Changes

[Doobie]

Well, I graduated high school recently and I'm not going to college till september. I live with a roommate and all our money goes to the apartment since its a low paying job. Life is supposed to be exciting for me but everything is so routine. I wake up, work in McDonalds, come home and rest. I don't have the energy to play basketball anymore or do anything with my life, I'm literally very exhausted, And i'm only eighteen. I have alot of life left to live, but everything seems so hard now. I really have no motivation besides me doing what I have to do. I've gained so much weight and I want to get my life back together and stop being lazy and lose weight. Any help? anyone else going through this? I'm in the prime of my youth, I feel like I'm 30...

[Andrew]

That was pretty much my motivation when I made the "Signs you're getting older" thread. Well, that and I couldn't think of anything else for a milestone thread and speeches without shoutouts have been done to death. At the risk of bumming you out further, that's kind of the way things go after high school, even moreso when you're out in the real world with school (in one form or another) more or less behind you. It doesn't have to be all doom and gloom though.

I can't catch up with friends as often as I used to because we've all got our own responsibilities and one of my best mates is living in Sydney at the moment so we're seeing less of him these days but we stay in contact as much as possible and when we do catch up, it's just like old times. In fact, a couple of my friends who are getting married later this year had everyone over for lunch this past Sunday and it was great. You certainly come to appreciate those gatherings.

When we were first out of high school though, we were generally catching up at least once a week, usually twice; once to just hang out, and once to go out into town. My advice would be to make time to do those sorts of things. Getting used to a routine is certainly good because that's the reality of adult life - for most people, anyway - but you learn to fit your social life in and avoid getting stuck in a rut.

If you're working long shifts it does make things difficult because you're naturally going to be tired when you get home but it comes down to motivation. You've got to make the effort to squeeze in time to exercise or meet up with friends or take part in a hobby. Whenever you have free time, you should make the most of it. Sometimes you need a break but don't fall into the trap of thinking "I don't have to do anything right now, so I won't do anything, period." Perhaps make up a To Do list for your free time and set yourself some goals.

[Patr1ck]

Stop working at Wac Arnolds. You probably make like $8+ an hour or something. Try getting a job at a soft drink company as a merchandiser. I'm thinking about doing that. They make nearly twice as much with benefits. It's also a bit more relaxed since it isn't fast food and you don't really deal with customers. You basically just go to different stores and stock your product.

When you have a day off, take advantage. You don't need to spend money to have fun. Get out on the courts. You will realize that your body feels fatigued because you aren't doing anything, so it's not producing that adrenaline that you get when you are running up and down the court. You'll be huffin and puffin the first day.

Slow down on the weed, man. It's starting to put you to sleep.

[Axel]

Go to a community college or something and pick up a quick associates degree in business. You could easily pick up some type of managerial job paying way more than what you're currently owning now.

My bf is making 60,000 a year at a bank which he has no qualifications to work at. He majored in chemistry and biology, yet he is somehow holding this job down. All you have to do is be motivated. If ever an associates degree seemed like too little, you could always go to a university and finish up a bachelor's degree.

Or if you don't like work like that I guess you could do mechanic work. It pays well, though I don't think it would be that fulfilling of a job. Community colleges offer that too.

[Jackal]

You don't have the motivation to change. You're complaining about life not being what you want it to be...and that's all you're doing.

Nothing any of us say or advise will change that.

Since you work at McDonalds, what's your daily meal consist of? Fast food? If so, there's part of why you're so tired. Do you sleep enough? Do you take a "break" from daily life, do you head out? Do you do something you like? (Not play videogames.)

Stop saying life sucks and do something about it.

I'll leave you with this...

Success depends on your backbone, not your wishbone.

[[Q]]

Pdub, you forget the national minimum wage is lower than California's standards, probably around $7/hr. I'd guess he makes about that at McDonald's.

I would say your job is creating most of your problems. Health issues? Most likely because you eat where you work. I remember In N Out (a smaller West Coast fast food chain with good food) gave employees discounts on their food. I say go to the supermarket or Costco and buy real food (and in bulk, preferably) to save money. And get yourself a new job, any entry-level job that you think you can remotely enjoy. Hell, even apply at places that do online applications if you feel you're too lazy. Best Buy & Circuit City has those.

And I also agree with Axel. A local CC can do wonders. In California at least, your high school performance makes no difference how easy it will be to transfer to a better 4 yr school. I got to a UC school straight out of hs, but there are people from my high school that now go to UCLA that never would've stood a chance straight out of high school if they applied.

If all else fails, move to a place with cheaper housing (like I'm doing in the near future) so you have more money to spend on other things.

[cyanide]

Have you seen Supersize Me? The dude ate nothing but McDonald's and felt the same way as you do now. Lay off the Coke and fries, and you'll feel a little bit better, but yeah, the difference is actually going out to do something different and wanting that change rather than play it safe and sit back.

[24>23]

been in a worse case man. glad that you ain't married at 17, `cause i was. you worried about getting that apartment paid, that fat ass trimmed (no diss man), college... i was worried about how would i feed two extra mouths. still, got pass that and i'm 24 now. nowhere during those seven years did i ever give up on my fam. just keep your priorities in check, focus on it, and forget anything else that you won't gain from. forget basketball for now, that can come later. just focus on your studies and the financial part will fix itself... considering, of course, you're willing to sacrifice.

[shadowgrin]

Same sentiments as Jackal.
You have to want and do it yourself before even thinking about complaining.

If it means doing only 15-minute calisthenics in your minimal spare time, then do it, everyday.