What to do when you don't want to work anymore?

[NatashaBedwouldbenice]

I walked away from my career/profession at the end of 2020. I've done odd jobs throughout 2021, either short term contracts or ones were I've quickly handed my notice in. (I haven't worked full time for about 5 years).
I'm getting to the point were I just don't want to work any longer. I just have zero motivation. What's wrong with me? What do I think is going to happen?

Do you need to work?
Are you interested in life generally?
How are your social connections?

Do you need to work? In a few months my savings will have run out and then I will have to work.
Are you interested in life generally? I have had some personal distractions in the last year, but yes - I am in your normal clubs and volunteering, I exercise etc.
How are your social connections? - I have a good group of close friends, a good DP and lots of associates through the volunteering.

I don't think I'm depressed, which I suspect you may be wondering about, but I don't have much drive or ambition or long term goals.

Interested in your thoughts @Luredbyapomegranate

Have you been on the gone off working thread? www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4450430-AIBU-to-have-gone-off-working

Your options really are:

Win the lottery.
Find a high-paying job and do it as part time as possible, so you get a living wage on few hours.
Find a high-paying job and live relentlessly frugally to retire ASAP.
Find a job for life you can coast in while reading novels under the table.
Reduce outgoings drastically and carry on as you are, bouncing between jobs.

I would replace the work with a goal though – creating a lovely garden, or writing a book, or painting. Then work is just the thing that funds your life and the occasional annoyance of having to do it for a bit is worth it because it buys plants/paints/writing time.

A job you like can be completely different.

I'm kind of in a similar position.

I left the profession I qualified in at the end of 2020 after many years of bullying and discrimination. My employer was the main employer of that qualification and the highest paying. Everyone knows everyone so essentially my career was over and I had to do something else.

Fortunately however, I had had the sense to do some volunteering in my spare time, and also get some additional qualifications (as I like to study anyway).

I now work in the third sector. Although my salary and pension are not as good, I have more flexible working and a lovely manager. My colleagues all seem nice too. I have not had any issues.

So try volunteering and additional study to help you diversify. Think about what additional skills you already have that you can use.

There are a few threads like this at the moment; probably not surprising at this time of year, Covid etc.

I’m feeling very similar and perusing @stuntbubbles list of options

I am not qualified for a profession and am not creative in the slightest so I feel my options are fairly limited.

I was wondering that, but it’s good you aren’t. I think that we have got our lives totally out of wack, and we expect far too much of work. The point of life is life. I wonder if you are torn between expecting too much of at the other end fearing it will be a total drudge.

I think it’s counter productive when people talk about finding your passion - it’s a tall flipping order. Better to think about what makes your curious, or where you feel you would be useful or stimulated.

I’d give up the idea of expecting too much, but don’t go for dead end either, aim in the middle, for something that feels a bit stimulating and worth while and adds a string to your bow as a person. Also think about something that you could do part time.

Look upon finding a job you like well enough as an interesting project, if you can. And crack on while you have a bit of time. It’s always worth asking a few friends what they think your strengths and weaknesses are and what they think you might enjoy. It’s surprising and will give you a few clues. There are some good books and websites - career shifters is also a good organisation.

Win the lottery. I have never played.
Find a high-paying job and do it as part time as possible, so you get a living wage on few hours. That's where I've come from. I've not worked full time in years. Being paid a lot of money for doing very little is only fun for a while.
Find a high-paying job and live relentlessly frugally to retire ASAP. I am not convinced by this. There is no guarantee that we get to enjoy a day of retirement. Only today is guaranteed.
Find a job for life you can coast in while reading novels under the table. See above
Reduce outgoings drastically and carry on as you are, bouncing between jobs. I think this is the logical conclusion.

@Luredbyapomegranate The point of life is life. Yes, and when I look at a 37hr job advert I can't bear the thought of spending so many hours doing such work.

