Life changing decision - any advice/experience?

[Globalti]

Do you mind telling us how old you are?

I went through a couple of periods of dissatisfaction in my 20s and 30s and have no regrets that I stayed where I am now because it's a good, secure job and I'm married with a child. But if I was single and younger I wouldn't hesitate now to shoot off to somewhere nice like Hungary or South Africa where I'm sure I would have a very interesting time and my life would be the better for it.

 

[Globalti]

Do you mind telling us how old you are?

I went through a couple of periods of dissatisfaction in my 20s and 30s and have no regrets that I stayed where I am now because it's a good, secure job and I'm married with a child. But if I was single and younger I wouldn't hesitate now to shoot off to somewhere nice like Hungary or South Africa where I'm sure I would have a very interesting time and my life would be the better for it.

 

[Globalti]

Do you mind telling us how old you are?

I went through a couple of periods of dissatisfaction in my 20s and 30s and have no regrets that I stayed where I am now because it's a good, secure job and I'm married with a child. But if I was single and younger I wouldn't hesitate now to shoot off to somewhere nice like Hungary or South Africa where I'm sure I would have a very interesting time and my life would be the better for it.

 

[chris667]

Well, five years ago I decided I hated my life, gave up my job and moved onto a narrowboat. So not exactly the same thing, but there's parallels.

Was it a good idea? Maybe. If I wasn't feeling so bad about myself at the time, would I have done something so drastic? Something where I didn't cut myself off from the rest of my old world, like I have done? How do I know?

What I would say is if your employer is offering you a year of unpaid leave it's not necessarily fair to accept it if you don't think you're coming back.

Perhaps you need a holiday, where you go away and think about it. I've often thought one of those retreats would be a good idea, where you have enforced silence and no distractions.

 

[chris667]

Well, five years ago I decided I hated my life, gave up my job and moved onto a narrowboat. So not exactly the same thing, but there's parallels.

Was it a good idea? Maybe. If I wasn't feeling so bad about myself at the time, would I have done something so drastic? Something where I didn't cut myself off from the rest of my old world, like I have done? How do I know?

What I would say is if your employer is offering you a year of unpaid leave it's not necessarily fair to accept it if you don't think you're coming back.

Perhaps you need a holiday, where you go away and think about it. I've often thought one of those retreats would be a good idea, where you have enforced silence and no distractions.

 

[chris667]

Well, five years ago I decided I hated my life, gave up my job and moved onto a narrowboat. So not exactly the same thing, but there's parallels.

Was it a good idea? Maybe. If I wasn't feeling so bad about myself at the time, would I have done something so drastic? Something where I didn't cut myself off from the rest of my old world, like I have done? How do I know?

What I would say is if your employer is offering you a year of unpaid leave it's not necessarily fair to accept it if you don't think you're coming back.

Perhaps you need a holiday, where you go away and think about it. I've often thought one of those retreats would be a good idea, where you have enforced silence and no distractions.

 

[Spinney]

Go for the trip (nothing worse than sitting in your rocking chair decades hence wondering what it would have been like ...)

But keep your options open. Personally, I'd enjoy my trip a lot more knowing I had a job to come back to. If you make up your mind to stay in the job for (say) 3-6 months after you get back (while looking for another job, if that is still the way you feel), that wouldn't be too unfair to your boss.

The only time I did something similar was when I left my career of 10 years and applied for teacher training - I gave myself 2 months between quitting job and the course starting, and backpacked around Australia. So I still had something set up to come back to.

 

[Spinney]

Go for the trip (nothing worse than sitting in your rocking chair decades hence wondering what it would have been like ...)

But keep your options open. Personally, I'd enjoy my trip a lot more knowing I had a job to come back to. If you make up your mind to stay in the job for (say) 3-6 months after you get back (while looking for another job, if that is still the way you feel), that wouldn't be too unfair to your boss.

The only time I did something similar was when I left my career of 10 years and applied for teacher training - I gave myself 2 months between quitting job and the course starting, and backpacked around Australia. So I still had something set up to come back to.

 

[Spinney]

Go for the trip (nothing worse than sitting in your rocking chair decades hence wondering what it would have been like ...)

But keep your options open. Personally, I'd enjoy my trip a lot more knowing I had a job to come back to. If you make up your mind to stay in the job for (say) 3-6 months after you get back (while looking for another job, if that is still the way you feel), that wouldn't be too unfair to your boss.

The only time I did something similar was when I left my career of 10 years and applied for teacher training - I gave myself 2 months between quitting job and the course starting, and backpacked around Australia. So I still had something set up to come back to.

 

[Globalti]

Depending on your employer they might even have the wisdom to recognise that a sabbatical away from work will do you good and you'll come back refreshed and with a new outlook.

 

[Globalti]

Depending on your employer they might even have the wisdom to recognise that a sabbatical away from work will do you good and you'll come back refreshed and with a new outlook.

 

[Globalti]

Depending on your employer they might even have the wisdom to recognise that a sabbatical away from work will do you good and you'll come back refreshed and with a new outlook.

 

[BigonaBianchi]

There is a right time to burn bridges, you will know when that time is right. Now is not that time. Take unpaid leave, go on tour and see how things go.

 

[BigonaBianchi]

There is a right time to burn bridges, you will know when that time is right. Now is not that time. Take unpaid leave, go on tour and see how things go.

 

[BigonaBianchi]

There is a right time to burn bridges, you will know when that time is right. Now is not that time. Take unpaid leave, go on tour and see how things go.