I’m a 26(f) and I started working in 2022, it has always been hard for me to come to terms with the fact that I am going to work forever (until retirement age). I struggle and think about this every day, it consumes me because I really don’t think this is how we are supposed to live
I don’t hate my job; it’s not even hard to do. But I wake up at 5am, leave the house at 6am to get to work at 7am, work until 4pm and I get home at 5pm
It feels like I have no time for myself and I struggle to understand how I am supposed to do this for 40 more years without a mental breakdown
Hey there. First, I just want to say thank you for being brave enough to write this out loud. There are millions of people walking around with this exact ache in their chest, and most of them have either numbed it out with distraction or buried it so deep they can’t even name it anymore. So you being 26 and already wrestling with these questions? That’s a sign of emotional intelligence and awareness, not weakness.
Now, let’s talk about what you’re actually saying here—because this isn’t just about work hours or commute times or the next 40 years. You’re bumping into a kind of existential grief. You’re grieving the loss of a story you didn’t even know you were telling yourself. Somewhere in the back of your mind, maybe you thought life was supposed to feel more free, more balanced, more human. And now, it feels like your days are measured in alarms, traffic, and fluorescent lighting. That grief is real, and it deserves to be named.
And you’re right: we weren’t designed to live like this. Our bodies weren’t built for endless bus rides, inbox zero, or eight hours under artificial lights. We were meant for connection, creativity, movement, rest. But our culture—especially here in the West—has told us that our worth is measured by our productivity. That’s a lie. And the problem isn’t you. The problem is the system.
But here’s the tricky part: You still have to live in this world. So how do you do that without losing yourself? Here’s where the rubber meets the road.
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Grieve the dream. Let yourself feel the sadness and the rage that life isn’t structured the way you hoped. Journal it. Talk it out with a trusted friend or therapist. Get it out of your body.
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Name your values. What matters most to you? Is it freedom? Creativity? Time in nature? Relationships? If your current job doesn’t align with those, then it’s time to start building a new path. Not overnight. But brick by brick.
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Redesign your life with intention. You don’t have to accept “work until you die” as your only option. Can you downsize, learn new skills, start a side hustle, move closer to work, or build toward part-time? What can you start today that future-you will thank you for?
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Create margin and rituals. Right now, it sounds like your day is so jammed up, there’s no room to breathe. Start small. Ten minutes in the morning with no phone. A walk after work. Music while you cook. These small things help anchor your day with you at the center—not just your job.
Finally, don’t do this alone. Isolation is a silent killer. Find community—real people you can be honest with. People who will dream with you and challenge you and sit in the dark with you when it’s too much. You weren’t meant to carry this by yourself.
You’re not crazy. You’re waking up.
And that’s where everything begins to change.