Why leaving your 9 to 5 might not be the answer
There are many moments when I find myself thinking that life was a bit easier with a 9-5.
There are more ‘knowns’ in a 9 to 5. Whether the ‘knowns’ are good or bad, there is a lot to be said for having routine, it means you can glide through the day with 85% certainty of whats going to happen.
I didn’t have to think about what time to get up, start work, where I’d work from, worry if tech and Wifi was going to work, have people to talk to, even have a pre-determined list of stuff to work through on some days. I barely applied much thought at all until I started tapping on the keyboard.
So why do I resist the temptation to return? I found myself pondering this as I turned down what would’ve been a dream job this time last year. But I concluded the answer is easy - the answer is because it’s easy. Easy isn’t about growth or learning, it’s not about fulfilling potential, or doing stuff that makes you smile every day, or meeting amazing incredible people who are making a difference in the world. Easy isn’t pushing yourself to see just how far you really can go, or opening up to new stuff - just to see what happens. And that’s why it’s not for me.
But I know that’s not everybody’s version. Sometimes your 9 to 5 is very capable of giving you everything you want (& need), you just need to rethink it. Sometimes escaping your 9 to 5 in pursuit of a ‘dream life’ can result in just the opposite. Setting up your own business isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. Travelling around the world sleeping in hostels and having 2 changes of clothes, isn’t for everyone.
“You have to explore what you are escaping from before you can escape it.”
Don’t leave your 9 to 5 (yet)
If you aren’t happy in your current job take time to think about why. Take it seriously, don’t ignore your feelings and just get through the day. Meet what’s going on head on. And then decide what’s the best way to change.
Book a meeting room - or go and use that un-bookable room with a beanbag that no-one quite knows what its for - or go for a walk - and just think. This will be the best hour you have spent all week (month, year).
60 minutes to work out what’s going
What is bugging you about your job? Here are 4 areas that will help you to start to get clarity on what’s going on.
People.
Let’s face it, the workplace can be toxic no matter who or what you do. Because its where people’s flaws are tested as much as their strengths. And you spend a lot of time in an enforced environment with people you wouldn’t choose to spend time with outside. So people are going to play the most significant part in whether you enjoy your work. So is someone bugging you? Why? Are you letting them get to you? Is what you think real (you have facts) or you just feel these thoughts? Can you adjust how you feel about them and get a different result? Can you talk to them about it? Can you avoid them? What if they left the business, what difference would that make?
If its people that are making you feel like quitting then do more work on yourself. Unfortunately there will be people wherever you go next so how you respond, react, interact, deal with people stuff is worth investing in - you cant escape it!
Location / environment
Is that long commute finally wearing you down. Long hours eating into valuable family time. There can be a moment, especially after that 3rd delayed train of the week, rail fares going up slowly eating into your salary (that isn’t going up), motorway traffic jams - that you think ‘there is to be more to life’. If that’s what’s driving (punned) your thoughts then explore flexible working before to jump. Your business might prefer to keep you and support you working from home, condensed hours, working from a different office - than having to pay for a new recruit. It’s always worth asking. Do some research first, find out if others have flexible arrangements or if there is a policy.
Work / life balance
I’m not sure about work / life balance concept because really work is life. You can enjoy work! It might be about always being ‘on’ and ‘off’ (down time) and you don’t feel that you are having enough down time. Or you want more time for hobbies, family, travel. If you think its a work / life balance issue think about what is missing in your life, what you really want to be doing that you aren’t at the moment. Thinking about your job differently might give you more of what you want, or there might be internal opportunities closer to your ideal way of working.
Its about where your joy is, if you want to be happy. One of my jobs I used to get into work early and I worked late. I loved it. It was a choice. In my eyes I had balance - yes work was my life, but I was happy. I was young. free and single and I loved what I was doing. The balance for me was perfect.
Playing to your strengths
Is it about the tasks you are doing? Do you feel like you are growing and flourishing or being held in place?
“Don’t be brilliant at what you do, they’ll make you stay there to do it” Maurice Saatchi
This isn’t about being brilliant at your job - your brilliance might be holding you back. It’s not what you put in but what you get out of it that counts. Are your strengths working for you? It’s time to be a bit more selfish and think about how you use your strengths to get you what you want, rather than what someone else wants from you.
Before you ditch your 9 to 5 take time to think about what it is that’s making you feel stuck. While you are in the great place of earning money while you think about it, you can afford the time to think deeper about causes, the role you play in your what you are feeling, and be clearer on what you want to happen next.
And if you have done the thinking, and you’ve still had enough, and you know what you are escaping, you can plan to make your moves before you leap. This is the power of the side project. You can start to create your escape while you are still behind the line. Without the money worry you will be free to get creative with your plans.
If you’ve already made the leap or find yourself being made redundant, then use the urgency to create the energy to find your path. You can always get an ‘any old job’ while you do thinking, saving, and developing.
Once you know what you are escaping from, it will be easier to escape, whatever the circumstances.
“You can run all you like but you’ll never run away from yourself”
Before you blame your 9 to 5, can you do more to love your job right now?
I’d love to know your thoughts, please share below.
Eleanor
If you want help to work through this click here to find out how we can work together.
Join us on The Ramble, 3 days business retreat walking in The Lake District
If you liked this blog, you might like a recent podcast with Steve Foster, who talks about his experience of running away from stuff and then starting again, and again, and again!