@stuntbubbles
I would replace the work with a goal though – creating a lovely garden, or writing a book, or painting. Then work is just the thing that funds your life and the occasional annoyance of having to do it for a bit is worth it because it buys plants/paints/writing time.
Can't tell you how much I needed to hear this. Thank you this is really helpful

@TwinklyTitsAllAglow (a) I love your username! (b) I’m glad! I’m a bit like the OP in that I bounce between short-term contracts, freelance sometimes, generally piss any hopes of a career ladder up the wall, BUT, I only really work to fund my real life, which is writing novels. And every minute I do that is glorious, and gives me purpose and joy, and really does help.

It depends on what is important to you in terms of expenditure . Eg we live in a fairly small house , second hand cars but enjoy holidays/weekends away. I work enough hours to fund the things I enjoy . I like my job (average wage) but I wouldn't work additional hours to be able to afford a bigger house or a new car .

Thank you for the link to the other thread. I'm working my way through it and it's really interesting.

@stuntbubbles thank you from me too I've been feeling really down this week about work but I have this type of job and lots of things I enjoy doing at home (and walking the dog) so you've made me feel quite happy! The key for me is not to 'care' as my workplace is a bit toxic, my plan this year is to do the basic work, not get drawn into conflict or competition, and take the ££. Thank god for wfh.

God, I wish I had the guts to just walk away!

I’ve had several years of pondering walking away from nursing but feel stuck by the reasonable salary and the fact it’s all I’ve ever done.

My current solution is a reluctant promotion. There was no one else willing or skilled enough to do it and it means for the first time since I left school, I will be doing 9-5 Monday to Friday🤷‍♀️

I think if you really can’t face going back, you find a way to make it work for you. Trouble with lower paid jobs though is generally you have to work longer hours to earn enough!

Work out a budget, how much you need to live on and go from there. Good luck.

I used to have a job that I really enjoyed & I volunteered too, I was happy & had lots of energy.
I was made redundant
I have another good job, but it is not so enjoyable.
Covid restrictions have made the existing job less appealing & no energy for volunteering.
However, current job; pays well, pays into pension, some flexibility with hours, lots of time off due to shift pattern & allows me to enjoy life & hobbies outside work
Basically, work makes my life outside work better

I assume that you need to create your own pros & cons list ?

You haven't said how old you are. Do you have a private pension & a plan for retirement ?

I know a few people who work for 6 months, then spend 6 months doing things that they enjoy.
Is this something that you could investigate?

I’ve had several years of pondering walking away from nursing but feel stuck by the reasonable salary and the fact it’s all I’ve ever done.

Oh, it took me years to walk away! Even once I'd fallen out of love with the job things like pay and pension kept me there. I was too scared to walk away for years.

You haven't said how old you are. Do you have a private pension & a plan for retirement?

I'm early 40s, some pension but not enough for retirement. I have no plan for retirement.

[quote NatashaBedwouldbenice]**@Luredbyapomegranate* The point of life is life.* Yes, and when I look at a 37hr job advert I can't bear the thought of spending so many hours doing such work.[/quote]
But do you need to? You mentioned quite well paid consultancy work? Is it worth figuring out how many hours you need to do?

Also while I don’t necessarily think you are depressed, I do think you are in one of those transition phases. If you get stuck in your search for meaning, I would think about working with a smart therapist or coach, as feeling lost for too long can lead to depression.

It is true if you a job that you love, then it never feels like work !

I’d love to know too. Also in my 40s and finished a reasonably paid job after years and years of afraid to give up my ‘career’, pension, health ins. It was never my career because I only ever did it for the money. I really disliked it.
I took a few years off and now WFH but the pay is terrible. I’m much happier though I worry I can’t do this long term.
I’ve never done anything beside office work but wish I’d learned a trade or something useful and I could work for myself.

But do you need to? You mentioned quite well paid consultancy work? Is it worth figuring out how many hours you need to do?

Yes, I would be looking at about a week's worth per month to live comfortably but a) I can't abide the work and there are reasons why I left it in the first place, and b) there's no guarantee of even 1 day a month. I think (and hope) that it's going to dry up soon.

I have a couple of ideas of work that I think will be worthwhile. I cannot see how they would bring in any money, but what have I got to lose?

@Dancingonmoonlight is retraining an option? I have considered every trade and interrogate any tradesperson I come across, but I can't think of one I'm cut out to do.

I couldn't afford another degree.

And besides, I can't think what I'd retrain to do!