I need som advice
I've been having a problem for awhile that I'm not entirely sure if it's ocd related or not. it really relates to a lot of guilt.
everyday I do basically the same routine but I will feel so guilty over it. I don't even know why for sure, I dont think the routine is necessary bad or anything but I will explain.
first, I work part time 6 days a week. I make around double the minimum wage for my state if I were to base my pay off of a 40 hour work week as opposed to part time (I make just over 22 an hour and my state minimum wage is 7.25, but my hours add up to just over 25 and half hours, including the extra hour I get paid to clean during my shift, but dont actually stay extra time). I end up making just a bit less than my moms friend who has worked her same full time job for over 20 years. so with those details out of the way I will get on to my typical day.
I wake up an hour or so before my alarm goes off and spend some time getting myself awake, eating a small breakfast, and watching some random YouTube video if I have time. I get ready and head to work, which takes less than 5 minutes to get to. my job is fairly simple, without saying exactly what it is, I work alone, help people when they come in, do the few quick daily tasks I need to, and sit at my desk doing whatever. Usually just scrolling the internet and listening to podcasts. my work day is just over 4 hours and I head back home.
I go feed my animals and do any chores related to that- depending on the day it can take anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour, but usually around 30 minutes if im not cleaning that day. I come in and shower if I've gotten very dirty doing animal chores and then I just do whatever the rest of the day. Watch tv, play a game, some sort of craft every so often. and then rinse and repeat everyday (Saturday is different though, the day is an hour shorter and I usually come home and work quite a bit- usually on animal things outside, cleaning up, whatever, and then come in and watch tv with my family or go out on occassion)
Everyday is typically the same, with slight variances depending on the time of year. I've had this routine for years but I feel so guilty about it. its like I feel guilty that I have free time to enjoy while other people dont. Like I'm some usless lazy blob or something. I don't work as hard as everyone else during the workday and even though I enjoy my job, I feel like I look at myself as having a "lesser" job than other people. Like I should have a bigger better job and make more money and so on.
It's like I just cant enjoy myself even when it's something I like. I get the feeling of "other people can't do this and you should feel bad that you can" or something. This immense guilt I have over this, comparing myself to others, be it from a poor tribal village to ancient humans (I seriously dont know why, it's just where my mind goes). I'm not even entirely sure why I feel this way. I feel like I have a good life, do I just feel like I dont deserve it? Because I never knew what I wanted to do growing up and just kind of went with the flow? I wish I could stop, this guilt can't be healthy.
It's also weird because I dream of being a youtuber, but it's like I can barely force myself to do it and actually try, be it from guilt or whatever. I'm sure I would feel guilty about being successful in that aswell though because then I would be working from home and go down a whole other rabbit hole of guilt. why does it have to be about work and jobs I wonder. Because I've heard people all over saying things about working super hard and other things all my life? because you see people in Japan working themselves to sickness? I just dont know.
I know this was long winded and a lot to read, but thank you to anyone who did read. If anyone has any advice for me in this, you don't know how much I would truly appreciate it.
Posted Feb 25, 2026, 9:03 PM UTC