Does it feel like everything is set up to assume you're doing something wrong? I've had my card declined trying to buy groceries in my own town. These systems are so worried about stopping fraud that they just stop normal life instead. It's like we're all guilty until proven innocent by some computer that can't tell the difference between a trip and a crime. Makes you feel powerless when you can't even buy gas.

Spot the same trick in every big box store, putting the milk and bread in the far back corner. They design spaces to herd people past the expensive stuff first. Airports just do it with security lines and gate placement instead of shopping aisles. It's all about controlling the path to squeeze out more money.

Totally get that feeling, I used to count pallets on a loading dock. Set a goal for the next hundred cells, maybe 600, and give yourself a small reward like a better coffee break. It turns the grind into a game you can win, which helps more than people think. Those tiny wins are what get you through the day without losing your mind.