To just quit and take a year out

[SwishSwishBisch]

I am 40 and I have hated my job for a long time. I have procrastinated & over-thought changing career for years but I’ve only recently started exploring it properly, but just now I don’t have any firm idea what I might be able to do instead.
I’d like to just leave and figure the rest out after a proper reset. I have enough in savings to take a year out at a similar level of ‘income’ and also to keep some invested longer term. I am mortgage free. I am single, I don’t have kids.
But I am worried about what the next year(s) might bring about in terms of the job market, financial markets and all that stuff. Would I be completely mad to just quit and take the year to figure my shit out?
YANBU = go for it
YABU = don’t quit
(Also, feel free to share any inspiring stories/cautionary tales if you’ve done anything remotely similar!)

Honestly, just go. Take your year out, you have a roof over your head and back up finances....

I've done this with much less in the past, even giving up accommodation and taking time out abroad. Came back with nothing to my name but managed to secure a job and somewhere to live, and eventually to change jobs to something I liked much better as time went by. Even with the pandemic, the world isn't going to end in the next year, so I'd go for it.....

Absolutely do it. I’m self employed and due to stress after a very busy period I have pulled back and halved my workload over the last six months and feel much better for it. I know not completely the same but time out does remarkable things. You won’t regret it.

take some time out - I worked as an interim over a long period of time; after the first few years of working roles back to back, I had the confidence to take breaks of between roles - physical/mental health, just time for myself betweem challenging roles.
I've found employers have got far less hung up on career breaks than they were a few years ago.
Have fun, enjoy the time to yourself.

Since you’re mortgage free, yes, absolutely. If you weren’t I’d be worried about any circumstances popping up and you ending up spiralling into a financial hole and end up losing your home. But this isn’t a risk for you.

Go for it.

Why not.
If you get bored pick up something part time stress free, a totally different experience from your normal job.
I'd love to step out of the life and have a big change.

You sound perfectly placed to do this with little risk.

Are you me?! I could have written that post, well apart from being mortgage free. Absolutely longing for some time out.
If you can afford it, do it. Life is way too short.

Can you take a sabbatical? Give yourself some time away from work, travel but look for another job before quitting this one.

I don’t see any reason not to do it. Even if the worst case scenario happens financially which is unlikely and wipes out your savings it’s not like you’ll be facing homelessness. You’ll be able to just get another job.

100% do it.

Watching with interest as in a similar situation and similar age.

Have spent 15 years in an intense career driven role, have two primary age children (who I took minimal maternity leave for) and I’m burnt out and exhausted. My mental health is shot to pieces, I spend most of my non-working waking days in tears or checked out. I can’t sleep. I work for a narcissist who lies and puts me down so my confidence is at an all time low.

I’m not mortgage free but it’s minimal and DH is begging me to quit and take a year out. I have savings that would be the equivalent to over a years salary, and DH can cover the bills. Thanks to Covid even our 2022 holidays are booked and paid for.

I have a fear of being unemployed after being so career driven for so long, but I’m barely existing right now.

If you read this and think I should do it, then surly that’s telling you that you should too.

I know how you feel. A number of years ago I was working for a well known company and I moved side ways into another department. I ended up within a few months having the boss from hell. No matter what I did it was never enough. I was nit picked over the slightest mistake and my work load was growing by the day. I ended up working overtime at least 30 to 45 mins at least 3 times a week when doing a long commute.

In then applied for a job elsewhere and got a rejection. I was physically and mentally exhausted so I decided to go to my doctor. I got a sick cert due to stress. I was able to rest and eat properly. Within 2 weeks one of my friends said that she could see a change in me. I ended up taking longer out of this job than I intended due to some personal reasons.
I then got a temporary job with more money and handed my notice. Within a few years this company closed and I heard the staff got a very poor redundancy package.

Things I learned was that work is just part of life and not all your life. If your unhappy every day because of a job or boss it time to move on. If your in a financial position to take time off, have a decent rest and eat well it amazing how better you will feel in a short period of time. You have time to make plans and decide then on what you want going forward. Perhaps a less stressful job or even working PT for a while will help build up your self-esteem and possibly give you extra or different experience to get a better job.
Good luck in your work brake.

I’d go a middle ground. I’d find some work so I had some income but it would be something like temping, work in a pub, and it would be part time. Basically enough to cover food and some bills.

