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A few months ago I left a stressful job that was making me sick. It was the first time I had ever left a job without having something else lined up. I was to the point where I couldn't sleep at night because I was so stressed about going into work the next day. I rarely enjoyed what little free time I had because I was constantly worrying. I'd finally had enough and decided that I had to leave. I could feel such a massive burden lifted as I walked out of the building on my last day. I literally had a smile on my face.
Fast forward a few months and I feel much better in terms of my health. However, I'm now starting to worry about my future. I'm in my mid-30s and in an industry that doesn't offer a lot of employment options—and an industry that seems to be better suited for those in their 20s.
Fortunately, I was able to save up enough to last me another 7 or 8 months, so I do have a little breathing room but I'm still quite worried as I'm not seeing many jobs out there at all.
It's also worth mentioning that my confidence really took a beating with this last job. I'm constantly doubting my abilities now and I feel so timid about the idea of being back in an office. I literally feel as though I might not be capable of holding down a job again, and that really scares me. The thing is, I never felt that way until this last job. I always felt I was a good employee who picked up on things fairly easily. Now I have this constant feeling that I'm unable to be an asset to anyone.
All in all, I have no regrets about leaving my old job. As bad as things are now, I know it would have been worse. I don't think my health would have held up much longer had I stayed. I'm just wondering if anyone has had these feelings after leaving a job? Any tips for getting over this and gaining some confidence?
Can you find contract work in your field? Something short-term? I had to leave a job for health reasons once, and was really unsure that I could physically work long days after getting back into better health. I also felt rusty, and my previous experience had taken me in a direction I didn't want my career to go. When I was ready to go back to work, the first position I was offered happened to be a contract job. It was the perfect way to get back into the swing of things, and I found myself completely rejuvenated with a new love of my profession. About a month later I took a full-time position with them and worked there for the next 5 years.
This might also be a good time to decide if you still do love your field. Maybe you want to look into going a different direction. A contract job could also help you find that out. Might also consider talking to a counselor and getting some perspective on your emotional state with regards to the wringer your old job put you through. It's a bit like an abusive relationship - maybe not with someone you're intimately involved with, but it can still really mess you up. It's not you, and it wasn't your imagination. A counselor can help you put some of that self-doubt to rest.
I think contract work might be a good way to get back into the swing of things. I work in digital media -- mostly writing and editing, with some tech skills thrown into the mix. I honestly don't know if there's a big demand for contract workers in this field, but it's certainly worth taking a look.
Also a good point about whether or not I even like this field. It's just something I've done for years so I always go back to it, but I honestly don't know if I have much desire to continue on in this field. I really don't want to go back to school and take on more student loans at my age either.
Definitely worth taking another look at contract work though. In a fantasy world, I'd love to just work from home for a year or so.
A few months ago I left a stressful job that was making me sick.
Would you like some work in sales?
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