To have told them to stick their job

[gymsleepandfreedom]

After months working in a mindless, incredibly stressful city job that I am over qualified for (Masters degree) with some great people and some wankers which was well paid but made me feel like my soul was being sucked out, I have walked. Without a job to go to, or savings, in a recession, to chase a dream.

I am going to apply for phD funding today, go to the gym a lot, remember what sleep feels like and hope I can keep myself above water while I train to be a personal trainer and attempt to get a job where I really really want to be and used to be (can't say as would give myself away).

I don't have DCs to support and feel I have to do this before I am too old. HIBU to do this with nowhere to go yet in this current climate, especially considering phd funding is so hard to get and I didn't get a first ?

I did the same, I left a job I hated to do my PhD. You could try contacting the relevant uni departments to see if they have any research projects coming up / potential supervisors etc. They would then help you apply for funding, I should think. That is what happened with me anyhow. Some depts/ research projects attract really high levels of funding for their students so look around. Good Luck!

Well done you. I am on the point of doing something similar - though trying to get a 'more worthwhile' job lined up first, which isn't easy in current climate.

I have huge admiration for you. You only regret what you don't do, so you've done the right thing to take the plunge instead of sitting in your glass box thinking "what if?"

Good luck :)

I'm amazed there are so many of us doing/contemplating a similar thing!

It might not look like the wisest choice to others, but the thing is that sometimes you really have no choice, sometimes you're so unhappy it's killing you and unless you get some meaning and self-determination in your life you can't see the point of going on. Problems with sleeping/eating are a sure sign that it's really getting to you.

It might have been sensible to hang on until you had funding/alternative income sorted, but I know the feeling of not being able to bear even one more day in that glass box!

Absolutely Ephiny. I was going to be very very ill if i didn't leave.

You're all amazing :).

I've drawn up a basic proposal today and am going to the British Library tomorrow early to research it and send off emails to relevant departments. I also went to the gym after getting off here earlier and ran 10k, rowed cycled etc and feel exhausted but calm and confident I've made the right decision.

Thank you so much for support, I really couldn't handle another day of losing both my soul and self-respect.