Major Burnout Due to Unfulfilling Job
I want to preface that I strongly suspect I am autistic but never formally diagnosed but I was late diagnosed ADHD 6 or so years ago (I'm 34F).
I'm dealing with some kind of chronic exhaustion or possibly burnout that is severely hindering me in being a successful adult. I've been at this mind-numbing, boring job for the last 3 years as HR for a small company (remote). They never have anything for me to do and just have me looking up contacts for sales leads to keep me busy. (They say I'm good at looking things up on the internet lol). I only have one meeting per week and 9 times out 10 the manager just doesn't log in or forgets so I speak to pretty much no one all week. That part I don't mind but I feel completely useless, I don't feel valued or like I'm even really contributing anything and most importantly, I'm bored. I hate it and when I am doing HR, I hate that too. (I fell into the HR field accidentally and haven't done anything else in life so this is basically my only skillset). I feel like I'm not meant to be in this type of corporate environment, specifically working for people in general.
I strongly believe, spiritually, that I am meant to do more in this world. Something that contributes in a way that matches my ethics and values (HR is not the field for this in my opinion), something creative, something that is more independent but brings people joy and happiness. I don't know what that is, I'm thinking about at least starting a side hustle selling products I hand make, such as apparel (HTV, sublimation, etc), home goods like door hangers, wall decor etc, and things like custom made holiday themed items like easter baskets, etc. I'm worried this is overly ambitious and won't actually make me much money that would allow me to quit my normal job. I already have a heat press and Cricut just collecting dust. I would have to make the same amount of money due to my husband's and I's finances; I can't take an income loss.
I also think it's too ambitious for me because I'm barely surviving at this point, I'm struggling with motivation and drive more than anything. It's a double-edged sword because I am pretty sure that my job is a huge contributor to my burnout but at the same time, I'm too burnout to do anything to help contribute to leaving my job. Additionally, I'm dealing with things like imposter syndrome, creative blocks, and RSD and anxiety. I worry too much about every little thing that it becomes too much and I shut down. I often ask myself if I'm even being realistic and if I should just deal with the misery of my job.
Anyone feel similar or have any advice? I honestly feel like it's Groundhogs Day and living every day on repeat in absolute misery but no idea how to get out of it. I work this job because it pays the bills but I'm so bored and unfulfilled but my ADHD and the mental obstacles it comes with just stop me in my tracks and I start the next day working the same job and wishing I was doing something different.
Posted Feb 16, 2026, 8:25 PM UTC