Is anyone else? Jesus I'm bored at work, but the money is good, my direct colleagues are fantastic...but I don't ride as much as I'd like to (once a fortnight!) and I spend my day staring out the window, dreaming of being outdoors. How does one find motivation or, at the very least, how do I conquer my complete apathy to working for a corporation?
Solutions:
#1: Simply quit and take the offer of a job on a yacht that my friend is skipper on. Live in the Med and the Caribbean as a boat engineer.
Not much riding opps unfortunately though but booze, birds and diving aplenty. AND get rid of my creeping waist line
#2: Simply Shut the f up. Appreciate what I have, continue to buy and sell bikes that I never ride, go to the Alps once a year and have nice 'stuff'.
My mother thinks I that if I get married it would solve my work apathy blues. However, I'm single, still pretty fit and yearn for some adventure that I sacrificed when I started this job nearly 5 years.
Option 2 maintains some financial stability but then I could be hit by a bus tomorrow...or live to 90 in poverty and squalor if I gave it up!
You can take any MTFU and stick it up your arse, I'm just having a winge that's all :o)
ask to go Part time eg 4 days per week?
How old are you?
Any chance of a sabbatical?
I went freelance and work only a few days a week but for better rates. I get a much greater proportion of my life to do what I want with it, and not resenting it being stolen by someone else.
when has getting married been any sort of solution to any problem???
in your situation, I'd take option 1, no hesitation
Footflaps - they won't do it, I've asked. We're really busy and I've got a global role so someone has to be full time. I also asked for a month unpaid sabbatical...wouldn't entertain the idea at all.
Yeti - I'm 32. So young enough to try and get it out of my system...I think!
when has getting married been any sort of solution to any problem???
You're not a woman are you dave!
Definitely option 1. Life is too short not to.
Go #1 - no question.
Marriage [i]is not[/i] an option.
#1 sounds good to me, do it before marriage gets in the way. Biggest regret of my life is not taking a year out before career took over. Get on and ****ing do it!
I am not in a dissimilar situation, we were bought out by a huge multinational and I no longer even know whom to resent for buying yachts off the back of my hard work.
In your situation, #1 for sure.
iDave - I think my old dear meant marriage = children, so it suddenly isn't just about me. Then my 'reasonably comfortable' situation wouldn't be so bad.
Sadly, freelance or contracting is not easy for my job/role.
Footflaps - they won't do it, I've asked. We're really busy and I've got a global role so someone has to be full time. I also asked for a month unpaid sabbatical...wouldn't entertain the idea at all.Yeti - I'm 32. So young enough to try and get it out of my system...I think!
I'm a similar age, been in this job 3 1/2 years, super busy, too much travel and staying in hotels, understaffed, rarely enough hours in the day. I asked for a four month sabbatical - and got it. My gf and I fly off on Saturday and will spend 4 months on the sunny side of the world, getting back just before the clocks go forward again.
Assuming you have enough of a cushion built up in savings and you think you could find work elsewhere, just ask again making it clear that you want some time away and would prefer to return to your job if possible. If they still won't, then give notice and go. Even if it's just for a month or two to clear your head and decide what you want to do next.
As a mate found when he wanted 2 months off to to go to Australia, most companies when put on the spot would rather have you disappear for a couple of months then return than go through the hassle of replacing someone and getting them up to speed. In his case he had to quit and it wasn't till the week before he left that they agreed to let him take it as an unpaid sabbatical and return after.
Life's too short to feel that much loyalty to one employer. If it's not firing you up, go and do something more interesting for a while and see how you feel when you get back.
Good words Simon! I too travel a lot and have a very demanding customer and suffer the normal understaffed issue.
I've built up the financial buffer and certainly a 4 month sabbatical would most likely answer my prayers! Mmmm, Whistler and Europe...
Fortunately I feel no loyalty to my company, it's just I live in Cardiff and if I left my best opportunity for employment would be the Midlands or the South East - both places I've lived and worked in before and have no wish to return.
I don't like the idea of 'threatening' my boss with leaving unless they agree because he is a superb manager and we get on very well.
Still, that would be the best compromise
he is a superb manager and we get on very well
Just ask him then!
Or do like me have a loony attack in a team meeting, rip the company a new backside and then have your new colleagues and new manager misunderstand your words and get a disciplinary charge for abusive and threatening behaviour
Currently off sick, would say in my defence that the above was mainly due to a cluster headache attack at the time along with other contributing factors
Very ironic that I had just received my 35 years service letter, somehow don't think there will be another one for me
So go before its too late, no way to live bored rigid every day and got too much for me even at my advanced age
Ditch the job if your not happy now in that job, you won't ever be. I worked in a well paid job for 6 months before I had enough. I need to be able to go outdoors, listen to music, work at my pace in order to be happy. Go and pack and enjoy your life, freedom, adventure and sunshine, your boss can't compete.
