The 9–5
And the modern human
Does a person grow up and hope they are part of a 9–5 environment? Now that is debatable. A majority of jobs available to most people in modern times are within these parameters, typically weekdays. It is why the weekend is such a coveted idea, and why the weekend also tends to be the busiest socially throughout the week. There are exceptions, of course, but the 9–5 is such an ingrained idea in our culture, it is the norm. Whether it is referenced by Dolly Parton, or in our popular media, it is what many would consider to be adult life. I would argue a child would not wish to fit into this bubble, but it is what they will usually find themselves in in their adult lives.
I’ve never really worked following these parameters, having worked during my university studies and then in America. Now, working in an office, it is a strange situation. My whole life, I hoped to not work a job where I am just another number on a rota, that I would stand out and do a job I love. But, growing up is realising that sacrifices are necessary. Unless you are extremely fortunate, you cannot really work a job that is emotionally satisfying and provides you with enough salary to maintain a social life and future travel plans. In America, I loved being a camp counsellor, and could have saw a future in it, but it is not financially secure. Working at Amazon, it may have been steady income, and a career where I was guaranteed a job, but I hated it and it did not fulfil me. Maintaining this balance is important for any inner peace you hope to find.
It doesn’t help that we are fed different ideas from our popular culture. The 90s was the most active time for occupational discontent, with the rise of the internet and civil unrest around the globe. In particular, I think to films like the Matrix and Fight Club, where this theme is prevalent. The idea of the Matrix is that monotony makes us all the same, that we are all moving along in life without moving anywhere at all. The same could be said for Fight Club, which is an attack of the 9–5 idea, as it breeds the discontent many people had towards the modern work day and commercialism.
Even from childhood, we are told to dream big — you think of being an astronaut, a racecar driver or an actor. As a child, would you ever hope you became an accountant, or a HR representative? You don’t, which may be because you are a kid and don’t know what these jobs are, but it is also because these jobs are considered boring. You dream one day you will stand out from the crowd, and that you will make a name for yourself, but actually as you grow older, I can attest that a person just wants a job they enjoy, not love.
I think the best example of the changing tides towards office work in the 21st century is the US Office. It managed to do an exceptional job of turning the mundane into the desirable, showing that working these modern jobs can be rewarding and fun, if you have the right environment. The US Office is my favourite comedy, and genuinely I admire the work the showrunners did in changing the perception of this type of work. There was romance, comedy, and drama on display, something which happens in the office workplace but is not considered typically, and it is important to show people that it is not a negative to fall into a majority. In an era where a lot of people work in these situations, it is great to see positive representation and attitudes towards these lines of work.
Having worked in an office for around 4 weeks, I enjoy the atmosphere. The banter, the vibe, the whole thing has been great so far. Of course, I have issues with some parts (it would be weird if you work a job that is perfect), but having been putting off finding my future career for so long, I’m glad I am somewhere where I feel like an individual but I am in a rewarding career too. Maybe in the following months and years, I will regret this acceptance of this 9–5, and the idea that I am growing older, but for now, I am happy with this work, and I hope my childhood self is satisfied with my choices.
