Why Do We Do It?

Most of us really love to complain about our jobs, our bosses and our organizations. Usually there is a very good reason for this. Our jobs suck, our bosses suck and it’s a wonder the organizations we work for are successful at all. And, well, complaining helps on some level, making us feel some power in our lives.

The truth is that we all have choices. We really don’t have to stay at that job we are dissatisfied with. After all, this is our life and our jobs use up most of our energy and our time. Sometimes we feel trapped because we can’t imagine we’re capable of doing or being anything else.

But wait, you say, I can’t just up and quit my job today! It’s true, sometimes we really do have good reasons to stay at an unfulfilling job especially when we have a specified end date in sight and we’re working towards something that brings us closer to what we love and really want to do.

Resources & Wisdom - 5 Ways to Leave Your Job
(ok, bad take on 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover… sorry) I’m sure there are 50 ways, though, at least! So you can be sure that this list will grow in time, keep coming back for more.

For now, I’ve put together an initial list of resources and bits of wisdom that have helped me move beyond feeling trapped in my job and life in general. I hope these help you in at least some small way as you make your way towards your ideal life.

1. Take the Passion Test! I did this for the first time about 2 years ago when I was feeling completely hopeless about my job situation. I was surprised by what I learned about myself.

2. Read books. I have to say I sometimes go off the deep end on Amazon, but every now and then I discover books that really help me change my mindset. The book I most highly recommend is The Joy of Not Working: A Book for the Retired, Unemployed and Overworked- 21st Century Edition. There are many others, though, and in a simplistic sense, books give us ideas that we probably hadn’t thought of ourselves.

3. Go over your finances. Figure out what you need to pay your bills, including any debt, your rent or mortgage, utility bills, grocery bills, gas (of course you’ll need less of that when you no longer make that long commute). You get the picture, I hope. Document how much money you need for essentials. This helps to give you options for what you may decide to do after you leave your job. If you need help paying your bills, this is a good place to begin that process (i.e., freeze your credit cards, literally).

4. Remember to laugh. Watch funny movies, read the comics, laugh at your mistakes. We’re only human and humor is imperative for our survival. Interesting how human and humor share the same etymology (going back to hummus). Don’t take my word for it, though, that’s what Google is for.

5. Lighten up. You probably hear this so often you want to punch the next person who says it to you. This is probably in the same category as resource #4, but I mention it again just because it’s that important. I thought about the progression of my own life just last night when I was brushing my teeth. I’ve lived in Seattle for the past 25 years. Before that I was a child and young adult. Now I move into maybe my last 25 years. How do I want to spend them and how do I want to feel? It’s really all up to me.