30 People Reveal Which Professions Are Hell Even Though They Sound Fun

Look, let’s not be naive—there’s no such thing as a ‘perfect’profession. No matter the job, it’s going to have some great aspects, as well as some awful sides to it. The trick is to find something to do thatyou love, that you’re good at, that you can be paid for, and that the world needs. In other words, findyour ikigai.

Bored Pandareached out to Jodi Wellman, MAPP, for her advice on how employees can find the courage to aim for their dream jobs, as well as how we can all have a bit more fun at work despite all the stress. Wellman is the founder of’Four Thousand Mondays’and the author of the book’You Only Die Once: How to Make It to the End with No Regrets.‘Read on for our interview with her.

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Person shaping clay on a pottery wheel, hands covered in mud, illustrating a job less fun than imagined.

We asked Wellman how she would advise someone who has already put a lot of time and energy into a job that makes them stressed and anxious. After all, chasing your dreams can be terrifying.“We often overlook the important step of acknowledging that job changes can be tumultuous… let’s normalize that it’s stressful to make career moves that feel risky! Sometimes, accepting that it’s not easy and that it requires courage can help reframe a scenario where we think we’re supposed to just be confident right out of the gates,” Wellman from’Four Thousand Mondays’told Bored Panda.She added that we should also consider the sunk cost fallacy. It’s something many of us “fall prey to” when making decisions. “We’re reluctant to make a career move because we’ve ‘spent 12 years here already,’ or we’ve ‘invested our education and training in this industry already,’ or we feel like we’re in too deep. It’s never too late to make a change,” she said.

We asked Wellman how she would advise someone who has already put a lot of time and energy into a job that makes them stressed and anxious. After all, chasing your dreams can be terrifying.

“We often overlook the important step of acknowledging that job changes can be tumultuous… let’s normalize that it’s stressful to make career moves that feel risky! Sometimes, accepting that it’s not easy and that it requires courage can help reframe a scenario where we think we’re supposed to just be confident right out of the gates,” Wellman from’Four Thousand Mondays’told Bored Panda.

She added that we should also consider the sunk cost fallacy. It’s something many of us “fall prey to” when making decisions. “We’re reluctant to make a career move because we’ve ‘spent 12 years here already,’ or we’ve ‘invested our education and training in this industry already,’ or we feel like we’re in too deep. It’s never too late to make a change,” she said.

A woman working on an art project at her desk, surrounded by art supplies, illustrating the reality behind fun jobs.

Any job with a nonprofit. You start working there because you want to be part of some worthy cause. Then you realize that the pay is awful, there’s no advancement, and the politics are like every small family company, but worse. When you quit, they’ll try to guilt you into staying “for the cause.”.

Person taking notes while observing kittens in a shelter, highlighting challenges behind ‘fun’ jobs.

“People change careers all the time: the organizations they work in, the roles specifically, even the industries overall. Believing it’s possible can help summon the courage required to make a job change. Sometimes we have to ask ourselves, ‘I have ____Mondays leftin my career. Is it really worth it for me to stay here and toil, unhappy? Or would I be even more proud of myself when I’m long since retired and looking back on my career, for ‘giving it a go’ and changing into a job that’s fulfilling? Or multiple fulfilling jobs?'“Wellmanmused.She added that she herself plans to work for about 624 more Mondays. “That question helps me make the best decisions every time!“Bored Panda was also interested to hear about what everyone can to to enjoy themselves at work more, no matter what it is they do. “The best first step is to recall what fun even means to you in your job. What was going on when you were having fun in the past? Were you learning a lot/succeeding/playing practical jokes on your colleagues/spending more time with clients/having more social outings with your coworkers? Is there a way you could replicate that?”

She added that she herself plans to work for about 624 more Mondays. “That question helps me make the best decisions every time!”

Bored Panda was also interested to hear about what everyone can to to enjoy themselves at work more, no matter what it is they do. “The best first step is to recall what fun even means to you in your job. What was going on when you were having fun in the past? Were you learning a lot/succeeding/playing practical jokes on your colleagues/spending more time with clients/having more social outings with your coworkers? Is there a way you could replicate that?”

I’ve been a flight attendant for 24 years and I always get people who say “oh I bet that’s fun!” And they think it’s glamorous.I’m a waiter in a bad restaurant that can’t throw out patrons who get too belligerent with me.To be fair, the travel is fun and if I hated the job, I wouldn’t have done it for so long. But the thing that’s kept me here this long is that I’m in a union and I have health insurance.

