Exhausted and Overwhelmed: A Week in the Life of a Part-Time Shop Assistant

I’m absolutely drained. The past week of working as a part-time shop assistant just downstairs from my home has been more exhausting than I anticipated. The one perk of this job is that I don’t need to commute, but that small convenience doesn’t make up for how much this job zaps my energy.

 

You might think that working as a shop assistant would be a simple task—tending the shop, cashiering, and answering customers' queries. But it’s so much more. I’m constantly lifting and carrying cartons of soft drinks and canned goods, unpacking them, and stocking the shelves. I find myself kneeling on the floor to stock the lower shelves, which, over time, has taken a toll on my lower back.
 

Now, you’d think that as a fitness instructor, I would know how to maintain proper posture and avoid injury. And I do! But some of the spaces in the store are so cramped that it’s impossible to squat properly while lifting. And let's be honest—neighborhood shops usually don’t have the kind of workplace health and safety audits that bigger businesses do.
 

There’s also the constant need to climb a step ladder, and not just any ladder. I’m talking about standing on the very top step to reach high shelves, which is terrifying. I have to be extra cautious to avoid falling.
 

And then there are the customers... Here’s a surprising fact: the customers who look well-mannered or from a higher social class are often the most impatient ones. On the other hand, those who seem rowdy or unkempt are usually more patient and understanding. It’s funny how appearances can be deceiving.
 

Of course, there's the business at the cashier, too. I get anxious and stressed whenever I’m handling cash. Sometimes, my brain just goes foggy, and I can’t remember how much change I need to give back. It's an added layer of pressure when you're trying to get things right under the watchful eyes of customers.
 

And let’s not forget the reality of being a rookie. As a newcomer, you do get scolded or reprimanded—not just for mistakes, but also for not working smart enough. My lack of experience in working in small shops makes me clumsy at times, and many times, I’ve felt like a “blur sotong” (as we say here). It’s hard not to feel discouraged when I realize just how much more efficient others are.
 

By the time I get home, I feel like I can barely move. And, to make matters worse, when you’ve got insomnia (like I did just last night), the exhaustion becomes unbearable. It’s such a helpless feeling.
 

What happened to my ambitions of growing my YouTube channel and making good monetization? What happened to all those thousands of dollars I spent on so-called "get rich" influencers, only to see myself now as a struggling loser? When can I get out of this rut?
 

I can’t help but wonder: what happened to my dreams of entrepreneurship? Here I am, struggling just to make ends meet, working for a mere $1,600 a month, which, as you can imagine, doesn’t get me very far. What makes it even more uncertain is the lack of a proper employment contract. I have no idea what my rights are or if I’ll even get paid at the end of the month.