I decided that unlike the previous jobs that I’ve quit rather spontaneously because of frustration, I know that there are reasons to hang in for a bit longer (economy not included). The big one is that I am a teacher in a private school which has a great pre-school attached. While I earn less than I did my first year of teaching (and I’m finishing my tenth year as a teacher now), my employer fully covers the preschool for my daughter, who has one year to go before Kindergarten. It’s a great school, and the tuition equals about a 25% bonus.

Like you mentioned, times of flux are very stressful, and the past three years for us have had plenty of change. One year of stability (in the same grade level, the same school, with the same curriculum) is a lot easier than going back to the public schools (to nearly double the salary) or switching fields.

The career counselor helped me devise a plan to build toward starting a new career during the summer of 2009, and it has helped in many ways: I see the light at the end of the tunnel AND I know my family will benefit from the strategic planning. Any time I get frustrated with an administrative policy that drives me bonkers, I remind myself that I am building toward my “out”…Also, I’m not burning any bridges in the process. Experience reminds me that it’s not fun in the long run. The accountability of having paid for the advice session and creating a master plan, spread over a year, also ensures I don’t sign on past next school year. My fear is, like someone else mentioned above, getting trapped.

Great post, Nataly!

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I think that is such a great idea, Mari — and the point you make about dealing with short-term frustration because you’re working for a long-term goal is so, so true.
-Nataly

I appreciated your article, “5 Reasons Why You Should not Quit a Job you Hate”. I have also been down that street. I am once finding that I want to make a change. I have been with the same company for about 10 years . My skills are administrative/secretarial with heavy computer exposure. I am 62 years old and want to spend more time doing other things. I currently work 32 hours a week but would like to get that to 20 hours outside of the home and work any additional hours from home. I would like to concentrate on my E-bay selling, my husband wants to patent a couple of ideas and I would like to do some blogging. If possible, I would like to earn some money via a blog site.

My only concern is how to make the transition. How do you let others know you would consider a part-time job (and I only want no more 24 hrs) without letting your current employer know you are shopping. If have discussed the desire with my current employer that I would like less hours but that fell on deaf ears. I believe I have a lot to offer. I appreciate any info. available, articles you may refer to me.

Thanks

Blue22d — I hope you’ll take some time to look around Workitmom.com — there are many member articles and discussions that I think could be helpful. Also feel free to ask questions in the Q&A — we have a very supportive group on here. In short, I think finding a pt job while also working isn’t easy — especially because you need to keep it quiet from your employer. I think doing a blog is something you could do, while working — although making money from blogging isn’t instantaneous. Check out Mir’s blog, http://www.workitmom.com/bloggers/corneredoffice/ — she is a very successful blogger and writer.
-Nataly

You want the new car, but what you *really* want are the feelings that you think that new car will bring you. You want a different job, but what you *really* want are the positive feelings you think that new job will bring.

If you get clear about how you want to feel, you open the door to experiencing those feelings in a variety of ways. It may look like a new car or a new job, or it may not.

So, what are those feelings you want to experience? Do you want to feel inspired, motivated, engaged, validated, like you are part of a bigger vision? Do you want to feel freedom, like you are living on purpose, connected? Even if it’s not the right time to quit the job you hate, it’s always the right time to get connected to how you want to feel in your life. Once you become clear about that, things seem to magically unfold and show up. You may start feeling some of those things in your current job (wouldn’t that be great?) or you may get an inspired idea to talk to someone who ends up having the perfect job for you or you may feel motivated to start working on your plan for getting from where you are now (a job you don’t like) to where you want to be (a job you really enjoy), even if it doesn’t mean going from A to Z right this minute.

Try to find (even a few) things that are positive about your current job. Then pretend that you are in your most ideal professional situation, how do you think you would be feeling? Write it all down, spend some time thinking about it on a regular basis (more of the positive and less of the negative) and see what happens! Good Luck!

Nicola

When I first read the headline, I thought “life is too short to waste on a job you hate” - I’m one of those people who moves on pretty quickly if the job isn’t what I’m looking for. But you made some really good points, and even I have done #2. Very well written post - thank you!

Only one I don’t really agree is the #3 - people shouldn’t be so afraid of the change, and sometimes it is nice to change everything at the same time. Not easy - but nothing in life which comes easy isn’t as rewarding as those things you have worked for.

Me and my husband have lived in 3 countries and 7 states in the past 10 years, and even though there has been some crazy moments, and it’s been a true rollercoaster, it has been really eye-opening and rewarding to be able to take on whatever challenges life brings you.

I believe making a bad decision is better than keeping the unhappy status quo and not making any kind of decisions and just letting life go by waiting for something better to come along.

What if something better doesn’t come along? YOU need to make the change.

But I might not be the best person to advice anyone.. I don’t have a corporate career. I am a business owner and a ski bum, and want to spend as much time with my family as I can. It was difficult (for a week) to leave a big house and all money can buy behind, but a few years ago me and my husband decided to live differently - make less money and live in a smaller house, no vacations to Europe anymore etc. - and spend more time together and with the kids and we moved to Rocky Mountains.

And in a matter fact, my husband was just yesterday offered a good corporate job in a big metropolitan area, and even though we know the salary would be bigger and living costs smaller - we talked and he decided to decline the job. Might have been the fact that we had a lunch date at 10,000 feet (with skis, on the top of the mountain) to discuss the matter - and realized we are not ready to leave that behind.

Katja —
I can feel your energy jumping off the page!:) I am also someone who makes changes ALL. THE. TIME. — even though I claim I want some stability. The reason I wrote #3 is because I went through this past May — and I am still not recovered:)

Nataly, thanks for your personal response. Unfortunately, I can’t get away from the office during the day. Part of my flexible hours agreement is no lunch and I fear get busted for not being around if the computer network or the phones went down (Oh, did I mention I am onsite IT and Telecom too - JOY!), which they do often.

I know I need to network, work on my resume, look for jobs, create a killer cover letter that explains what I want, and do some more networking to find what I am looking for. I recently obtain my AA in Business and was thinking about whether it would be worth it at my age (37) to go back to school for my BA in Communications. Since I am older will I ever reap the benefits of paying to get my BA?

It was nice hearing about everyone elses experiences. Thanks for sharing and good luck!

I loathe my job, but I’ve stuck in there for almost six years now. My big fear now is getting trapped. Pretty soon, I’ll be out of my “marketable” age range and I will be stuck. Ack!!