Quit my job today. WIBU to ask how to have an enriching work free life before I job hunt?

[LydiaBennetsUglyBonnet]

Disclaimer: I am not Liz Truss.

But I quit my job today after months of absolute hell, I was allowed to leave with six months pay, which I’m happy with as I was on the cusp of going down the tribunal route.

Im going to take four months off as I really need the break, before job hunting. I am fearing that I will end up lying about in the sofa watching Netflix. What can I do to fill my time (2 kids at school aged 5&9)? And make this time off as productive as possible. Hit me with ideas!

Volunteer? There may be local charities recruiting for pre Christmas events

Walk
Travel
Take yourself out for lunch

Exercise
Get massages
Have some weekends away
Do an online, or real life course
Go on a meditation retreat
Redecorate your house?

Volunteer in a capacity thar is relevant to the career you will be returning to. Then you can add thr role to your "career history". It fiesnt erase the fact that you have a career gap, but at least it makes the gap seem productive (career wise).

Some ideas

• school governance
• charity committee or boards
• treasurer for a club
• citizens advice
• library work
• guides/scouts
• care homes
• music/drama club

Chill for a while. Have some me time. Decide what you love & what you REALLY want to do.

Retrained a bit - get an extra skill. MicroMasters from EdX or some super skill that sets you apart and allows you to take a different career trajectory.

I think there would be a temptation to convince yourself you need to use the time to ‘rest’ and ‘relax’ constantly, which I’d try to resist. I’d use the time to get into a good routine of exercise, self-work like journaling or something similar since it sounds like you have some stresses, a hobby, sleep. Four months isn’t as long as it sounds but it’s a good time to get ahead of things.

Although, after giving that advice I realised I probably wouldn’t follow it. I’d just laze round the house reading books, watching telly, and eating too much probably.

Train for some kind of physical challenge -5k, half marathon, a long swim, bike ride, tough mudder, hula hooping exhibition etc. Whatever is challenging but achievable for you

Make a structured training plan and go for it.

Chill the rest of the time.
Spend more time with friends - arrange to visit them since you have time to travel. Social bonds are vital.

Chill all this week.

Next week is half term.

Run up to Christmas I'd make sure, the house is sorted, get on with all the Xmas shopping and wrapping stuff early, pick a couple of good books to read, and try a load of different gym classes.

After Xmas go onto the Open University site and look what short free courses they have (or anywhere else that offers them home learning and free) and just pick something that interests you.

Get the house straight after Xmas, sort though the kids toys and donate / sell stuff.

Pick one of those exercise classes to commit to even if it means changing times once you're working.
Pick a couple more books
Spruce up your CV.

Feb half term

Now start job hunting. Have a brainstorm thought shower about what you want to do and get out of it.

I'm currently doing this I negotiated 6 months pay in a lump sum before I left . I'm using from now till January to rest and relax spending my days in front of the tv and pottering around town and then I'll start the job hunt in January. I'm looking forward to my first Christmas with more than 1 day off for the first time in 12 years .
Enjoy your "you" time

Organise Christmas in calm way
Bake Christmas bits which can be frozen
Christmas handmade gifts
After Christmas work on self exercise etc

I'd decide, with one eye on the question at your first interview "...and what have you been doing over the last few months since you left your last job?"

So I would include something I wanted to accomplish in there - be that a qualification or learning a skill that can help you in your career, or be that something that has nothing to do with work like training for a 1/2 marathon or walking the coastal path of Wales. Or backpacking round Australia. Something you enjoy, but that does sound you have done something other than lying on the sofa watching netflix for 6 months.

Declutter! Spend time making your home your happy place. And if you want to use your work skills, spend some time freelancing or even learning something you've always wanted to learn. Have fun! 🤩

Lie on the sofa and watch Netflix!

Maybe you need to rest & recharge for a while.

I took some time out and watched 80 odd episodes of Spooks and did a sewing course.

Join a gym
Go on walks and for lunch with any friends that are part time on their day off.
Start cooking more from scratch.
Do a diy project/Spring clean the house/ have a clear out whilst listening to audiobooks.
Take up a new hobby, such as golf or something arty.
Enjoy time after school with the kids doing simple things like going to the park for hot choc and cake.

Exercise

Do all those lingering to do list items that never get done while you’re working

Learn or improve a skill that will help with your future life - work or personal. Eg cooking, DIY, relevant software (Look for local adult courses though sadly many aren’t in school hours).

More exercise

Don’t spend too much time on MN

Brilliant for you! I'm so envious. I would (pretend) I learned a language, started yoga and meditation, wrote a book, got an allotment and volunteered

Definitely don't do NOTHING ... Employers will raise eyebrows at CV gaps... do something that you can sell yourself with.

I think there’s a balance to be had between replacing one 9 to 5 with another of volunteering and improving activities, and four months of Netflix!

A mixture of recharging your batteries, connecting with friends and family, and pursuing an interest that isn’t compatible with a working week would keep you occupied while also allowing you to recover from what sounds like a difficult time.

I’m forever eyeing up short courses at my local uni but nine times out of ten they’re during the workday, so I’d probably find one of those to do.

Honestly? I’d start the job hunt now (assuming you’ve left and not on gardening leave). And if I found work sooner the payoff from the old place would be a lovely little chunk off the mortgage (or for a special holiday). And if it took a while to find the right job, I’d be free of the pressure of finding something quick.

realistically I’d still be having at least a month off work when you think how long it takes from application to interview(s) to offer to start date.

I’ve taken 8 months off previously and got a few extra questions on what I was up to and how I funded myself during this time, nothing major. This was with 15 years redundancy in my back pocket

i started looking after 4 months but it took longer than I thought to get the job I wanted. I did start to panic

4 months out of 6 i think personally is too big a chunk. How would you support yourself if it went over 6 months with no job? Could you cope with working a month before your first payslip?

Look up adult education classes and sign up for something you'd enjoy - silversmithing, pottery, french conversation, furniture restoration etc. It will help structure your week to have a class to go to.

Has liz truss quit?