Flight attendant adjusts luggage, illustrating how ‘fun’ jobs can be less enjoyable than people imagine.

30 People Reveal Which Professions Are Hell Even Though They Sound Fun

Being a vet. Long hours, constantly over-booked and under-staffed, you watch animals suffer and you often are contributing to their suffering in order to try and help them, owners are often at best ignorant and not interested in being educated, and at worst genuinely couldn’t care less about their animals, and if they do care, they don’t have the money, so you get to run a constant mental calculus of how much you can afford to discount treatment to help them this month without getting fired and while still being able to pay your techs, all while under the crushing burden of student loans, with the fun of a really bad day sometimes including a lawsuit, death threats, or physical violence.I have seen some vets online say they enjoy it, and I’m happy for you. I don’t personally know a single one that doesn’t regret their choice, and I know a LOT of them.

Veterinarian in scrubs examines a German Shepherd, demonstrating how ‘fun’ jobs can be unexpectedly challenging.

Wellman shared some more questions we should ask ourselves. “What kinds of people were you working with when things were fun? Were you connected to people in different departments/working onsite instead of remotely/getting to know new people/close with a few like-minded friends at work? Can you rekindle those kinds of quality connections?“Another thing to consider is the type of people we were when we were enjoying ourselves at work. “Were you working out more often/meditating/planning more interesting meetings on the team/sharing more anecdotes about your weekend? How can you start to be more like the Fun You from the past? Many of us think that work is supposed to make things fun for us, and we forget that we’re the ones who make work fun.“If you’d like to see how many Mondays you still have left, you can check out the’Four Thousand Mondays’ calculator. Meanwhile, don’t forget to take a peek at Wellman’s book’You Only Die Once: How to Make It to the End with No Regrets.’

Another thing to consider is the type of people we were when we were enjoying ourselves at work. “Were you working out more often/meditating/planning more interesting meetings on the team/sharing more anecdotes about your weekend? How can you start to be more like the Fun You from the past? Many of us think that work is supposed to make things fun for us, and we forget that we’re the ones who make work fun.”

If you’d like to see how many Mondays you still have left, you can check out the’Four Thousand Mondays’ calculator. Meanwhile, don’t forget to take a peek at Wellman’s book’You Only Die Once: How to Make It to the End with No Regrets.'

Kids are told that engineers get to invent cool new technologies like Benjamin Franklin or whatever. Most engineers do paperwork, marginal continuous improvement stuff, and sit in meetings all day.

Person with “fun” job working at a desk, analyzing graphs on a laptop, with documents and a cup of coffee.

Person in protective suit examining a crime scene, highlighting the reality behind seemingly fun jobs.

Teacher engaging with students at a classroom table, illustrating a ‘fun’ job that may be less enjoyable than imagined.

YouGov notes that when it comes to prospects, American teenagers mix pragmatism with idealism. The top things theyprioritizein their future careers include money (22% of respondents said this is the most important to them), a sense of purpose or helping others (16%), fun (14%), work-life balance (10%), and the day-to-day activities they’d be doing (9%).Things like career progression opportunities were important only to 5% of respondents. Also, less weighty job priorities for American teens included their colleagues (4%), the company’s values and ethics (also 4%), the brand’s popularity (1%), and the location of the job (also 1%).When you put all of these factors together, you start to see a fairly nuanced picture take shape. These young people want financially stable jobs with a good work-life balance that are also enjoyable, purposeful, and aimed at helping others. In short, they want a balance between financial rewards and deeper fulfillment. And, to be honest, this matches what many adults probably want out of their careers, too.

Things like career progression opportunities were important only to 5% of respondents. Also, less weighty job priorities for American teens included their colleagues (4%), the company’s values and ethics (also 4%), the brand’s popularity (1%), and the location of the job (also 1%).

When you put all of these factors together, you start to see a fairly nuanced picture take shape. These young people want financially stable jobs with a good work-life balance that are also enjoyable, purposeful, and aimed at helping others. In short, they want a balance between financial rewards and deeper fulfillment. And, to be honest, this matches what many adults probably want out of their careers, too.

Working on Film sets is a lot of fun. But it comes at a tremendous personal and health cost for below the line workers.It has long work hours, unpredictable employment, and a totally different way of life than most regular jobs. It will cost your your relationships outside of work and your health.It is absolutely a lot of fun to work on these sets. I would never want to do anything else. But it will absolutely ruin you.

