Laying in the saltwater on the beach two Sundays ago, my fiancé and I were chatting while we watched the clouds passed overhead. The topic of the conversation was the same as it had been for the last few months: my job. I was experiencing the Monday Blues, real bad. We talked and talked–for hours–at the beach, until we came to a decision that was both risky but responsible.
I quit my job, for many reasons, but one ultimately big reason that led me to believe my efforts and time were needed elsewhere: gaining control over my time and efforts again.
Now, I am not advocating for you to just get up and quit your job because you don’t want to work for someone else. You have to have a plan to make some sort of income on your own before you jump ship respectfully. There’s plenty of options out there to work from home, online, or to start your own business. It’s up to you how you want to proceed, but be sure to do your own research and build before you break away from the 9-5!
I am fortunate that I already had something going on the side, otherwise I would have never quit my job. But the desire to work for myself has always been there, since I was a kid, and I slowly have worked on it since graduating college. I thank my dad for giving me the goal of being self-employed, because he showed me that it can be done, even if you have to switch up your game plan as time goes on.
Quitting my job was the best decision I have made this year (apart from asking my fiancé to marry me). I have gained back a lot, especially in terms of perspective since working from home and on my own time. Here’s a few of the bonuses I have discovered since choosing to be self-employed:
- My health: for three months, I was battling this nasty cough that no one could find the root of. Not even the doctors could figure it out. Even after two COVID tests (both negative) and visits to a handful of doctors, nothing. But miraculously, quitting my job allowed my cough to virtually disappear, other than morning allergies. Funny how that works!
- Exercising: having a morning commute made it incredibly difficult for me to squeeze in workout time that didn’t bridge into my family time or force me to get up at 4 or 5AM. Now, working from home, I can get up, walk the dog, do a yoga session, and still start my work by 8:30 and be able to get everything done. It’s wonderful how it has transformed my routine and allowed me to get healthier, which has improved my mood.
- My mental health: it’s hard to see how certain situations can mess with your psyche and your confidence, but they can. Gaining back time and control over my routine has given me a peace of mind that I didn’t realize I was missing. My anxiety is starting to disappear again because of it, and I find myself laughing more. Enjoying life, the way that everyone should be able to.
- Freeing up my time: albeit we’re in the middle of a pandemic, there’s still something to be said for being able to make your own schedule and having the freedom to do as you need to throughout the day. I’m still an early bird and don’t mind waking up at 6AM to do my full morning routine (as inspired by The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod), but having the freedom to sleep in if need be gives me peace I didn’t know I could find. Or running errands that are necessary that usually can’t be done if you work a 9-5.
- Working on my own projects: working for someone else can take you away from the things that matter to you. Like your own business, your own passions, and the goals that you had but forgot about. Taking time for myself allowed me to step into the mindset that I was in before and remember what I once had dreamed of. As someone who enjoys doing my own thing, it has been fun to rediscover what makes me tick and what my ultimate goals are, as well as reconnecting to our collective goals as a family and what we desire most.
- Resetting and redefining goals: having some extra time to sit and organize things around the home and within my mind, it was rejuvenating to rediscover some of the goals that my fiancé and I both had but had let slip away. We were so focused on the daily routines and the ongoing pandemic that we got lost in the dirt and rubble of the world outside. Reconnecting with our goals and taking time that we needed to as a family really helped, and has gotten us back on the right track.
It has been a change of pace to work from home, but one that I am glad I didn’t wait longer to pursue. Being self-employed comes with its own risks, but with more time, there’s more opportunities and chances to earn and chase the goals you set for yourself.
Even if you love your job, I hope you find some peace and some time for yourself. Never forget the importance of making sure that you have you time, to chase the things you want and plan the future you want. What kind of life do you want to live? Does what you’re doing now ensure that you will live that life you have always dreamed of?
If not, then maybe it’s time for a change of pace.
