A harsh reality is setting in for many who step into their first job, where the promise of professional life collides with the weight of adulting, bills and routines. Work-life balance can feel impossible when every hour is consumed by work or the prep around work, when everything from housing and food to utilities keeps rising and wages barely keep pace, and when younger workers are entering full-time employment and discover the hidden cost of “a regular job”. The story of one young woman, Brielle, went viral because her emotional reaction to her first 9-to-5 exposed a truth many feel but seldom discuss. Her experience, and the broader challenges around working life today, show how finding meaningful balance takes more than clocking in and clocking out.
When life becomes work every day
We live in an era where culture still glorifies long hours and steady jobs, yet inflation, rising housing costs and shrinking purchasing power mean many earners have to push harder just to stay even. Work extends beyond the paid hours: the commute, meal prep, errands, mental switching, cleaning and rest all count. For someone in their first full-time role, discovering that the job is more than the role can feel like stepping into a trap. The notion that getting a “real job” automatically frees you is undermined by the reality that any salary is under pressure from inflation, food costs, rent hikes and transportation.
When the wage growth isn’t keeping up, the pressure to show up, be visible, and reduce downtime grows. Work dawns earlier, ends later, weekends fill up with tasks and the margin for rest shrinks. For someone who’s never held a full-time role before, the awakening can be brutal: you realise your day is largely structured for someone else’s needs, the hours are fixed, and your body and mind adapt slowly. The dream of “having time for my life” feels distant.
The viral moment: Brielle’s crisis
In a video posted by Brielle on TikTok the overlay reads: “QOTD in a 9-5 how do you have time for your life?” Brielle begins the clip visibly emotional, explaining she has just started her first job on-site, commuting into the city, and it takes her forever to get there. She says: “I don’t have time to do anything … I want to shower, eat my dinner and go to sleep. I don’t have time or energy to cook my dinner either. And I don’t have energy to work out, like, that’s out the window.”
She wonders how other workers in a 9-to-5 manage to see friends, date, or pursue hobbies when every spare minute is swallowed by the commute and exhaustion. In an interview she noted that while her actual work is fine, the lifestyle of the office job plus commute is overwhelming. The video struck a chord: it showcased the disconnect between the ideal of having a stable job and the reality of what that job demands.
@brielleybelly123 im also getting sick leave me alone im emotional ok i feel 12 and im scared of not having time to live
♬ original sound – BRIELLE♉️💙
Why younger workers struggle in the modern workscape
For many entering full-time work for the first time, the adjustment is steep. Their student-life rhythm, flexible schedules and late nights morph into alarm clocks, weekday commutes and the weekend scramble. The salary they expected to be liberating may just feel like a tether. Housing costs, rent, transport, food and utility bills keep rising while starting wages remain modest. Many younger workers are now supporting themselves, sometimes living far from the city core because high rent prevents relocation closer to work. That means more commute time, less downtime.
The expectation to be always “on” at work or visible at the office adds to stress. Work/life balance becomes a myth when life hours are eaten by transit, prepping, late dinners and early mornings. For someone whose first full-time job is demanding, the emotional cost can feel disproportionate. The peer network may still be in less structured roles, so there is a feeling of being out of sync socially. Events happen during work or commute hours. Social life becomes harder. Hobbies get shelved. The body signals the imbalance: aches, fatigue, mood shifts, irritability. When younger workers don’t see the difference between work time and life time, resentment or emptiness can build.
Tips to avoid drowning in work and reclaim your life
Yes it may feel like you need to choose between paying bills and enjoyment, but you can still build a healthier work-life rhythm even in a demanding role. Here are practical strategies adapted for someone in their first job or early full-time employment:
1. Audit your actual time investment
Map your entire day honestly: include the commute, prepping for work, eating, chores, social time, screen time and sleep. Notice how much of your schedule is actually tied to the effort of maintaining a work routine rather than the job itself. Many people only count the paid hours and overlook the invisible labour wrapped around them which is often just as draining. When you see everything laid out you can recognise how long your overall “work-related” day truly is. By quantifying the hours you are giving up you gain clarity, and with clarity you can make informed decisions about where to cut, what to adjust and which routines to simplify so that you reclaim more of your life.
2. Set clear boundaries around non-work time
Decide in advance which hours belong entirely to you and protect them like you would a meeting. For example, after your commute home you might give yourself a full hour to decompress before touching chores or responsibilities. This resets your mind and prevents burnout. Resist checking work messages after a set cut-off time because even one quick reply can pull your brain back into work mode. Protect evenings and weekends with a simple rule like “no screen for work after 8 p.m.” even if deadlines are heavy. Clear boundaries teach your mind when to rest and teach others how to respect your time, which becomes essential for long-term balance.
