The world today demands that we transition from academic life into professional life swiftly but also confusingly. In many cases, the excitement of landing a new career clashes with the daily grind of full time work.
One such story has left a lot of people online wondering. Brielle, a recent college grad, uploaded a story on TikTok about her first day at work, and being emotional at it, set off a wider talk about what younger professionals face.
Throughout her candid video, Brielle explained exactly how she was dealing with her new routine, which consisted of daily commutes to her city job and a lack of sleep. These commutes took up such a big chunk of her day that she had little time to do anything with herself or for herself, she explained.
Brielle wondered though how one could lead a balanced life between their work and their life. Though she could never finish her job in time, she was upset that she only had so little time to cook, exercise, or relax after work.
“I’m also getting sick by the way, leave me alone.” Her video’s caption. Sure, I’m emotional—11, 12 and scared that I don’t have enough time to live.” It was accompanied by the overlay text: “Do you have time for your life, while working 9 to 5?”
The post quickly became viral with hundreds and hundreds of views. The comments flooded in with one reader saying, ‘The 40 hour work week is so outdated and your feelings are totally valid.’ I remember thinking the same thing… This is what I couldn’t wait to grow up for? To live like this?”
But Brielle’s take also attracted criticism. Some of the commenters said her experience was just adult life, with remarks like ‘welcome to adult life, poor privileged baby’. The rest of us do it. Get used to it. That’s alright it’s alright… right?”
It underscored a generational gap in how people thought about work life balance. Older generations believed Brielle’s experience was typical, but younger people could relate to her cry for change in workplace structures.
“‘What I mean is,’ Brielle clarified, ‘not the job itself, but the general 9 to 5, when that’s what we were given by society.’ “I want to speak to this next generation and explain how 40 hours of work a week and commute are not enough to be productive,” she said.
She gave her video some staying power to a broader conversation surrounding the energetic longevity of traditional work methods. Nowadays, remote work and flexible schedules are on their way. Thus, the necessity of rigid work hours and huge commutes is being discussed more.
But that took an unusual turn when Brielle went on to announce in a later video that she had been laid off from her job. Internships, freelance work, building a portfolio didn’t work out and she ended up with a job that’s unstable.
“I’m not going to sit here and bawl here, but I got laid off from my first post grad job.” “It’s disappointing. And I know that I am, it MAKES you feel like you’re not good enough.”
It’s testimony of the struggles one faces while trying to maintain sanity in the first job. Thankfully she followed up to say that she has now found a new position and her followers have hope.
Even today, conversation continues about work life balance, job stability, and what the modern day workforce is expecting. Brielle’s story reminds us that bad things happen but that good things are also possible. And advocacy, especially, is one way forward.
Feature Image Credit: (TikTok/ @@brielleybelly123)