dear internet,
i'm tired. i've been in the workforce only four and a half years, and i have a good, if full-on, job now which i do actually like, cept for some tedious office politics.
but i'm tired in my head -- of knowing that i'll only ever get two days in a row (max, sometimes it's less) of free time (which is usually taken up by having the maintenance guy round or some such). tired of meeting the perfect guy and mainly conducting our courtship in the 3 hours after work. i'm tired of constantly sitting on my ass, day in, day out, playing games with coworkers who i ultimately "need" to climb past on the career ladder. i'm sick of eating shitty food but not having the energy to cook. and i'm sick of looking at all the countries i have yet to explore -- only on a website or in the movies. this is how it's going to be for the next 40 years..?
what should i do, internet? i love good food and happy people and being active and breathing fresh air and chatting to people and reading great books and being well. i don't feel well thinking about how small my hamster wheel is.
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same here...
Good for you, I don't think most people realize how draining siting on their ass day in and day out is.
I voted for taking a year off but making a life change after that could also be part of the plan. Or instead of taking the year completely off you could go teach english somewhere and come out even financially.
I would take time to evaluate your current situation before you leave. If you decide you want to come back after your adventures are done, how easy or difficult will it be? Some industries are very heavily career-track oriented and don't like drop-outs. How would you feel about having to start over with something new? You sound like advancement is important to you. Will you be mad at yourself if you take time off for having lost that ladder-climbing time and seeing people your age in higher positions? Is there anything you could do in your time off that would increase your skillset or otherwise make you more valuable?
Is there anyone older than you by like ten years whose life you admire? Could you ask them if they ever felt like you do now? Perhaps they'll tell you they did and it was temporary and they're glad they hung in. Or perhaps there's something else in their story you can learn from.
It's a bit easy for me to say, since I work from home most of the time and thus have a fairly good working environment, but I'd really start with little things before taking any major steps like taking a year off. Try to create a friendly atmosphere in your work place. Bringing good food is a great idea, as is going to the gym if you're the type. If not, why not just have lunch in a park (if available) with a good book or something? Try to free your head sometimes, get some fresh air at lunch or in the evenings. Use your free time for something you really want to do, whatever that may be. Make the best of your weekends, maybe take some small trips and weekend breaks - there are bound to be some places within driving distance that are worth visiting!
If all this doesn't work out, you really should consider making a life change.
Everybody has great ideas! If I can add just a bit, and it depends entirely on what it is that you do, but, what about a small business? I was working the 7 to 7 thing - this is Mexico, after all - when I decided that I'd much rather have a life, and with some effort and good friends, we now have a business that, well, has changed my life. No, the money is not as steady as a regular job, the troubles are sometimes bigger, but then sometimes - like last week, when I had to have an operation - it's great. I don't have to move stuff around or "make up hours" when I have to go somewhere for personal reasons, it's truly fantastic.
Might be an idea. You know, if it's something your job would allow you to do.