with in our own lives. The critique also prompts us to question the societal structures that dictate our lives. The 9-5 work schedule, deeply ingrained in our society, is revealed to be a relatively recent invention, a product of the Industrial Revolution. This realization invites us to question other aspects of our lives that we take for granted and to imagine alternative ways of living. Finally, the critique raises questions about the meaning of work and its role in our lives. Is work merely a means to an end, a way to earn a living? Or should it be a source of fulfillment and personal growth? And if our work is not fulfilling, what can we do to change that? These are complex questions with no easy answers, but they are crucial to consider as we navigate our own paths in life.

Under the best circumstances, it is immoral to bring a sentient being to life to deal with the pain of consciousness, existential crisis and mortality, even more so in a time when the world is crumbling around us and all social safety nets are gradually disappearing.

Work days should be 6 hours a day max.

I work as a network engineer and recently have been working with a network architect on solving some fundamental issues on the network. During our project a close family member of theirs passed away. They were supposed to take time off to grieve but never did and just kept working. This was a powerful reminder to me of what I never want to be. This person had a family member pass and all they could do was keep working 14-16 hour days.....

The worst thing about modern work, for most people, are the other people- bosses (many who should not be considered human), coworkers (ditto) and if you work retail or any other service industry, many, if not all of the customers.

WFH was not a good fit for me. I felt as if my home, my sanctuary of rest and peace got invaded. I was disgusted with the need to attend Zoom/Google meetings at home and attend to work matters while sitting in my favourite chair and drinking coffee from my favourite mug. The sense of invasion and pollution was real, and my home became more and more like a workplace as the days went by. Finally, the WFH thing lifted and I was able to finally draw the red line again. Home is home; I do not work at home. I work at the workplace, and do not treat the workplace like home.

Life is a scary journey, we all gotta deal with