Option 1 sounds great, but I think too much about how I'm going to fund the last 1/4 - 1/3rd of my life to take it.
...and you have already got a perfect wayfarer name
Your job is what you do, not who you are.
Just something I was thinking about after listening to someone whinge about their job at lunchtime.
If it's not pleasing you or you aren't where you want to be then what is the big problem with changing it - you aren't going to be leaving a wife/child/family behind to do it so who are you hurting?
Do it.
Do it before marriage and kids turn up, because you'd have real difficulty afterwards. The only thing you have to consider is whether you'd be able to get the right sort of job when you (inevitably) need to return to financial reality. Sound like you'd have to relocate, which might be a pain if you need to buy another house - mortgages are hard to get nowadays, but I'm sure this is not a surprise to you.
Do it because we all need to be challenged. You'd be really miffed if you looked back in 40 years time and said "if only".
Do it because none of us really need that much [i]stuff[/i]. Sure, you could have a nicer bike, but some of the best times I've had have had little, if anything, to do with money. One of the greatest holidays I've had was with Switchbacks, and it really didn't cost a lot.
But whatever it it that you want to do, make like Nike and just do it.
Given your interests, I'd suggest finishing work in, say, July next year. A month in Canada and/or The Alps, then some time in Scotland/Ireland - the bits you always promised to get to, but never actually do - then a season as a chalet bloke. Finish March next year, get another job then. It might well take you some time to actually get another job, so plan on being away from a proper career for a full year. If you can afford it, then make plans [b]right now[/b] as it'll give you something to look forward to for the next 6/7 months.
Life really is too short - go for option 1, even if it goes arse shaped, youre young enough, and I'm assuming free enough from resposibilities, to just start again. Work apathy tends to get worse the older you get, and you sure as hell cant live your life on 'should haves'.
Yep, I'm in the same situation, just got a 20% raise as well, which makes life nice, but also makes it harder to consider quitting and moving onto a different career. My current (vague) plan is to get the mortgage paid off by the time I'm 38 (I'm 28 now) - this has 2 angles - one is to stop me getting used to the money I'm on now (as I'm paying £2000/month onto the mortgage) and second is to put me in a position of financial freedom by the time I'm mid-to-late 30s.
Of course, kids will probably come along, and bugger the whole thing up, but there ya go.
Some cracking feedback guys, I really appreciate it.
I think most responses here covered at least one of the many feelings, plans or reservations I have about doing this.
I'm going to do this:
Pressure my manager/employee into giving me a 3 month sabbatical so I can really scratch that itch. If that fails then I'll quit and do the 3 month riding trip anyway - starting, as recommended above, with a month in Canada then 1 month in the Alps (Italy, France etc.) and finally Ireland and Scotland.
Then it's working on my friends boat for a 1 year. I think that should sort my dilemma out, especially because the boat job actually pays quite well and it's tax free so I won't come back completely skint.
Nickf, very spooky your comment "- the bits you always promised to get to, but never actually do - " because that is exactly what has happened!
Right, time to stop wasting my money and start saving. Once again, really appreciate the feedback and advice.
Wow, feel very similar, I describe my situation as a 'fur-lined rut' prefer golden chains though 🙂
If I didn't have my partner I would have taken option 1 long ago. 6 months ski season followed by 6 months travel / bike.
Sadly when you have more than just yourself to think of, and they are happy in their work, you can't just swan off. Having someone else to think about doesn't however make your work any more bearable, you just decide to put up with it.
I've been off for the last 9 weeks after a number of broken bones, and when I look back to the accident I'm pretty sure I knew there was no way I could make that jump but I did it anyway - out of boredom. Have also been doing stupid stuff in the car which could have resulted in a accident to. I'm going to look to do a 9 day fortnight or 4 day week when I get back to full health, so I have more time to do 'me' things. I'm sick of getting up, work, chores, bed repeat x5, knackered sat, have a fun sunday - time to repeat.
On a postivie note, a friend and his wife both worked for the same company and wanted a 6 month sabbatical. They were refused so handed their notice in, went travelling for a year, when they came back she got a job in london paying twice what she was on, and he went back to his old job as a contractor earning 3 times what he did when he left.
