If lockdown has given us anything, it’s time. Time to rest, time to create and even time to bake, but the biggest thing it has given, is time to think. For the first time in a long time (if not forever), life had slowed down and given an abundance of time to think and re-evaluate various aspects of our lives. Questioning the areas of your life that you’re not happy with, whether it’s if you want to stay in a relationship, and questioning what really matters in life. One thing that’s probably on a lot of people’s mind is work. I’ve had a couple of jobs that I really ended up hating (I know hate’s a strong word, but its very much warranted) and in hindsight, I should have left a lot sooner. If you’re in limbo and questioning whether you should be on the hunt for another job, then this one’s for you!
| YOU DREAD GOING IN
We all have days when all you want to do is pull a sicky and stay in bed every now and again, but if you consistently hate the thought of going in everyday, this is a huge sign. Back when I was 16, in my first job working in a call centre, we had to book in our availability a week ahead and before I would even hand in my availability, I already didn’t want to go in for the shifts I was about to book myself in for. You shouldn’t feel like you have to be in a job or position where you want to cancel or call in sick. You should be in a job that you enjoy and at best don’t mind going into everyday.
WHAT YOU PUT UP WITH, YOU END UP WITH;
| YOU WANT SOMETHING DIFFERENT
When it comes to actually making decisions, I’m a very decisive person, however my downfall is that I get bored pretty quickly. My first job was very repetitive – it was working in a call centre conducting market research and as you can imagine, asking the same questions on such a regular basis can get extremely boring. Up until recently, I had a tendency to work two jobs concurrently, not just for extra stability in a financial sense, but also provide a change in tasks, environment, challenges and expectations. I’m only 22 years old, but I really can’t see myself working in the same career field or company for the 30 years straight.
| YOU’RE UNHAPPY
Regardless of everything else I have mentioned – happiness, in my opinion is an extremely important factor. When I decided to leave my job in market research, my monthly income decreased significantly – I’m talking about by about two thirds. Although, the day after I quit my job, I honestly felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders and I woke up so incredibly happy. Not to mention that I haven’t suffered with migraines since leaving – touch wood! Ultimately, if you are not happy in a job for whatever reason, albeit the stress or the job itself etc. your happiness and wellbeing trumps everything. We spend so much time at work that you cannot afford for it to be in a place that does not make you happy.
I know it’s not always that easy – I’ll be the first person to tell you how hard it is to find a job, let alone a job that you love and enjoy. Everyone has various financial responsibilities and it’s definitely easier said than done. However, life’s too short to have to go into a job, day in, day out that you really don’t enjoy and not all money is good money. Mental health and happiness is just as important, if not more than a big pay cheque at the end of every month.
