Employee asks for tips to overcome the bad feeling from a soul-sucking 9-5 job: ‘I end up rotting away in bed, doom scrolling on TikTok and Instagram reels because I finally feel let go from the chains of an 8-hour office day.’

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Olivia Arocena • Writer and Editor
Aug 11, 2026 4:00 PM EDT

Tips on how to unsuck your soul

Having a 9-5 can drain you if you don't know how to handle it; you can spend your entire life stuck inside that loop, so it's mandatory to search for alternatives to make your life enjoyable again.

Some jobs are too tiring, and the only alternative is to change, but other jobs are ok, and what needs changing is our routine or our attitude for the rest of the day.

For example, if I get out of work and take a nap, I'll run out of energy and mess up my entire schedule; I have to control myself, so I don't do it. And if I don't keep my house tidy or my plates clean, I also run out of energy, so aside from work, it's good to get those things out of the way quickly, so I have energy to do something else after work.

Ideally, household chores shouldn't keep you from enjoying your free time. The solution to this problem, for me, is to get them done very quickly, at a specific moment of the day, so they don't take up much of your time. I put on a podcast and try to have fun while I clean or cook, so that when I get off work, I can focus on things I actually enjoy.

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  • man taking his hands to his face
    via Martina Carinci

    The worker realizing his job is soul-sucking

    Representation

  • Monday-Friday, 8:30am-4:30pm

    Initially I was excited to begin my Monday-Friday 8:30am-4:30pm office job. I would get off at 4:30, make supper, complete my chores and be in bed by 9pm oh, and perfect - weekends off to spend time with family and
    via suddenmisconception
  • friends! Well I was mistaken, I am drained to say the least. I've lost my sense of self, my day depends on how much my boss decides to micromanage me, running off a cup of coffee and a passive aggressive email
    via suddenmisconception
  • pushing me until I see the clock strike 4:30pm. Once my day ends I don't find myself wanting to do anything, cooking - that's draining. Socializing? I physically cannot speak to someone again. What
    via suddenmisconception
  • about going to the gym? Well I need to pack my lunch for tomorrow at work, shower for work, prepare my laundry for work. Honestly I'm drained even thinking about it and I end up rotting away in bed, doom scrolling on TikTok
    via suddenmisconception
  • man using smartphone
    via Borna Hrzina

    Doomscrolling 'till the day ends

    Illustrative image

  • and Instagram reels because I finally feel let go from the chains of an 8 hour office day. I hate feeling like I always need to ask permission to just live my life. You have a hair appointment - you
    via suddenmisconception
  • need to text your boss and explain how you will complete all your work before leaving and if it's okay to take 2 hours off on a Friday because your hairstylist doesn't work weekends. It's like that with everything, the
    via suddenmisconception
  • dentist, the doctor, god forbid you have a family emergency you'll be the next example of who didn't show up for the team! I try to look for the bright side and I am thankful to have a steady income and
    via suddenmisconception
  • a job, but I know there is someone who understands me. Can anyone give me tips on how to overcome this feeling?
    via suddenmisconception
  • chillpapaya1958 Is this your first job?
    via chillpapaya1958
  • Dangerous-Card-962 I could have written this post. I hear you, OP.
    via Dangerous-Card-962
  • man meditating
    via Sander Sammy

    The balance we all want to achieve

    Subject is a model

  • That’s another thing: maybe you have free time, but if you’re spending it doomscrolling, how do you expect to feel the next day? It’s all a matter of taking care of ourselves; we should try to make an effort to go out, to talk to other people, to have a hobby, anything but doomscrolling and alienating ourselves even more.

    We work to pay for food and the bills, but we shouldn’t live to work. Maybe we focus too much on letting it flow and assume activities should come to us, but sometimes we have to make an effort to get out there; otherwise, we will get stuck in the endless doomscrolling cycle.



     

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workplace-stories toxic-workplace work workplace toxic-work-environment
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