This may not be helpful, but.....
My mate's dad knocked his pan in for a large Aberdeen based oil firm. Great money, loved his job but also had a massive love of sailing, hiking, biking and general outdoorsy stuff.
He was always frustrated by the lack of time he got to spend pursuing these hobbies and promised his wife that when they retired, he'd buy a yacht and sail them both all over the world.
True to his word, he retired, bought the yacht, spent a month planning the voyage, then keeled over and died.
True story - do it now!
I was going to post something about coping with a dull job until I read this:
Simply quit and take the offer of a job on a yacht that my friend is skipper on. Live in the Med and the Caribbean as a boat engineer.
WTF IS WRONG WITH YOU? GET OUT THERE NOW!
Option 1
No hesitation
Do it today before IanMunro changes your mind......
I have no idea how I'm going to fund the last 1/4 of my life, but I'm not going to sacrifice enjoying the first 3/4 just so I can dribble in a comfier wheelchair with the the heating on..... 🙄
DO IT, DO IT, DO IT!!!!
I feel pretty much the same, I like and enjoy my job but have now lost the motivation and need a knew challenge. In your shoe's id sack the job today. No sabbatical, just do one. If you have a friend who's willing to pay you money then what more do you actually need?
You may never get the chance to do this again.
I'm currently plodding along waiting for both the kids to be old enough to be at school. Then when the childminding fee's have gone and the OH can work more I'll be able to look at a career change.
It won't be on a boat the otherside of the world though 🙁
iDave - I know what you're saying, IanMunro's words struck a chord but like you, I'd rather enjoy my health now!
user-removed - your story gave me the shivers!
Gravitysucks - I'm going to do it but the boat offer starts next summer and the next 6 months would enable me to save more and plan my next steps in some detail. Fortunately work is completely bearable so 6 months is perfectly achievable and won't hurt too much, I'm sure my apathy will stretch the distance.
Some of the negatives (and this may seem pathetic to some but not me) are that I'll miss the simple things. Footie with my old school mates on Monday, visiting my folks easily, seeing close friends and family whenever I like, seeing my goddaughters. But, I'm talking about a year that's all...unless I get a taste for it!
Think big mate.
Any question about rebooting your life is always going to be met with cries of [i]Do it man[/i]! from those with nothing at stake - most of whom have in fact, not done it. You can have booze, birds and diving without walking the earth like a **** bum, to coin a phrase. That's the winning outcome, to take control of your job so you do both.
Flexi-time means I manage to get every other Friday off for selfish bicycling!
Unless I read it wrongly, the boat job is actually reasonably paid, so no living like a bum required.
Sit mouldering away in an office being paid
Chill out on a boat working with your hands and fixing stuff in the sunshine being paid.
Er...?
DO IT! (From someone who has 😉 )
I had a job which paid very well, but which I couldn't stand. It sucked the life out of me every day. I had plenty of money for shiny gear, but limited time to use it.
So I moved to the Alps. I now work ridiculous hours for a lot less money, but I'm about 1,000 times happier! I think being my own boss is a lot of that.
Living on a boat working with your hands fixing stuff sounds purgatorial to me - but each to their own. The birds and the booze would be tolerable, admittedly.Sit mouldering away in an office being paid
Chill out on a boat working with your hands and fixing stuff in the sunshine being paid.Er...?
you are single and you dont know if you should take the first option??
whats wrong with you man?
mmm mmm, just looking at campervans for my new two month tour of Europe! Gosh, this has chirped me up big time!!
Thanks to all
I took six months off when I was 31/32 to go bike guiding in the US. I was lucky in that I had a job to come back to, but when I did get back I cut it back to 4 days a week. Time off like that gives you a perspective on life that is so easy to lose in the 9 to 5 grind. As for the six months - simply brilliant: [url= http://www.mtbroutes.com/usa/index.shtml ]http://www.mtbroutes.com/usa/index.shtml[/url]
MintyJim
Do it! I gave up my rewarding but ultimately boring job two years ago and now live in the Med doing gardening.
As and when you leave the UK, let me know there are some routes round here! Oh and I know a couple of people involved in boaty/engineer stuff if you need some contacts.
Go on, quit and go sailing! I would only recommend you do this if I can have your job in a nice warm and clean office, where I can stare out of the window and post on STW whilst getting paid. I could then afford new bikes and trips to the Alps like you!
If you stay in your job, can I have the number for your mate with the yacht. Second thouughts, I can't do that coz I have commitments.
If I was you I'd be gone so fast I'd not even have time to pack