To quit work and do an OU degree?

[Agix]

I've posted about quitting work before, due to my health. I was advised by mumsnet that at the time it wasn't the best idea. Suggestion was to go part time instead, which I did.

Since then, my health has declined further. It's some life-long mental health, some physical health, and recently diagnosed neurodivergence which may explain a whole lot of it. I am in therapy on the NHS now.

My partner and I have gotten married since. His income has also increased slightly.

Hes very keen for me to quit work now and focus on taking time to get better, he says he doesn't want to see me so unwell and with no life anymore, and just carrying on like this. He says he thinks it'll just keep getting worse if nothing changes, and I can't say I think he's wrong. I went part time, and things are still getting worse. I feel I can't catch up, nothing is getting fixed.

He is extremely keen for me to get a degree when I told him I wanted to, I never got the chance when I was younger, and I'd love to do it too. He says I deserve the opportunity and believes I'd do well.

With his take home pay, we have around £300 a month left over after current expenses.. Perhaps more when we cut and reduce the unnecessary expenses (subscriptions, etc). We have around £10k savings. So it'll be tight... But doesnt everyone have to struggle to get anywhere? He says getting further raises is not out of the question for him either. No kids, just a cat. No kids on the horizon.

I'm scared with the drop in income, my take home is low but we live well and securely now due to it, but coming round to the idea for the sake of bettering myself . I don't think current work is sustainable anyway, I'm not performing well anymore with the impact of my health. Reasonable adjustments havnt worked. Losing this job isn't off the table...

I think quitting work, and doing an OU course (Law) would be great for me. I get some time off work before course starts, can manage my own time during, learn from home, attending therapy, and have a goal so I'm not rotting... And hopefully new, better footing to re-enter the work force when I am able. Re-calibrate for 3-4 years.

Is it entirely stupid to be on the verge of doing this?

YABU - don't do it.

YANBU - do it, it could work out for the best (obviously with effort from me).

If you’re finding work too much I really wouldn’t even contemplate law.

Exactly

Human rights law. I currently work for a charity. Very passionate about it. I just want to be better and more capable. There are a few roles I have in mind, ones I'd never reach without further education, I'd like to return to the charity sector when I'm done.

People are making me think twice talking about how stressful it would be... But my gut still says I can do it.

I'd do well at work right now if it weren't for having to speak with multiple clients a day, I'm doing fine with the complex background work. Better than fine, it motivates and fuels me. I'm struggling with being on the front line - I'm great with clients, but it's always been hard for me to keep up with it. I've recently diagnosed with autism which explains that ("masking", I now understand). It's the KPIs and having to attend hospital around working hours etc too.

Again thank you for everyone's thoughts, it's all valuable.

I still think I could do the degree though... Gosh maybe it is silly.

Another thing about the OU which is different to degrees at brick and mortar Unis is that you do the degree one module at a time and you can build your own degree. The first few modules tend to be broad and applicable to a number of different routes, so you don’t have to specialise immediately.

Also, you don’t need to have a clear career path at this point. Lots of people do a degree then work in something completely unrelated.

Also curious about law degree. Why law in particular? It doesn't look like you're considering it as a career.

OU has some OpenLearn courses (free) which give you a small taster of subjects.

I'm doing an OU course and I am enjoying using my brain again. But it is quite isolating and you have to be self-motivated. And there is pressure to meet assignments, so while people say you can study at your pace, you still have to complete modules within a timeframe, meeting deadlines.

Thank you - I've only replied to the more wary comments so far, so wanted to give equal attention to this encouraging one 😊 I will have to think more on it (which is why I made this post) but I know my husband is in full agreement with your way of thinking!

You can do the degree. Please don’t listen to the nay sayers.

I'd say go for it, and sod all of the hypercritical people.

I started doing OU part time whilst working full time in a job that was physically impacting my health. DH was supportive throughout and his income was always more significant than mine. We eventually agreed that I should drop to very minimal part time hours, and study full time, so I still got to have the human contact I needed for my MH, and my own money.

