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Both miserable in our jobs. Bickering.

4 replies

Kemer2018 · 31/10/2018 08:54

We both have jobs we hate.
He's a middle manager I'm a finance officer.
We're both stressed.
I'm not sleeping.
When i say i wish to leave at xmas he says he's stressed too and would love to leave but can't.
If you've been in a similar situation how do you cope without competitive stress bickering?

OP posts:
EBearhug · 31/10/2018 20:19

Is "we" you and your partner/spouse?

Can you afford to leave without another job? Are you looking for other work? Why can't he leave? Has he been looking for other work?

It would seem unfair to me to be stuck in one job because my partner left theirs without finding alternative work first.

On the assumption you live together, I would think the way to resolve this is to work out what money is the minimum you need to bring in between you, as that will probably put a limit on some options. Decide what sort of jobs you're each going to target. Then work through your CVs and LinkedIn profiles together and start applying for other jobs, and then quit when you've got an alternative to go to.

redexpat · 31/10/2018 21:38

You stay in employment until you get a new job. You could set aside time during the weekend to job hunt together, help each other with cvs and applications, update linkedin etc. And perhaps find someone else to unload onto. Could you invest in a jobcoach or similar?

maxelly · 01/11/2018 12:28

I really feel for you, my DH and I went through a similar period where coincidentally we both went through a period of work stress (for different reasons) and I really think it was much much worse than if just one of us was going through it at a time, we had long circular conversations into the night not always really listening to one another and the stress of our own job worries was only compounded by worrying about the other person. We came out of the other side fine but it wasn't a happy time.

Agree with what others have said about it being helpful to understand your finances and what your minimum necessary income is - maybe try and take a step back from your current incomes and lifestyle and how important it is to maintain that -e.g. it is easy to get trapped into a bit of a treadmill of paying a large mortgage or rent in an expensive city or area and then needing to get a high paying job to fund it, then not being able to move away from the city to do the job... but it can be possible to take a step away from both although it won't happen overnight (or by Christmas!) and can entail big lifestyle changes/sacrifices which can be really hard to think about when you are stuck in the daily grind of trying to make ends meet.

It does sound like something needs to change, but if at all possible I would avoid quitting either of your jobs without something else to go to or a clear idea of what your next steps will be. I know it's so hard to try and get perspective and think things through calmly when you are in the middle of a massive stress but equally acting impulsively is not always a good bet and I can see that your DP/H could feel even more stressed and trapped by his job if he is forced into being the main breadwinner by you unilaterally quitting yours (or vice versa).

Have you got any time/space to reflect, separately and as a couple on why you are feeling so stressed, what it is you want to get out of work and what kind of lifestyle you want (and therefore how much money you want to earn, hours you want to work, where in the country you need to live) and from that what you would want your next steps to be? Have you got any time off work coming up, can you try and use this to really try and do some good thinking and proper talking (not stress bickering)? Maybe even go away if that's possible to get some physical distance from work? As others have said talking to someone external (e.g. a careers coach, counsellor or even a family member or friend who is a good listener) can also really help you get your thoughts in order.

peachypetite · 01/11/2018 12:30

Are you actively looking for new jobs?

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