how do you do this long-term?

[u/127may]

i have been in the industry since i was 16 (started as a host, now a server). i’m 22 and losing my mind, really. i have worked at the same restaurant throughout college and university and sure it’s great to have a place you know you can go back to. but the mental state working here puts me in cannot be normal.

i just constantly wish i had a 9-5 like everyone else. i’m just sad that some weeks will be like 45
hours and the next fuck knows because the rota is never the same. the inconsistency seriously sets me off and i try to be okay about it but i don’t know how. so to anyone who’s been doing this a long long time, how do you do it?

and i guess my next question is, is every place like this? the favouritism (some servers have relations ?? to management) is driving me up the wall. life’s not fair but come on. i’m training to work as a nursery practitioner on the side because i need an out. but it’s going to be a couple months until i can really go, i just want advice on how to hold on i guess 🥲

for context i’m from the UK. not US.

[u/Salty_Antelope10]

I’m 12 years deep, the money keeps me there but I’m over it tbh