$hit job is depressing--advice?

[TopHatFox]

I've just spent the last two eight-hour shifts shelving hundreds of books back on shelves, out of shelves, staring at a monitor in an otherwise empty library, and generally doing other mundane, linear tasks a computer could likely accomplish. The pay is $10.50 an hour. As far as jobs go, I'm sure it could be worse, but that doesn't make this job any less unbearable--especially for a 12 week + 3 day period. If it wasn't for the money, I would immediately quit.

I've been listening to podcasts, music, and reading while at the library, which makes my time there way more meaningful--but it's hard to do that for eight hours a day while in the shelves; it's like living vicariously for more than half of my time awake. I've also noticed that by the time I return to my room I collapse on the bed and sleep for a few hours, which only hastens the time before I must return at 8:30 AM in the morning. I am trying my best with stoicism to put this job in perspective--even if it does tend to breed negativity in it's linear work, it is in fact my thinking and lack of acclimation that is really contributing to the negativity. I'd like to improve my situation however, not just change what I think about it.

Do ya'll have any advice for making this situation better? Some recourses I could use are asking for more creative work at this job, quitting this job and living on my savings for the summer, asking a local bike shop for a job and hoping for the best, trying to amp up my bicycle mechanic free-lancing, asking a local homesteading/environmentally inclined friend for work around his homestead, asking a local climate justice group for a job (they're currently hiring), or....keep going back to the library and hoping I get used to the job.

[jacob]

Zen, dude!

I've done stuff that's way more monotonous than that including making smaller chains of e.g. 20 links out of a very long chain for eight hours straight. No music. No break.

Count links.
Break chain.
Insert link.
Hammer link, twice on one side, twice on the other side.
Put in box.

Repeat. Eight hours straight.

Only thing worse?

Pressing bearings with a hydraulic press for 4 hours straight.

Insert bearing.
Pump.
Put in box.

Repeat. Triceps shot!

It'll be normal/you won't pass out in bed afterwards after about 14 days.

Passing out just means that you're wuss ;-P ... but it's curable Same thing happened to me after starting this quant business.

[Tyler9000]

Zen, dude!

+1

From my perspective, you've got it made! It's funny -- I've considered looking for a stocking gig, either at a library or a grocery store. After years of wearing out the creative side of my brain for a living, I find self-paced monotonous tasks very peaceful. A straightforward job that lets you read and enjoy music and generally just think for yourself rather than always being "on" sounds great.

By all means, be proactive in seeking out work you enjoy. But always take the time to be present and enjoy each task for what it is. If you're always wishing for something better, you may eventually regret not taking the time to enjoy the here and now.

[TopHatFox]

Interestingly, I've learned I actually like working actively. For example, working at a bike shop, the hours fly--it's like I"m not even working. Same with fast-paced bartending.

If I'm farming at a big farm, cleaning entire dorms, or stocking endless shelves, I am bored and contemplating the meaning of my life quite fast, especially if the amount of learning or social interaction that happens on the job is minimal.

[Gilberto de Piento]

Most people at your age have bad or boring jobs. Its a good incentive to work hard to be able to get a better job later. That doesn't mean you shouldn't try for something better though.

Ask about a bike shop job. Worst case they say no.

I was just reading So Good They Can't Ignore You. I think the author would say you need more skills (career capital) before you will find someone willing to give you a better job in exchange for what you can provide them.

Look up the psychology term flow for why the hours fly by in certain jobs.

[George the original one]

I guess next year you'll have a better one lined up early instead of waiting to the last moment?

[C40]

For $10 an hour, you should be able to find a job that you don't hate like that. Don't you have other options?

[SimpleLife]

Sounds like what bothers you is too much freetime. That's not a bad problem to have. Use the time to learn skills to get a better job.

[billc]

Having a crap job for at least a little while has some value - so you know what it's like.

Best thing to do at a mindless job is to think about things! Come up with business ideas or think through an issue in your mind - or just day dream.

In general though - if I could do it again I would have spent my youth doing something entrepreneurial rather than making $10.00 running a register. I didn't need much money and it was the time in my life with the least responsibilities - I wish I spent more time/effort on upside opportunities than trading time for a small amount of money.

[vexed87]

Jobs like this are character building, not so much in the sense that they make you a more interesting or well rounded person, hell no. Who wants to talk to the librarian's assistant at a party? No one.

Rather, it will motivate you to do something about your situation and get a better job quick... although I can think of plenty of perks of working in a library as you've mentioned in the OP. i.e. loads of time to read/listen to books/music. Sounds great to me!

If Stoicism isn't working, you haven't tried hard enough

[saving-10-years]

@Zalo Have you tried read-aloud books while you are pacing around stacking books? You could get ahead on your heavier reading (not podcasts or novels, but stuff that you could be pause+think about while stacking shelves). Philosophy? You are surrounded by things to read and learn from. Wow.

