‘9 to 5’s Don’t Deserve the Hate

Spend five minutes on TikTok and you’ll see it: the “ditch your 9 to 5, be your own boss, live free” narrative. It’s everywhere, and it makes having a stable job sound like failure. But here’s the thing – the 9 to 5 doesn’t deserve the hate.

The glorification of self-employment

Yes, being self-employed can be amazing. Flexibility, creativity, and freedom are often part of the package. But what TikTok doesn’t show you? The tax returns, the invoices that don’t get paid, the admin, the stress of having to wear every hat: sales, operations, marketing, customer service.

Being a business owner is hard work. And while you see the coffee shop laptops and “day in the life” vlogs, you don’t see the late nights stressing over spreadsheets. Self-employment isn’t the easy escape it’s often sold as.

And let’s be real, who’s usually telling you that a 9 to 5 is a “rat race”? People trying to sell you a course.

The benefits of a 9 to 5 (that no one talks about)

For the majority of people, a 9 to 5 offers something valuable: structure, routine, and security. It can give you:

• A regular salary — stability that helps you buy a home, plan holidays, and save consistently.
• Pension contributions — free money towards your future that freelancers often have to set up themselves. Get your pension checklist here.
• Boundaries — when you clock off, you can actually clock off. No thinking about tax deadlines at 11pm.
• Community — the office banter, the commute podcast, the mix of people you’d never meet otherwise.

Some people even miss the little routines of a 9 to 5 once they’ve left – the commute as “me-time,” or the camaraderie of a team lunch.

It’s not about failure, it’s about fit

There’s nothing wrong with wanting to run your own business. But there’s equally nothing wrong with choosing the security and stability of a 9 to 5.

What we don’t want is people feeling like they’ve failed because they haven’t “escaped.” Success isn’t about quitting your job. Success is about building a life (and money system) that works for you.

If your job allows you to pay your bills, grow your savings, and still have time for your life outside of work, that’s a win.

The bottom line

Don’t let the internet shame you into thinking a 9 to 5 is a trap. For many, it’s the foundation for financial stability, routine, and even happiness. And if self-employment calls to you? Go for it – just know the reality is more than laptop shots in coffee shops.

The grass isn’t always greener. Sometimes, it’s just different grass.

Want to hear the full conversation? We broke this down in Episode 36 of The Vault 👇