I’d also have a plan. Otherwise I think it’s too easy to not achieve much during your time off. So I’d plan to speak to recruitment agencies, go to University open days, update my resume, get involved in networking groups, stuff like that.
But for the first 2 weeks I’d just chill

You've described a perfect situation for experimental year out stuff. You can weather a year with no income (worst case) and can explore alternative sources of income during that year. Just do it. Do it to make memories.

Do it! I nearly had a breakdown working in a stressful job when my son was 2. Looking back I should have left sooner and taken a break.

Take time out and when you're feeling better reassess what you want to do work wise. Down the line I'm sure you will think it's the best thing you ever did!

If you can afford it, definitely take a year out if you think you need it. Use the year to learn something new, whether for future career or for pleasure.... travel...do whatever you need.
A word of warning though....after finishing uni I took a 'year' out to decide what I wanted to do. Did my Trinity TESOL and went to teach English overseas 'for a year or so.....20 odd years later I'm still teaching overseas and loving every minute.

Before you make any changes, I suggest you consider whether it's the type of job itself you don't like, or whether it's just the company.

DP was in the same boat, after his job and just wanted to do something completely different but was at a loss for what to do next. I convinced him that before he threw in the towel, he should test whether it was just the company he was working for that was the issue, rather than the type of job. He moved companies (same type of work) and absolutely thrived at the next one. He has said more than once, thank goodness he changed companies instead of retraining for something else.

I was made redundant in January and have savings so had an amazing 6 months off while I casually looked for something new.

If you can afford it, do it.

You’re mortgage free so you’re free. You will always be able to find something that just covers food and utilities if need be. Do it.

I would say in your circumstances, yes, do it. I took 6 months off a few years ago and whilst I went back to the same field (NHS), it was a slightly different role.
It's miserable being in a job you hate. When I had my time off I volunteered at a rescue centre walking dogs and helping with the cats - very rewarding.
All the best for whatever you decide to do 🤗

Honestly do it. I did it and it’s the best thing I did. I’m very career driven and it’s something I never thought I’d ever consider but after working long hours for years and with DS being small, I needed some mental space. I quit one day and never looked back.

What I would say is try to keep contact Wight your industry somehow (light touch). I went to some networking events every so often, kept in touch with some colleagues I liked and kept up to date and interacted with my professional group on social media. This meant I picked up short term freelance work easily when I wanted it and job options are still very much open and accessible to me when I want them

If you take a year off will you still have the money to retrain if required?

Perhaps plan for three months of soul searching then retraining? I think after a month of decompression, you might be surprised how ready you feel

I just want to thank each and every one of you who has taken the time to reply to me, I appreciate it so much!
It’s so easy to talk myself out of doing it if I focus on the sensible whatifs, but I’m starting to realise nothing will ever change unless I change it, and I just can’t tolerate feeling the way I feel for much longer.

Retraining is definitely something I am budgeting for, if necessary. I’ve also taken practical steps already by engaging with a career change coaching course (Career Shifters, in case anyone else is considering a similar move!) which I believe will give me the tools and raw materials to work with on a year off to find my direction, whatever that may end up being.
@violetbunny you raised a really valid question. For me it’s almost the opposite, the company are pretty good but I am just done with my industry. It’s hard to explain succinctly but I genuinely don’t think a lateral move would do anything other than put this same dilemma back by another year or two, and I’m not getting any younger!

I’m going to chew it over with my family and a financial advisor this week and when (not if!) I push the button, I will come back and let you know!

Go for it, I took a year off and travelled around Africa when I was 39. It was the best thing I ever did.

Delighted to hear it OP, I think you know in your heart that it's the right thing to do.

I did it myself a few years ago. I was stuck in a miserable job with an absolute nutcase for a manager, and I literally spend years wanting to leave but not being able to find a new job. I was so scared I'd ruin my career if I left with nothing to go to, but eventually I bit the bullet.

I was off for about 8 months which was bliss. I did a month long trip through South East Asia, spent time with family, worked on myself (including getting counselling for some previous issues including my horrible work environment). Then eventually I decided to do some freelance work part time, and got some work from an old colleague who had set up his own business.

I worked part time (2-3 days a week) for almost a year and then got a full time job that was perfect for me, and a step up from the job I had left.

I have no regrets at all, except taking so long to make the decision.

Best of luck to you!