imbadatgrammar's journey

I currently work as a salaried employee in the automotive industry, typically on a night shift from 6pm to 7am, which often stretches to 13 hours. My schedule can lead to working up to 78 hours a week, and while I appreciate the financial benefits—around $80k annually with opportunities for advancement—I'm feeling overwhelmed. The long hours leave me little time for my family or personal interests, like filmmaking, which is my true passion. I've spoken to my boss about reducing my hours to 11-12 a day, but he insists that's not possible. It feels frustrating because my day shift counterpart has a lighter workload yet works fewer hours. I love my company and have applied for other positions, but I suspect my superintendent may be hindering my chances of moving up since I perform well in my current role. I worry about missing out on my kids' lives, especially since my own father was often absent due to work. The job market here isn't great, and I'm not sure where else I could find a similar salary without years of experience. Balancing this demanding job with my personal life is becoming increasingly difficult, and it's affecting my mental health.