Getting your first job after college is supposed to feel like a big milestone. But for one young woman, the reality of working a traditional 9-to-5 has left her wondering about her life as she knew it.
Keep reading to learn more.
Brielle, a recent college graduate who landed a marketing job in New York City, took to TikTok to share her frustration. Her problem wasn’t the job itself. It was the long commute, the exhausting schedule, and the feeling that there was barely any time left for anything else.
“I’m probably just being so dramatic and annoying. But this is my first nine-to-five job after college,” she admitted.
And judging by the response, she wasn’t the only one feeling this way.
Her Workday Doesn’t End When She Leaves The Office
Brielle lives in New Jersey and says she cannot yet afford to move into New York City. As a result, getting to work takes a significant amount of time.
She explained that she catches the train at around 7:30 a.m. and often doesn’t get home until 6:15 p.m. at the earliest.
That means her commute can add several hours to a workday that is already taking up most of her waking hours.
“If I was able to walk to work, it’d be fine, but I’m not,” she explained.
By the time she finally gets home, even the simplest everyday tasks feel exhausting.
“I want to shower, eat my dinner and go to sleep. I don’t have time or energy to cook my dinner either,” Brielle said.
Working out has also fallen by the wayside, and she feels she has little energy left for the things she used to enjoy.
“Has nothing to do with my job at all,” she clarified. “But just the nine-to-five schedule in general is crazy, being in the office nine to five.”
She Says There’s Barely Any Time Left For Dating Or Friends
For Brielle, the biggest problem isn’t simply having to spend eight hours at work. It’s how much the commute eats into the rest of her day.
“If it was remote, you get off at five, and you’re home and everything’s fine. But I’m not home,” she explained.
By the time she finishes traveling back to New Jersey, it can already be dark outside, leaving her feeling as though her entire day has disappeared.
“How do you have friends? How do you have time to meet, like, a guy?” she asked.
“I don’t know. How do you have time for dating? I don’t have time for anything. And I’m so stressed out. Am I so dramatic?”
Despite her frustration, Brielle acknowledged that other people work longer hours and have even more demanding schedules.
Still, she wanted to know how people manage to balance a full-time job with relationships, hobbies, exercise, and basic household responsibilities.
The Job Search Wasn’t Easy, Either
Brielle’s frustration comes after a challenging search for her first job after college.
In another TikTok video, she revealed that she had sent out several dozen résumés and received virtually no responses apart from the opportunity that eventually became her current job.
For a recent graduate trying to establish herself professionally, turning down a position simply because the commute is exhausting may not feel like a realistic option.
That leaves her trying to adjust to a routine that many people consider normal, but that she finds difficult to sustain.
Her videos struck a chord with viewers who remembered their own first jobs, as well as younger workers who had grown accustomed to remote learning and working during the pandemic.
Her Videos Sparked A Bigger Debate About The Traditional Workweek
Brielle’s original video reportedly attracted more than 2.5 million views, while another video discussing her experiences received even more attention.
The timing also matters.
Since the pandemic, many employees have become accustomed to working from home, avoiding lengthy commutes and gaining back time that would otherwise be spent traveling.
At the same time, some employers have pushed workers to return to offices, reigniting debates about productivity, flexibility, and whether being physically present is always necessary.
For workers like Brielle, the issue isn’t necessarily a refusal to work hard. It’s whether a traditional office schedule, combined with a long commute, leaves enough time and energy for anything else.
People Online Had Plenty To Say
The comments were divided between those who sympathized with Brielle and those who argued that adjusting to a full-time job is simply part of adulthood.
Others suggested that the first year of working full-time can be particularly difficult, but that routines eventually become easier to manage.
However, many commenters agreed that the traditional workweek deserves another look. One person wrote, “The 40 hour work week is beyond outdated and your feelings are totally valid” while another added, “You’re not alone. It’s insane how legit your entire day is gone. This is why we need 4 day work weeks.”
While others also pointed out why historically a 40-hour work week worked but no longer served the same purpose. They wrote, “40 hour work week was designed with a homemaker to take care of house tasks. We need dual incomes now, so that’s not possible. No time for anything”
That comment touches on a broader concern: modern workers are often expected to earn a living, manage their homes, maintain relationships, and look after their well-being, all while trying to fit everything into the same 24 hours.
And while flexible schedules or remote work aren’t possible in every profession, Brielle’s experience raises a question that many workers can relate to.
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