3. Use the commute wisely or reduce it
If commuting eats hours every day you can reclaim some of that time by using it intentionally. Listen to a podcast or audiobook, learn a language, or catch up on something enjoyable so that travel becomes investment rather than empty waiting. Small mental shifts like this can help you feel less resentful of the time lost. If possible explore remote work, hybrid days or flexible hours since reducing even one commute per week can lower stress levels. And if change is not an option then preparing for the commute by bringing snacks, comfortable shoes or entertainment can turn it from a drain into a manageable part of your routine.
4. Simplify evening rituals
After a full workday your energy is limited and expecting yourself to complete a huge list of chores only creates more pressure. Choose one or two grounding rituals to anchor your evening, such as a simple healthy dinner, a short walk, stretching or twenty minutes of reading. These small acts help your body transition out of work mode. Batch meals when you can or rely on convenience items like frozen meals, prepped ingredients or grocery delivery to ease the load. Outsourcing small tasks reduces decision fatigue and helps you save your limited evening energy for rest, connection or calm rather than nonstop maintenance.
5. Prioritise energy over productivity
It is tempting to chase the idea of maximising every minute, especially when life feels rushed or overwhelming. But the body keeps score and signals imbalance through fatigue, irritability, brain fog or emotional collapse when you push too hard for too long. Recognise these signs early instead of waiting until burnout forces you to stop. When you feel constantly drained you will underperform in both work and personal life, no matter how organised you try to be. Rest becomes productive because recovery fuels clarity, motivation and emotional stability. Prioritising energy means listening to your limits, pacing yourself and reminding yourself that a rested mind accomplishes more than an exhausted one ever will.
6. Maintain social contact and hobbies
Schedule a standing weekly social or hobby time and treat it as non-negotiable, the same way you treat a work meeting. Even if it is just one hour every Wednesday or a small ritual on weekend mornings, having that break creates a pivot point in your week and gives you something to look forward to. Human connection and personal interests protect your mental health and help you remember that you exist outside of your job. Remind yourself that your job is part of your life, not the whole, and hobbies keep your identity anchored in joy and growth rather than routine alone. Maintaining these pockets of pleasure helps restore balance and prevents resentment from building.
7. Revisit how your job aligns with your goals
If your first job feels like life is just “work work work” with no gain beyond paying bills, take a step back and ask yourself a deeper question: how does this role serve your long-term direction? Is it a stepping stone to something better, does it offer skills you can leverage later, does it provide savings for future plans, or is it a temporary bridge? Or does it feel like a trap that drains you without moving you forward? Understanding the purpose behind your role can make the daily routine feel less oppressive because it connects your current effort to a future vision. Clarity brings motivation, and motivation makes the workload feel lighter.
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8. Talk to your employer about flexibility
If your employer offers hybrid work, compressed weeks, flexible hours or remote days, ask about them. Many companies are more open to adjustments than employees realise, especially when the alternative is burnout or turnover. The traditional 40-hour rigid model may not fit everyone, particularly in a high-cost environment where long commutes and rising living expenses add pressure. Flexibility can dramatically improve your rhythm by giving you more control over your days and more room to breathe. Even small changes, like shifting your start time or working from home once a week, can create meaningful relief and help restore balance between your work life and your actual life.
9. Budget and plan for financial pressure
Because so many people are working harder just to stay afloat, having a financial plan becomes one of the most effective ways to reduce stress and regain a sense of stability. Track your expenses honestly so you can see where your money is actually going instead of guessing. Save where possible, even if the amount is small, because small buffers create breathing room during difficult months. Look for places where you can simplify spending without depriving yourself and avoid thinking that “just scraping by” is normal or unavoidable. Money stress intensifies imbalance because it follows you into every part of your day, so taking control of your finances helps you feel more grounded and less overwhelmed by the pressures of full-time work.
10. Acknowledge the transition and give yourself grace
Starting your first job is a major life change that alters your schedule, energy and social rhythm in ways you might not anticipate. The routines you had before, especially in school or part-time work, may no longer serve you because full-time employment shifts almost everything about how your day unfolds. Allow your mind and body the space to adapt instead of expecting yourself to master your new routine instantly. Feeling overwhelmed does not mean you failed, it means your life rhythm is changing and you are learning a chapter that requires patience, adjustment and self-compassion. When you give yourself grace, the pressure softens and the transition becomes less of a shock and more of a process you can grow through.
A Healthier Way Forward
The video posted by Brielle went viral because it captured a truth many feel: working full-time can feel like existing in a treadmill of tasks, hours and obligations where making time for life becomes a luxury. She reminds us that the question “in a 9-to-5 how do you have time for your life?” is not just a joke, it is a real existential challenge for many starting out in professional roles amid rising costs and shrinking freedom. But life should not be all work work work.
Building meaningful balance in your first job and beyond means setting boundaries, aligning your work with your goals, protecting your personal time, and recognising that being paid is not the same as being fulfilled. The moment of overwhelm is a signal, not a defeat. In that signal lies the possibility of shaping your role, your rhythm and your life so that work serves you and you live beyond the office too.
Disclaimer: This article was written by the author with the assistance of AI and reviewed by an editor for accuracy and clarity.
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