If you can afford to do it and your DH is supportive, go for it. I do agree though that an access module may be worth trying to check if you'd be happy with distance learning. Self motivation is difficult to sustain for some people.

Thank you. I am concerned about sounding really silly, but I do think I can do the degree. I work hard. Im clever. I struggle socially and such, and need some time to learn how to cope with my health perhaps, but I think I can do the degree.

I didn't have a chance before, with my health issues, but distance learning I think I can do it. Remote working means the jobs may be open to me too. I currently work remote.

There was a time I never thought Id have the chance.

This is someone who has serious mental health and other conditions and doesn’t feel capable of working anymore. She is only in her mid thirties and no children.

I think it’s reckless to assert that someone in this position that you don’t actually know “can do the degree”

OK, I see human rights aspect.

Yes agree with pp who said there is flexibility in the degree if you change your mind / want to concentrate on certain parts.

Also they are pretty good with students circumstances e.g. no need to participate actively in tutorials if you don't want to.

Yes, go for it!! There is always something to be gained by learning more.

if you enjoy your job and it’s only one side of it you struggle with, have an open and honest discussion with your boss

Thank you, I've been looking at the access modules. I think I'd have to pay for that, but we can do that.

I'm extremely self motivated, and in fact work better that way. All I've ever had is self motivation to even get to where I am now - and I really think I could go further.

All that said, of course I'm not convinced it's a good idea , which is why I posted here and appreciate everyone's input.

Is the aim to do the degree and then train to become a lawyer in your forties?

Thank you, I have done so - many over the past year. There are no other options, no roles that I can get into that are much different than the one I'm in. So many reasonable adjustments, and I'm still declining.

I'd need a degree to get into the suitable roles, the more background ones where people are fully dealing with the complex cases, and law would be best. Of course these particular roles at this particular organisation may not be available in 4 years, but I'm looking at still doing equivalent roles.

I'm going to have a further discussion with my boss about my plans. I know they want to keep me, i really am good with the complex background stuff and I know it's valuable to them, my quality is always high, but there's only so much they can do when my health is impacting the main meat of the roles available to me currently. Of course, I hope to improve on that.

Is the intention to become a lawyer?

Not necessarily, no.

Agreed. And failure to complete the degree (which I believe is a long six years) might further exacerbate all the health conditions.

You will be spending most of the day alone with limited interaction

will that be healthy for your mental health illnesses?

I think you would be much better served to invest the money in therapy, extensive.

I agree with this - law degrees are bloody hard at the best of times. I know quite a few people who dropped out of studying law because of it.

I admire your determination. OU or any degree will be hard work. It will put you under pressure especially if you stopped studying at A Level or lower.
There are some threads about OU on the Education section here. They are good research.
Have you considered free or lower cost courses on Cousera.com or similar. You might find special focussed courses on Human Rights there.
Best of luck

You said “I’d do well at work right now if it weren’t for having to speak with multiple clients a day”. I imagine being a human rights lawyer would involve that to a large extent too.

but I’m all in favour - you get one life, you’re going through a readjustment phase of yours as you adjust to your health and your better understanding of yourself. You’re in a position to make and implement good decisions for yourself. Having a loving supportive husband sounds terrific too.

Definitely go for it.

You clearly have a good work ethic so will be used to deadlines, therefore handing in assignments on time, won’t be a problem.

My husband has just finished his Law Degree with the OU, getting a First. Your position sounds similar to his. His tutors were excellent, very supportive and gave him extensions when things at home got really tough.

In the first year, he took 60 credits. That was too much, so then only took 30 each year, and had to take a year out, but still graduated after five years.

As a PP said, you can decide how to participate in tutorials. My husband tried initially but his neurodivergence made it difficult.

His funding was student finance and will be paid back when he earns over £26,000 a year.

I wish you luck.

Is there any option near you for in person courses? Depending on the course the face 2 face hours aren’t huge (don’t know about law) but you would get some human interaction. That is if your health means you can do that.

When did you last study and to what level? Would you need to build up skills to be successful?

There are access to higher education courses, in think there is some funding/ loads available but not sure of the details.

Advantage of the OU is you can take it at your own pace starting slowly and building up.