There’s a conversation quietly happening in many households, WhatsApp chats, and heads lately — especially among women and mothers.
It goes something like this:
"I wish I didn’t have to work anymore."
"But I also don’t want to be a stay-at-home parent."
“I want to work… but I hate work, and I’m exhausted.”
It’s not laziness. It’s not entitlement. It’s not lack of gratitude.
It’s that work doesn’t feel like work should anymore.
For many of us, work has become a box we squeeze ourselves into. Something that brings in a wage but takes a piece of us with it. Something that once served a purpose, maybe gave us goals or structure — but now feels misaligned with who we really are, or who we’re becoming.
We do it because we have to. But we can’t help wondering if there’s more — something that lights us up, instead of burning us out.
And for mothers? That wondering often gets buried. Because after work, there’s still dinner, bedtimes, activities, emotional labour, and invisible to-do lists. There’s hardly time to think, let alone chase some soul-nudging “passion.” You feel guilty for wanting more. Or guilty for not wanting what you have.
But here's the thing: it’s not really about whether you work or not (and let's face it, most of us don't have a choice!). It’s about how work fits into your life — and whether it aligns with your values, your strengths, and your season of life.
We evolve. Our needs shift. The job that fit five years ago might now feel like a tight coat — one you keep wearing because it’s practical, even if it’s not a comfortable fit anymore.
So no — the goal doesn’t have to be quitting your job to chase some dream. It could be tweaking what you already do so it gives you more energy instead of draining it. It could be carving out 10 minutes a week to reconnect with what brings you joy. It could be exploring a different path slowly, without burning everything down first.
What matters is giving yourself the permission to want more. Not more stuff or success — but more meaning. More alignment. More small sparks of fulfilment in the everyday.
You don’t have to wait until retirement. You don’t have to have it all figured out. But you can start with one small step.
And if that’s where you are — wondering, hoping, unsure — you’re not alone. You're not delusional. You're human. And this is your reminder that you're allowed to want work (and life) to feel good again.