“People working on a film set showing the less fun side of ‘fun’ jobs, focusing on camera equipment and crew."

CASINOS. The amount of sad, terrible and depressing things I have seen and heard. Watched people lose 100k + in one night, countless times. Medical emergencies at the tables because the player refuses to stop gambling or at least have us call EMT. People falling over dead at the poker table while the other players at the same table (refused to move) complain that the cards are taking too long. People so ridiculously drunk that they could barely move their hands, but as long the chips were placed in the right spot, the play continues. A common joke was “if I don’t win this hand, me/my dog/my kid won’t be eating tonight.” and often, they wouldn’t win. Husbands storming in and punching out their wife for spending the family savings at the tables. Families being forcibly removed because they are trying to convince their loved one to stop. I will never expect gaming “luck” again, I have touched too much cursed money and taken too much back. It is one of the professions with the highest divorce rates. Even the best employees are not happy to come in to work. If you can help it, don’t let the lights and glamour draw you in. The house will eat you up, spit you out, and laugh at you in your final, pitiful state.

30 People Reveal Which Professions Are Hell Even Though They Sound Fun

I was always told teaching elementary school was “fun.“It really, really wasn’t. Well, the actual teaching part was, but the other 80% of the job was a real shitshow.

A person reading to children in a classroom, illustrating a fun job that might be less enjoyable than it appears.

In this day and age, certain professions are far more popular than others among kids. The BBC reports that a YouGov survey of British children aged 6 to 17 found that a whopping 17% of kids wanted to be footballers (soccer, not hand-egg) while 16%dreamedof becoming game developers. 13% wanted to be doctors or nurses while 10% saw themselves as future fashion designers.Meanwhile, a fifth of 10-year-old respondents wanted to become influencers, but just 6% of 15-year-olds saw it as something they’d like to do when they grew up. Unsurprisingly, political jobs weren’t popular among kids. Just 4% of respondents said they’d like to be activists or the prime minister. Compare that to 7% of respondents who wanted to be astronauts, vets, lawyers, or environmental scientists.

Meanwhile, a fifth of 10-year-old respondents wanted to become influencers, but just 6% of 15-year-olds saw it as something they’d like to do when they grew up. Unsurprisingly, political jobs weren’t popular among kids. Just 4% of respondents said they’d like to be activists or the prime minister. Compare that to 7% of respondents who wanted to be astronauts, vets, lawyers, or environmental scientists.

Doggy daycare….it’s mostly stopping the from eating each other’s poop and constantly cleaning up said poop and mopping up pee. Very little dog interaction .

Person feeding dogs in a yard, wearing a green vest, illustrating a fun job that’s less fun than imagined.

30 People Reveal Which Professions Are Hell Even Though They Sound Fun

Private Investigator. I worked as a PI for a while about 20 years ago. The excitement and intrigue you might see in the media is not exactly made up, but it is severely condensed. More than 90% of your time as a PI is sitting there in the back of a van with your camera just waiting for someone to do something. There were certainly some “fun” aspects, like using hidden cameras and tailing people through traffic without being noticed; but sitting there in the cold, day after day, peeing in a bottle got really old after a few months!*splileng mistakke.

Man in a car at night, filming with a camcorder, representing jobs that seem fun but might not be as enjoyable as imagined.

These stories are a reminder that no matter what you do, where you work, and what your career plans are, it’s always helpful to be flexible, disciplined, and resilient. When you’re adaptable and have a reputation for perseverance, you’ll be able to find a path forward no matter the tough circumstances you find yourself in. Meanwhile, it’s also a great idea to develop your soft skills (e.g., empathy, communication skills, active listening) alongside all the technical skills you’ll need. You are far more employable and valuable when you’re able to work in a team and are, generally, a likable person.Of course, you shouldn’t gaslight yourself into liking somethingyou hate. You shouldn’t stay at a job if you’re in a toxic workplace environment or the stress from work is pummeling your health and relationships. But, at the end of the day, every job will throw situations at you where you wonder if it’s not better to quit or change career paths entirely. You have to look at your situation objectively and ask yourself whether you’re going through a temporarily tough period at work or if the entire situation is unsustainable and unsuitable for you.

