I want to quit with no new job. Help me resist this urge or give me encouragement.

[Anonymous]

How many years until retirement?

[Anonymous]

Op here. Thanks for all the responses. Most are cautioning me against this, and I appreciate the reality checks.

I am in finance and have been with the company six years. I am within five years of early retirement, but the economy and inflation concern me. Company does not know I hope to retire early.

One poster asked if this was rash. I don't think so because I've been feeling this way for at least two years. I asked to cut back, and they worked with me to redefine my role, which helped, but whenever there's any stress or conflict I feel like I just cannot handle another minute. I have taken one week vacations during this time, and they do help but soon the same issues come back.

I think it's just years of stressful work at this job and my previous job combined with not taking enough time off and home/family/relationship stuff, and I'm a mess.

[Anonymous]

Can you swing it financially to retire now? If so just do it. Life is short. When you get back your health and happiness, you can consult, or work a low-stress retail job

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can you swing it financially to retire now? If so just do it. Life is short. When you get back your health and happiness, you can consult, or work a low-stress retail job

Btw, I did this before kids, when I felt job stress had caused multiple early miscarriages. Don’t know if I was right or wrong, but I did get pregnant naturally later. Ironically, by the time I realized I was pregnant, I had signed on with a new company. Still with them now, 10 years later.

[Anonymous]

No advice but I empathize. The anxiety is just debilitating. I'm so tempted to quit and work retail or as a secretary, bartender, pet daycare attendant....for a bit.

[Anonymous]

So many people are experiencing burn out. I’m having a hard time seeing how an experienced worker in an in-demand field doesn’t find a new job after taking some time off, as long as it isn’t years if time off.

Do something interesting with the time to help explain the gap. Some sort of part-time consulting work? A volunteer position? Traveling abroad on some defined plan like “I wanted to bicycle through Vietnam”? Write and publish an article?

We need to stop shaming the need to recharge. As long as you are completely inactive, I say stand confident in your decision to take a little time for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So many people are experiencing burn out. I’m having a hard time seeing how an experienced worker in an in-demand field doesn’t find a new job after taking some time off, as long as it isn’t years if time off.

Do something interesting with the time to help explain the gap. Some sort of part-time consulting work? A volunteer position? Traveling abroad on some defined plan like “I wanted to bicycle through Vietnam”? Write and publish an article?

We need to stop shaming the need to recharge. As long as you are completely inactive, I say stand confident in your decision to take a little time for you.

Correction

“Are NOT completely inactive”

[Anonymous]

I did quit last summer without a job. I relaxed and took my time. Ended up becoming a Fed. Was employed in 6 weeks with another two before my official start day. It was glorious.

[Anonymous]

I was in a job with a bad, micromanaging manager. One day I couldn't deal with the shit anymore and I resigned. My husband was shocked as he didn't expect me to quit. My boss and I had several talks prior to that and I was also one of the top performing employees. But his constant nagging, pushing and micromanaging was affecting my health. I developed high BP and diabetes. I quit one day and gave a 2 week notice. In my last week, I felt like my head felt lighter and my brain was actually beginning to think straight. On the first day of my time home jobless, I went to the tennis court and hit the ball 500 times. Felt better. In about a month, i felt like a real human being after a long time. I started applying for jobs again and landed in a job 2 months since the first application. I think all I needed was a break from that toxic environment.

I would say OP, if you have some savings to figure out your life for next 12 months, go for a quit.

[Anonymous]

I'd encourage you to explore extended LWOP. If you do end up deciding to quit and don't have another job lined up, you could tell your employer you're leaving, are flexible on an end date, and ask them how long they'd like you to stay for a smooth transition. I gave my organization 6 months notice with the understanding that 3 months into that I'd down shift to part time. I was also willing to just quit at that point if they hadn't wanted me to stay on part time, but we never had that conversation because they wanted me to stay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:watch the movie “lost in america.” it saved me from quitting many times.

it’s a comedy, but i’m not kidding.

Haha this is a good suggestion

[Anonymous]

Rational me: you can't quit without another job! What if you get sick and need expensive medical treatment?

Also me: if I get a serious illness, am I going to waste my remaining life doing meaningless work?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was in a job with a bad, micromanaging manager. One day I couldn't deal with the shit anymore and I resigned. My husband was shocked as he didn't expect me to quit. My boss and I had several talks prior to that and I was also one of the top performing employees. But his constant nagging, pushing and micromanaging was affecting my health. I developed high BP and diabetes. I quit one day and gave a 2 week notice. In my last week, I felt like my head felt lighter and my brain was actually beginning to think straight. On the first day of my time home jobless, I went to the tennis court and hit the ball 500 times. Felt better. In about a month, i felt like a real human being after a long time. I started applying for jobs again and landed in a job 2 months since the first application. I think all I needed was a break from that toxic environment.

I would say OP, if you have some savings to figure out your life for next 12 months, go for a quit.

How old were you and what role/industry? 2 months is so fast?

[Anonymous]

I would line something else up. Even if you just use it as leverage for better balance where you are. Being able to say "look, I am burnt out and am thinking of leaving. I have an offer. If I can get X and Y taken off my plate so I can recover from burnout, I will stay".

Or if there's nothing that would make you stay, you can ask for a start date in late summer/early fall, and then quit and enjoy your summer.

[Anonymous]

same

can you do short term leave?