Magtrabaho na sab ta!.
The first day of work for the new year is just
around the corner, and social media is already filled with posts dreading its
arrival. Many wish the vacation could stretch a little longer. Even some
teachers share sentiments that make returning to work sound like something to
mourn. Yet these expressions, harmless as they appear, can send mixed signals
to younger people who look up to adults. After all, work is not merely a
routine we endure; it is the source of our stability, livelihood, and often,
our sense of purpose.
When a job feels stripped of meaning, it easily
becomes a routine: just another set of tasks to get through. But when we see
our work as purposeful, something connected to a larger picture, the ordinary
shifts. Even the familiar becomes engaging, and the day-to-day carries a quiet
sense of excitement.
What has become of us? Perhaps this is one result
of living in a world shaped by instant gratification. With quick entertainment
available at every pause, we’ve grown used to easing boredom with a simple
scroll, chasing that brief dopamine lift from TikTok and other platforms.
Research suggests that constant exposure to instant rewards, from online games
to fast-paced digital content, may contribute to anxiety, restlessness, and
difficulty sustaining focus among young people. Technology brings convenience,
but it also reshapes the way we cope and find satisfaction.
Studies have found that problematic patterns of
social media use are linked to higher levels of anxiety, depression, stress,
and other psychosocial concerns (Keles, McCrae, & Grealish, 2020; Lin et
al., 2016; Pantic, 2014). Similar effects surface in the use of short-form
videos and online games, which have been associated with increased anxiety and
depressive symptoms (Liu et al., 2025). These findings suggest that the
instant-reward design of digital platforms plays a role in shaping mood and
emotional well-being.
Could this growing weariness toward work stem, in
part, from a lifestyle defined by constantly checking what others are doing
online, where the “good life” seems to mean vacations, gaming, or the latest
TikTok trend? It sometimes feels as if many of us are being quietly drawn into
a culture where social media dictates what is normal or desirable, blurring the
line between genuine rest and the pressure to imitate what we see on our
screens.
We are sentient beings, capable of understanding
our values and the purpose behind our education: so we can work, grow, and
sustain ourselves. Wishing work away is like a plant trying to avoid the rain
even as the soil beneath it dries. Work, much like the rain, is what keeps us
grounded, nourished, and moving forward.
We are fortunate to have work that sustains us. Let
us meet the days ahead not with dread, but with gratitude and renewed
excitement.
