how to stop caring about "promotions"

[workoholic]

Pre working where I do I never really cared about promotions, but I work in a global bank and people are always talking about it and its so competitive but subject of lots of day to day conversations, it comes out like word vomit is swear.
I have decided I want to start focusing on other areas of my life as I dont want the responsibility of going upwards anymore, and fed up of people having these conversations near me as it feels like I am not grateful for what I have, as always feels like I should be progressing to more.
Has anyone had any experience of similar environments and how to avoid these toxic cultures? and how to reframe your mind when those conversations are around you?

It's so true though - it's not worth the cash really. I had this conversation with my boss recently, and as he is leaving he told me how the pay rise structure works. He said I would be lucky to get one for the next couple of years unless I go for promotion as they've been putting me on market rate for the past 2 years, but said I won't get another rise for 2 years even if I try due to the way it works. He said next year I would be lucky to get 1-2k payrise but he doubts it, and I was thinking about it and due to tax it works out as an extra £1.25-50 a day, and thats providing I work my set hours, which I don't as I currently do an extra 4 hours at least a day. I need to sort my work life balance out! I'm not really going to get anything for it, but quite safe in my job and still learning etc so thinking I just need to work out my work life balance and be more complacent and de-prioritise work. Mentally trying to figure out how to do this.

The harder I work the more I spend on takeaways.
Rightnow,things are manageable. I should try to develop more hobbies and get to know people through them. That would make me happier. I think I still crave the validation or the status. "Status" 😅 truth is there's very little status in the grade above me.

I know what you about the status - it feels like something you should want in corporate, but in fact the thought of sitting in back to back meetings and presentations isn't something I want. I don't crave being a manager etc either. I guess I "want it" so I can tell people I have it, which is really bad.... but it would actually make me miserable. I need more hobbies too!! Are you single?

Last year I went on a solo trip, and I think I am going to book some trips up so I have a focus for the year. Long weekends away to see the world- I think it's what I need to refocus.

I am single! I wonder if that's why I feel I need social capital or something.
If I do get it together to go to pottery class though, work would only vaguely crop up I bet. Nobody you meet at pilates cares if you "got your D" 😅
I will never get to the top of the greasy pole.

Is your role transferable to another, less competitive sector? What you are describing is so different from the sector I work in. I would absolutely hate it too if I were in your shoes.

I think when you are single (like me too), you focus more on work, as less to think about and sad as it is, less reason to log off work on time in the evening etc. It's something I am trying to work on as I also cba to go and socialise now either haha.

I plan to do this for another 6 or so years, I have worked hard to get to this point. Then I will transfer later on. Absolutely no chance I would bother restarting now or going "sideways" as I plan to really cut back after those 6 years. I am close to the finish line now.

3x in last week I got told by much more senior people than me how lucky I was to do my job and not theirs.

I would like their salary though, not gonna lie. But not enough to do those jobs, no way.

Haha, yeah bet they wouldn't take the pay cut now!