Pondering life - do you ever think it's time for a change?

[scottlynn]

My DH and I are going through the same . We lost my mum and his mum and dad this year within 8 months and we don’t have any ties now (if that’s the right word) kids heading off with the next stage in their lives so we have had time to ponder on our next stage . We don’t have jobs that would be snapped up abroad so what to do ?

We are spending new year at Clearwater as we didn’t want to be around home and decided god willing next year will be all change for the better . If this year as taught us “ life IS too short “ and grab very opportunity

[lizzie145]

It's always a hard decision as we get used to having nice things. However we don't need all those nice things but pressure from others makes us have them.
Bite the bullet and make changes, perhaps less hours in the current job or a complete change.

[alexisemma31]

Thanks so much everyone. It really helps to know that it's not just me/us feeling this way.

You're all right, life is too short and so we have to make some changes. I'm not sure what that will look like yet, but for me a change in career is a definite (there's a theme on here with fellow teachers!). I'm just so tired of the paperwork, pressure and parents and I feel I have nothing left to give once I get home.

If anyone has any good ideas for life after teaching - let me know!

Have a great weekend everyone x

[Loopylooloo]

I think this is normal at this age - have been going through a similar ‘Shirley Valentine’ syndrome myself, my husband has worked away overseas our entire marriage, and it was only in last few years I acknowledged how much it was taking its toll on us, especially me, I feel very lonely, and like life is just passing me by, this resulted in us nearly separating recently, and at the moment, we have decided to see how things feel when he retires in May. We will be a lot poorer, together a lot more, and hopefully, a lot happier! I would say to anyone who can afford to work less and live more, do it, life is short and we are not meant to live to work.

[alexisemma31]

Originally Posted by Loopylooloo

I think this is normal at this age - have been going through a similar ‘Shirley Valentine’ syndrome myself, my husband has worked away overseas our entire marriage, and it was only in last few years I acknowledged how much it was taking its toll on us, especially me, I feel very lonely, and like life is just passing me by, this resulted in us nearly separating recently, and at the moment, we have decided to see how things feel when he retires in May. We will be a lot poorer, together a lot more, and hopefully, a lot happier! I would say to anyone who can afford to work less and live more, do it, life is short and we are not meant to live to work.

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I hope it works out for you Louise x

[sammykitten]

I don't live to work, I work to live. OP if you find your job is taking all of you, and you have nothing left to give when you leave work at the end of the day, I'd say its definitely time to make a change there.
Life really is too short.

You could look into reducing your hours, or transferring your skills into further education perhaps? Or, start sending your CV out and applying for anything that takes your fancy, see what interviews and offers you get. Have you thought about working for yourself? Tutoring for example? Or do you have a hobby you'd like to develop into a small business?

[Guest]

Have you thought about reducing your hours and maybe doing volunteering somewhere? Doing something for nothing is great medicine for the soul.

[Snowball24]

I feel a bit like this now as eldest off at Uni and youngest not far behind. Makes you sometimes think'is this it" with the daily routine.
Hope things can work out for you xx

[JudyC]

I like my job but just wanted to do less of it. After asking for a couple of years to reduce a day and being refused I took a job share which could be accommodated. It meant halving my working week/pay halved, but I'm so glad I did it. I have time to help my Mum out, keep the house clean and tidy etc. I dèfinately work to live, and my job doesn't define me. I can spend time doing gym sessions and weight training a few times a week and not feel its taking time away from chores etc.
It would be great if DH could drop a day but he can't. He doesn't travel like he used to years ago in a sales job. Circumstances meant that job went and he is office bound. But he is only 15 minutes travel time to work and in before 6pm every night which is much better. I make sure there isn't much to do in the house at the weekends so we can enjoy bike rides together and getting out.

We are 57 and 59 and it's only six months since our youngest left home. It's been a while getting to this stage 😀

[Minnie18]

A few years ago I was working as a nurse. DH was a manager in a supermarket and we both felt the way you have described.

We were away to our favourite place for a few days and one day without talking about it we both just looked at each other and said at the same time... let's just move here.

A few weeks later we had moved to a whole new area, we didn't know anyone and had no jobs.

We decided to start a busines as we had noticed a demand in the area for what we provide. Thankfully our business has grown and expanded quite quickly.

Our life is so much better now, we have so much more quality family time/ its great working with my dh and life is a lot less stressful.

We still have the ups and downs of life and bills etc but we don't regret our new life at all.

Wishing you lots of luck 💖