I currently work, during the night, at a grocery store. I don't mind it.
I'd worked, during the daytime, for 2 months, before I discovered that I could work, during the nighttime. The daytime shift was horrible! The crowds of turbulent customers, the expected dexterity, and the abrupt customer questions irritated me.
I could be sticking my head into a cold fridge, while my elbow holds open its door, loudly shoving ice cream tubs deep into bottom shelves when one, of many looming customers, abruptly asks a question I couldn't answer, so I'd have to pull out my head and make them repeat it. Then, I'd have to frantically scour the store for an experienced employee, while possibly getting questioned, by another customer, partway through the walk!
I also hated: making eye contact with everyone, acting allistic, fulsomely reciprocating customers' "small talk," and getting called "Sir," which irritates me, as a non-male-gendered transgender person. I know that the customers defaulted to cisnormative gendering, and didn't intend to offend me, but here's an analogy. Imagine that every stranger who approaches you accidentally steps on your toe. I wouldn't blame them, for unintentionally hurting me, but after someone tramples your toe, every 5 minutes, the frequency and poignancy inevitably annoys. I could inform staff members that I knew of my preferred pronouns, and they'd learn to call me by them, because I'd consort with them regularly. Unfortunately, the company policy discourages criticizing customers; plus, the customers met me, for the first time, and therefore, presumed my pronouns.
After 2 horrid months, of diurnal work, I got the opportunity to try working, during the night. After the first few hours, of my first night shift, I was already crusading to switch to it. That proved to be very wise.
I primarily stock shelves, for 8 hours; the duration includes 30-40 minutes of break time that I can distribute, as I wish. I work with 1-4 kind, familiar coworkers, on a given night; half of our work is solitary and quite quiet. We can also: joke, curse, sing, yell, and be authentic. As long as we finish our work, by 8:00, in the morning, the management personnel don't care how we work. As a bonus, we don't need to wear uncomfortable uniforms, during the night; we can dress more authentically and comfortably. We don't even speak to any customers.
Never would I say that I love my job, as I prefer sitting (and imagining) over labor. However, I'm saving money for post-secondary education. Someday, I'll be able to use my head more than my hands.
As a final note, I got my job, through proving myself during a work placement, which came at the end of a workplace training program. The program was designed to help disadvantaged individuals ease into the workplace; I completed it, in 7 months (though some people stay in it, for 13 months). I discovered the program at a job search center. Guess what? I got the placement, and the job, without a resumé or an interview. I feel very lucky. The organization that helped me, from start to finish, was called Futureworx, which might exist only in Canada.
I went from avoiding everyone (2015), to nearly committing suicide (2015 or 2016), to finding Futureworx (2017), to starting my training program (2018), to getting a job, in 2019. Hopefully, that imbues you with some hope, Arctic fox. Take your journey slowly, and if you can find supportive, patient people who are grateful for every small step you take, you'll make it.
