Young worker complaining about burnout after one year of 9-5 sparks wave of sarcastic responses: ‘Welcome to adulthood. You get used to it after the first couple of decades

Author image for Etai Eshet
Etai Eshet • Editor
Jan 17, 2025 7:00 AM EST

Well, well, well, what have we here? A young buck, fresh-faced and full of dreams, already crumbling under the weight of a single year of full-time employment.  A whole year, you say? Prepare your tiny violins, someone fetch a fainting couch before this poor soul collapses into a puddle of exhaustion. goodness gracious, what a marathon. 

Let me channel my inner grumpy elder for you, the kind who starts every sentence with, "Back in my day…" Back in my day, we didn't "burn out" after a year of work. We didn't even know about burnout—our only medical condition was called 'quit crying, you're fine.' Tell me, child, did you expect adulthood to come with a warm blanket and a bedtime story? Or perhaps a medal for showing up five days a week? Because you sound about ready to faint after just dipping your toes into the great, bubbling abyss of adult working life.

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  • How do people work 5 days a week without burning out?

    "All those faces at home that want to eat and have a roof over their heads. Its a big motivator"
    via THEPALMER

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • Oh, the humanity! Back in the good ol’ days we didn’t feel overwhelmed because we didn’t feel. Emotions? We swallowed them whole, chased them down with black coffee, and powered through until the inevitable heart attack at 42. No one complained about being tired; we just quietly suffered until our bodies gave out. Whining was for quitters and therapy for wimps who lost it and started yelling at their lawnmower to start working again.

  • I've only been working full time for a year and I feel ready to burn out. It feels like I have no time at home at all. And I can't slow
    via Extra_Session_7317
  • 2
    via by courtneyk

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • So buck up, junior. This is the show. You’re just in Act I. The sooner you stop shaking your fist at the heavens, the sooner you can join the rest of us in the fine art of grinning through the pain. Or don’t. Start an Internet Blob or whatever they’re called like those other young do-nothings. Maybe you’ll go viral. Bless you.

  • down on hours because everything is so expensive. I'm so tired by the time my two measly days off come I just want to spend them sleeping and yet, I
    via Extra_Session_7317
  • can't because I need to catch up on whatever chores and errands I didn't have time to do during the work week. I hate this.
    via Extra_Session_7317
  • Cheezburger Image 10455824128
    via Sander Sammy

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • QuesadillasBeTasty It's tough but I try to get good sleep. Also, tough to do some times but having an active or event full Friday night makes the weekend feel so much longer.
    via QuesadillasBeTasty
  • User132134 It helps to schedule a random day off every few weeks. Don't make plans for that day just keep it to yourself. Sometimes knowing you have that day coming up gives you the moral boost to keep on keeping on.
    via User132134
  • Waste Net2532 Im curious too bc Im not even 25 and Ive completely broken down. I burntout already
    via WasteNet2532
  • Maxmikeboy Work just enough to not get fired, hard work won't pay off at a job. It's who you know and how well you can get along with people.
    via Maxmikeboy
  • DFW_BjornFree At some point, your skills and experience will buy you downtime. Me and many of my peers in my profession have "slow" days.
    via DFW_BjornFree
  • Generally, when things get overwhelimg we basically do very little work one day and honestly our work product doesn't suffer and no one seems to care. I would be lying if I said I've never had two "do nothing" days in a row.
    via DFW_BjornFree
  • They're healthy and very much needed. Sure I am still available and respond to requests/emails but they're lazy days that keep me swimming in this lifelong event.
    via DFW_BjornFree
  • Horror-Television-81 We're burnt out, the consequences of stopping keep us going.
    via Horror-Television-81
  • RadAcura Man I know that if I don't work for 2 months, I'm homeless with no money left. I have no family I can fall back on, just straight to failure and nothingness. That's a pretty good motivator to keep working even though I hate every second of it. Tax season starting, time for 3 months of 65-85 hour weeks....
    via RadAcura
  • SugarIndependent1308 Oh don't worry we all burnt out at this point
    via SugarIndependent1308
  • virtual_human Welcome to adulthood. You get used to it after the first couple of decades.
    via virtual_human
  • DnAGyal Burn out homeless
    via DnAGyal
  • _Smashbrother_ Because being poor and not having stability s ks. That's why people work.
    via _Smashbrother_
  • jrngcool Give 100% at your work. • mon 35% • tue 25% • wed 15% • thu 15% • fri 10%
    via jrngcool
  • AllergicidiotDtector I've been burnt out since I was 16.
    via AllergicidiotDtector
  • poodinthepunchbowl Some of us want to remain in a home with food in our belly?
    via poodinthepunchbowl
  • Miterstuck I like money
    via Miterstuck
  • Beautiful-Recipe-173 Caffeine.
    via Beautiful-Recipe-173
  • Fluffy_Decision4269 Welcome to the world.
    via Fluffy_Decision4269
  • Bensfone That's my secret, I'm always burnt out. Also, I like to eat and pay bills.
    via Bensfone

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boss workplace-stories hr manager bosses work managers supervisor workplace Horrible Bosses work-life balance millennials gen x baby boomers gen z
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