Leaving for Burnout

[bctf123]

I've been in my job for 5.5 years, mostly enjoyed it a lot but doing a lot outside my role for free and working overtime for free as it's salaried and a one man job. Ive had run of the place after hours so been good that way.
Main problem was I was working another 40 hours on the side to have any chance of a deposit for house, it's been like that for 13 months;I had senior duties for entry level title and pay and I've been over performing for 3 at least.
From my research it looks like I should be getting in wider industry enough to quit the part time work and be the same better off and get weekends and evenings back

I'm wondering if anyone's ever left for burnout without a backup plan and how long it took to recover? I've joined a friend on a foreign gap holiday and spent 3 weeks frustrated about pay, been sick with food poisoning for 2 weeks and only now feeling like my head is clearer but I'm not ready to come back. I feel like I haven't been able to be in the moment for a couple of years now and I need to make the most of this if I can even if I'm haemorrhaging money

[ToWorkOrNotToWork]

Hi, I have. Stressful job in a toxic workplace; didn’t matter how many hours you worked it was never enough; staff turnover through the roof.

It took me two months to feel fine. I slept a LOT and did heaps of exercise. Met up with friends, cooked, pottered in the garden, listened to well-being podcasts, read books, caught up on “life admin” (cleared out the garage, sorted out pensions etc).

When I was ready to go back to work I had a heap of energy and felt excited about my next assignment. It was remarkable how much that crappy job had turned me into this depressed, exhausted, insomniac with jelly for brains. And how fast I bounced back.

Well done for taking control and making a brave decision to invest in yourself

[bctf123]

Thanks , very odd but I'm sleeping a lot as well.
Im upto a month now and I think I'll need more. My personal life has suffered so much in terms of general neglect
Glad to hear all went well with you x

[newbeliever]

@bctf123 I left my job on Friday 😊 It was a role I had previously enjoyed, but being a small business I was the only one responsible for my area and the more I did, the more they expected. Came to a head last autumn when more pressure was being put on me to achieve unreasonable targets, decided over Christmas I had had enough. I think I had been burnt out for a while following a project I had completed earlier in the year and I needed a bit of time to catch up with normal work, they were straight on me with another huge project, which I didn’t think was the right approach anyway.

The relief I felt handing in my notice was incredible! Spent the last couple of months serving my notice already improving my diet and exercising more and certainly not working all the extra hours I had been.

Now I’ve finished, I plan to give myself a few weeks off, catch up with friends and family, exercise lots and have a sort out at home before I start considering what next. I’m thinking I might try temping for a bit. At the moment, I don’t want to return to my career . . . I am totally over it!

I do enjoy working, so I know I want to do something, just not sure what yet.

Totally understand how your personal life has suffered, mine had too . . Lost touch with friends, became overweight and was starting to feel so ‘not me’.

Take the time you need, it’s important that you regain your strength and mojo for a new role. Great to hear @ToWorkOrNotToWork experience, I’m hoping this will be me in a couple of months!

[Sunbeam18]

Relate to a lot of this; how do you finance it though? I'd love a total break for a few months but would panic about finding another job.

[newbeliever]

@Sunbeam18 I had a bit of savings plus we haven’t booked a holiday yet, so have holiday savings too. I’m thinking it’s a bit like maternity leave when you realise you don’t need as much money to get by each month that you think you need. I live in the south east, so lots of options of places to work. I’m also open to doing something totally different so although it did feel a bit crazy to be handing my notice in, I do still have confidence that I will find a job.

I had lots of comments that I was ‘brave’ on Friday. I didn’t feel brave, I felt absolutely elated that I was leaving and doing the best thing for me and my well-being/mental health. 😊

[Sunbeam18]

That's brilliant, good for you! That sounds like a fabulous decision. I wish you a wonderful future now you've taken the leap

[853ax]

Well done I've been thinking of doing this and taking 6 months or so off.
Thankfully financially in good position but I worry I wouldn't get another job again and I'd be fed up.
People keep telling me easier to get a job when already have one. But never feel I've enough energy to go looking for a new job so just plod on another while

[newbeliever]

@853ax

Well done I've been thinking of doing this and taking 6 months or so off.
Thankfully financially in good position but I worry I wouldn't get another job again and I'd be fed up.
People keep telling me easier to get a job when already have one. But never feel I've enough energy to go looking for a new job so just plod on another while

@853ax i thought the same for a long time, it’s definitely safer to look for a new job whilst in your current role. However, I realised I did need some time out to ‘recover’ from the burn out and prepare for a new role. I was steadily going downhill over time and at Christmas I knew I needed to act.

Throw lots of other life events into the mix with trying to move house, adult children who are stressed themselves with exams/dissertations and peri-menopause symptoms, which are thankfully under control now, I knew I needed to take a step back. I also needed the space to consider what I want to do next between now and (hopefully!) retiring in 10 years time. At the moment, I’m excited for what next . . . hopefully my bravery pays off.

[newbeliever]

Thought I’d post an update 😊 It’s been almost 7 weeks since I left my job and I am feeling so much better!

I took the first couple of weeks off before registering with some local temp agencies, I’ve had the odd day here and there of reception type work which has given me a bit of money coming in.

We finally moved house last Friday, so relieved I had the time to get organised and pack!

I’m temping all this week in another reception role. The work is boring but it’s good to be earning something and I can use the time at work to start job hunting.

I've got a short break in Greece booked with my family the week after next. When we return I intend to start properly looking for a new permanent role.

It definitely takes time to recover and I can’t think how else I could have approached the issue without leaving, it was a vicious cycle before. I hope the others that posted are making progress too.