I agree with @Tyler9000. The examination invigilator job that I have post retirement requires little more than walking around and following orders. I spend time composing - pretty bad - poetry or short stories in my head. This is something I would never have had the mental space to do ever before - choosing what I want to think about for hours at a time without the clamour of work intruding.

[fiby41]

I have cousin who passes out after his 12 hour shifts months after starting on the job as a bartender. He did an MSc in Hospitality Science for this. 'You're acting like a 'wuss' and its not like we haven't done monotonous jobs ever before' is the reply he gets from elders too.

You say you wouldn't do the job if it wasn't for the money. Have you calculated current job money as percentage of current savings and FI requirement to get a rough idea of how much this job bulges and reduces those respectively?

I was in more or less a similar situation as yours. I interviewed for a job at a call center but didn't join upon selection. What the acquaintance who had worked night-shifts before whom I talked to said was 'If there isn't an emergency for the money I wouldn't recommend it.' I don't know your personality type but it could also help provide a rough idea of what jobs / type of job will suit you beforehand.

It is not like you didn't know what being an assistant librarian entails or if it came off as a surprise. Even a person's first visit to the library gives him an idea of a day in the life of a librarian (or any other person-person job) looks like beforehand. So, it is presumed, you clearly have weighed the cost against the benefit and decided to give it a go and I didn't. Otherwise you can accept the gift of your first hand experience and hindsight now and change your mind to think that the cost far outweigh the benefit.

[cmonkey]

Zen, dude!

+1

From my perspective, you've got it made! It's funny -- I've considered looking for a stocking gig, either at a library or a grocery store. After years of wearing out the creative side of my brain for a living, I find self-paced monotonous tasks very peaceful. A straightforward job that lets you read and enjoy music and generally just think for yourself rather than always being "on" sounds great.

+2

Just my opinion but that sounds like a great job to have. Working in IT I have found that "creative" mind work is much more exhausting than monotonous physical work. I find it very peaceful to sit on a 5 gallon bucket picking weeds out of the ground for an hour or two at a time.

[walker]

You say a computer could do your job -- can you identify the inefficient parts of your work and write some code to automate them?

Or use the time and quiet to start taking notes for your own novel, or screenplay, or music, or blog. Sounds like you've been consuming a lot of media -- would it be more fun right now to create something?

[Chad]

I have found that a portion of my hate, boredom, etc. for a bad job comes from myself. Allowing your mind to constantly think "This shit sucks!" is just reinforcing how much it sucks. Constantly thinking these negative thoughts when you get up, work, get ready for bed, etc. just makes it suck worse and makes it more difficult for you. Positive or at least no thoughts about how you hate your job will go a long way towards making it at least palatable. Especially, since you have a light at the end of the tunnel, as the job has a definitive ending.

This doesn't mean you can't look for a job that sucks less.

[Scott 2]

Try doing as much not working with your coworkers as you can. Failing that, get the patrons to entertain you.

[Ego]

One of the most interesting people I know is a page at the library. He is a real character, has written a few books and lives for free in the caretaker's cottage of a cemetery. While at work he is like a bloodhound, constant sniffing for something interesting. Whenever I talk to him I find he generates these mad, wonderful, meandering conversations that I end up thinking about for a week.

You ask a lot of great questions here. Librarians have a lot of time for introspection. And they've been conditioned to answer questions to the best of their ability. You may be surprised by some of the things you learn by machine-gunning questions at them every time you pass with your cart.

[BeyondtheWrap]

I would love to have that job. Actually, I did and I did.

[TheWanderingScholar]

As someone who has college debt; seriously? Sounds like a dream job to me.

[JanFromBelgium]

Hmm, I am a librarian for 20 years now. Although I can relate to your situation (have been there too), it is indeed completely up to yourself how you deal with 'boring jobs'. I have been in a place where I just had to correct records that other people had entered in a reference database. Have done that for 18 months, 8h a day. After three months I was so deep that I would have taken a cleaning job at Fukushima just to escape that place!!
But it was not until I took my act together again and started looking for other LIBRARY jobs, that things changed. Two things popped up:
1. I started to do other stuff at the job, asking around with colleagues who seemed to be loaded with tasks and responsibilities and no time to do it all
2. I found a lot of positive vibes just in looking for other jobs and doing interviews

Finally I ended up at a senior position in another library, and a really interesting and fun job it is!! But the weird thing is that in the final two months at the old boring place, I started to like what I was doing there, not only the side jobs I asked for, but even the dull data correcting stuff...

Message? As with so many issues discussed here on this forum: YOU are the solution to your problem use your own resources, the return will be guaranteed!