Of course, you shouldn’t gaslight yourself into liking somethingyou hate. You shouldn’t stay at a job if you’re in a toxic workplace environment or the stress from work is pummeling your health and relationships. But, at the end of the day, every job will throw situations at you where you wonder if it’s not better to quit or change career paths entirely. You have to look at your situation objectively and ask yourself whether you’re going through a temporarily tough period at work or if the entire situation is unsustainable and unsuitable for you.

Maybe not ‘fun’ but many charities sell you the ‘rewarding’ angle but are in fact very toxic places to work…

Two people organizing items into boxes at work, highlighting how ‘fun’ jobs may differ from expectations.

Person coding on a laptop, representing jobs perceived as fun but more challenging than imagined.

Demolition.Sure, it’s great fun blowing stuff up, like old buildings, oilwell fires, quarries, etc.But the paperwork. Insane.Need it to buy/order high explosives, transport them, obtain consumables, (caps, boosters, etc.), pages of explosive design, liability paperwork, proof of certification, use disbursement, dud reports, actual use, leftover reports…and in quadriplicate so the FBI, BLM, ATF, and local government can lose their own copies.Still, blowing s**t up is fun…

Construction worker beside a large excavator clearing debris, illustrating the reality of seemingly fun jobs.

There’s nothing wrong with admitting that you may have made a mistake and wasted some of your time, energy, and nerves. Instead of looking at the situation as a ‘failure’ of sorts, see it as an opportunity for growth. You’re not messing up, you’re getting real-world experience in a harsh and competitive environment. So, pivot. Learn something new. Take some courses. Apply to a bunch of companies, including those you’ve long dreamed about working at. And while you do have to be practical and consider what industries generative artificial intelligence will impact, nobody can see the future with certainty.

Standup comedy. You spend an insane amount of time watching and studying yourself, polishing your presentation and delivery, and telling the same jokes over and over again, relieved when there’s an audience, because at least SOMEONE likes the jokes you’ve heard hundreds of times. Then, if you’re successful and have a special or something, you agonize over the editing: watching yourself over and over again deciding on what camera angles to use at which part. No thanks. I remember some commercial where Chris Rock turns on a tv and it’s his standup. I would be like, “NO! I’m not watching this again!”.

Person in a plaid shirt and glasses holding a microphone, discussing the reality of fun jobs.

Woman working on a laptop by a window, illustrating the reality of fun jobs.

Touring side of music industry is fantastic when you are 20. It’s awful when you are 40. Away from home most of the year. Living out of a bus and hotel rooms 300 days a year. Eating at the same truck stops for the last 20 years. Showering at those truckstops. load in, stage set up, wait wait wait, dance on stage like a monkey, load out, on the road again. Repeat repeat repeat. It’s like Groundhogs Day.

Fun jobs: Two people sitting in a parked, classic red van, relaxing in a casual setting.

You don’t have to be a video game streamer or veterinarian if you’ve tried it and feel burned out and powerless. Nor do you have to stick to a prestigious and profitable career if you’re wrecking your physical, mental, and emotional health.Many jobs are stressful and will require sacrifices, but they should not be h**l on earth unless you’ve felt a genuine calling as a brain surgeon, frontline war medic, oil rig worker, etc.

Many jobs are stressful and will require sacrifices, but they should not be h**l on earth unless you’ve felt a genuine calling as a brain surgeon, frontline war medic, oil rig worker, etc.

Although the position has largely died out, being a radio disc jockey was not nearly as fun and crazy as it is often portrayed. Terrible hours, low pay, and micromanagement from higher ups led to quick burnout for most dj’s. Not to mention, you could be fired at any time for the smallest error.

Radio hosts at work, highlighting the reality of fun jobs in a recording studio setting.

Paramedic. Sometimes it was fun, other times it was absolute hell and destroyed my mental health.

A medical professional in blue scrubs, deep in thought, illustrating the reality behind ‘fun’ jobs.

Chef but…you make your own hell. Being a chef is fun with the right people and attitude.

Chefs preparing dishes in a busy kitchen, showcasing how fun jobs can be less glamorous than imagined.

So, Pandas, have you ever worked somewhere that was the complete opposite of what you imagined? What careers sound super fun but you know for a fact they’re beyond stressful? What do you enjoy the most about yourcurrent job?

Personal trainer. No one actually f*****g does what you tell them to outside of your sessions, and then they blame you for not making progress because they’re mostly lazy idiots.

30 People Reveal Which Professions Are Hell Even Though They Sound Fun