26-year-old fresh employee complains about burnout after 4 months of work, getting first taste of being a self-sustaining adult: ‘I can’t do mental work for 8 hours in a day, I feel like I can handle like 3, 4 hours max’

Author image for Etai Eshet
Etai Eshet • Editor
Jan 29, 2025 7:00 PM EST

What have we here? This 26-year-old youngster is getting their first real dose of what it means to be a self-sustaining person in this wonderful world of bills, burnout, and brain-draining jobs. Their first smokey, bitter taste of adulting.

Young, fresh, and armed with degrees that scream "hire me," their already learning the hard truth: no one warns you that being a grown-up means choosing between work that fries your brain and work that doesn't pay the rent.

He's only four months into his shiny new job, and already he's longing for the simpler days of gas stations and kennel tech gigs. 

You know, the good old days, way back when life was straightforward–do the task, clock out, go home. But now? Now it's all about "mental effort," "growth," and trying not to feel like a complete dimwit after eight hours of constant thinking.

Turns out, being "gifted" in school doesn't prepare you for the draining grind of corporate life. Who knew?

But hey, welcome to adulthood, where every choice is a lose-lose situation. Want a job that pays the bills? Cool, just give your energy and sanity. Want something low-stress? No problem, good luck affording groceries.

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  • "Is it normal to miss working a “brain d€ad” job when you start working in a job that requires mental effort?"

    "I miss working at a gas station or being a kennel tech so much"
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    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • I'm 26, graduated in December 2022, worked at a large public accounting firm for a year and couldn't handle the long hours or the dog-eat-dog environment, now I work in FP&A at a large manufacturing company and have been here for 4 months.
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  • I can't tell if it's because I'm still pretty new to my job and I'm still learning so much every day, or if this is just how mentally demanding office jobs are, but I
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  • Cheezburger Image 10460809984
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    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • miss working at a gas station or being a kennel tech at an animal shelter so much. I was a "gifted kid" in school, pushed myself honestly way too hard, and now I've found myself burnt out and
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  • feeling stupid every day (not just because I'm learning, but also because I make careless mistakes...I would like to think it's because I'm mentally exhausted 24/7, but maybe I'm lazy, and I just can't tell).
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  • It’s all part of the game, my friend. You’re just leveling up, and by leveling up, I mean realizing that no one’s really cut out for this nonsense. The trick is pretending you are while secretly dreaming of simpler times. You’re welcome and also, Welcome to the club kiddo.

  • I've worked "brain de d" / "de d end" jobs to support myself in school, and I honestly miss the work a lot. The problem is they don't pay a liveable wage, and of
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  • course I'd rather make more money if I can. I have my Master of Accountancy, BACC, BS in Economics, $65k in student loans, and a strong resume as of right now.
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  • Some days are better than others, but I just do not understand how I am supposed to use my brain for 8 hours straight. I have ADHD, but even on meds I can't do mental work for 8 hours in a day,
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  • I feel like I can handle like 3, 4 hours absolute max of mentally demanding work in a day. Is it possible to just not be cut out for a mentally demanding job, even if I'm "book smart"? Is there a better industry for me to work in outside of what my degree is in?
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  • Any Confidence2580 Yes, extremely normal, and common. It's not healthy to work in office environments all the time. No exercise, no sun, constant drama, it's just not good for you. But it's how we make a living.
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  • I also like working with blue collar people 1,000x more than I do white collar people. They're more real, have fun conversation, stories to tell. Office people are so afraid to say the wrong thing everything they say and do may as well be scripted.
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  • Gas station and animal kennel are both awesome jobs.
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  • beansprout1414 Yea absolutely. I worked an administrative job that was the same thing day in and day out, filling out the same forms, etc. I was definitely bored and felt like a cog in a big wheel, but I always had energy for stuff outside work.
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  • Now I work in a brain heavy job and often wish I was back in that boring office. Overall, my work is more fulfilling, but it is more tiring for sure.
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  • fierce_invalids No one can actually be productive for 8 hours. It makes sense you miss jobs working w your hands. Try to work as little as possible eothout getting in trouble at work
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  • blueberryfacemask Yes, I find myself missing working at the coffee shop from when I was younger compared to what I do now. I at least felt like I knew what to expect. Now my job is a combination of the unexpected, and I'm a new grad in a
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  • healthcare field, so makes me feel overwhelmed many days. I miss the known. But it is best to challenge ourselves as long as we are in a healthy environment.
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  • potatisgillarpotatis I'm a physician, and my "screw this, I'm switching careers" escapism job is working in the postal service. (My last summer job before it was all medical all the time.) Then I remember that my knees aren't 25 anymore.
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  • Though since I found a job I love and like, I haven't had to daydream.
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  • Also, nobody is focusing for eight hours straight. Take breaks, both coffee breaks and lunch. Chat with your coworkers. Walk around the office a bit for a more or less important errand. (You absolutely need to pick up a new pen from the supply closet.) And view meetings as a way to get away from your desk for a little while.
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  • S31J41 Majority of people would like a job that requires less thinking to ones that require more thinking.
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  • The only caveats are that jobs that require more thinking usually pay better and have less competition. There are also a select few that likes the grind and enjoys work.
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  • Turbulent_Peach_9443 Everybody feels like this. Also, don't have kids if this feeling continues. You need more down time. Plus every job is really hard for 6 months - a year in general I'd totally work in a kennel if it paid the bills!
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  • haizee No ones actually working a full 8 hours.. maybe you should take some more breaks. Like there's a reason why these jobs pay more.. everyone can fold clothes at retail. You need to learn to take breaks, go have some fun, not get burnt out, jump to less stressful job.
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  • pdoxgamer 2.5yoe here in FP&A. Senior analyst with a couple people working under me. Work 45ish the average week, very little downtime outside of lunch during the day.
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  • I sadly have no advice and suffer from similar problems. The only people who don't experience this in the field, from what I can tell, are those who are not interested in advancement. We may just be in the wrong field. Time will tell
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  • emelio10 lol you're experience literally mirrors mine, except I went corporate accounting instead of fp&a. I 100% agree, I hate this. I think it's the working in an office, I can't stand it.
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  • doubleblackdoggos I had an awful office job. Sucked the life out of me cause I didn't have energy to pour into my hobbies. So after Co id I became a flight attendant. I've never been happier lol once I step off the plane I don't need to think about work and I can be fully present at home.
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management boss workplace-stories hr toxic-workplace manager bosses work PTO managers supervisor workplace Horrible Bosses work-life balance
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