Regret moving to full time job...

[SilkieChick]

I changed jobs at Christmas, moving from a part time role to a full time one. Partly for some extra income and partly to get more experience in a better role and move my career on a bit (I work in communications).

5 months in and I'm still really struggling with the long days working alone in front of a screen. It's 'hybrid working' but in reality I wfh most days as most of my team aren't local so it feels like there's no point in working from the local office. I've just got up from my desk after another working day and I'm cold from sitting for so long, even though it's sunny and mild outside. I often have headaches and it's doing nothing for the frozen shoulder I'm developing.

It's a better company and a better job but I'm starting to wish I'd stayed in my old PT job so that I could be outdoors more when I'm not working - maybe I should have used the time to retrain, or to do something else which doesn't involve staring into a laptop all day - it's making me bored and pretty miserable.

This is just a bit of a moan really, anyone else regretting full time work after part-time?

Do you think it could be more to do with the WFH element rather than the full-time element?

I remember going from part-time working as a student, to full-time working as a graduate and that was painful. It felt like I'd lost all my free time. But then you just get used to it and it's just normal now.

However, I also worked a job recently which was mainly WFH and didn't like it one bit. I felt like I was just staring at my 4 walls, on my own, getting restless, feeling lonely etc etc. Hence why I wonder whether it's the same for you. Maybe try going into the office to get a bit of structure, even if there is hardly anyone in there.

@elle1005 yes I think that's a big part of the problem. However I'm struggling to see the point of going into the office when I'd still be sitting alone, staring at the screen etc. At least at home I can make a decent coffee!

Perhaps it will be better if/when there are more in-person meetings, but with a very widespread team it's not likely these will be weekly or even fortnightly.

It's actually getting me down so much I'm beginning to think of finding something else, preferably with fewer hours as well but at least with more variety and teamwork.

I would still give the office a go, even if hardly anyone is there. It'll still give you a bit more structure of getting ready, commuting, being in a work environment rather than having it blend in with your home life.

No harm in looking for other work in the meantime as well.

Is there no-one in the office at all or just not your team? I'm often the only one in from our team but there's plenty of other people to talk to. And I have to walk further to make a drink / go to the toilet so it's better for keeping me moving.

Hand hold - i am in the same position and to top it off my new role is very toxic. Wish i hadn’t thought the grass was greener.