How Do You Feel About Being a Slave to a Schedule?

Tweet

When recently asked what I most disliked about any given job (provided by an employer), I responded, schedules. That's right, schedules. I HATE punching a time clock! I dare say, there isn't much that bothers me more than being on someone else's schedule. Now,although I know of many people who are not particularly fond of the idea of needing to go to work everyday, I have yet to meet anyone who is as bothered by a work schedule as I am. To clarify, the people I've met, they either like their jobs or not, but that aside, as for the schedule, they maybe think of it as 8 hours, give or take, out of their day, in which their time is owned by someone else. To me, however, a work schedule is much more than an employer owning a mere few hours of my time. To me, it's more like they own, or at least, in some way, control my entire life! Or at least the major, most important parts of it anyway. No, they don't dictate what I eat, or what sort of books I read, or anything like that. However, when you really think about it, a work schedule does dictate much more of your time and life than just those hours spent at work. For instance, the time you are scheduled to be at work the next day, often determines what time you will need to go to bed, and what time you will need to get up. The time one needs to go to bed, or be at work, determines rather or not they are free to attend certain social and/or community events. A work schedule also dictates, when you can go on vacation or take any sort of trip....the list could go on and on. Although, if you are used to, or like routines, and generally tend to go to bed at the same time every night, and get up at the same time every morning, work or not, I guess you wouldn't be bothered by that part of the equation. However, what if you are like me, and don't go to bed at the same time everyday and don't desire too? I'm not sure if I'm making much sense, but to sum this all up, living on someone else's schedule, such as a work schedule, is something I find most depressing. Seriously, it has been known to reduce me to tears, which is why I stick with self-employment as much as possible. I was just wondering, does anyone else feel this way about punching a time clock, or am I just weird?