“I refused my career in favor of life”: first -person story

“I refused my career in favor of life”: first -person story

Having received at work a tempting offer, which promised an increase in salaries and moving to a large city, a 32-year-old writer responded to the leadership … refusal. The author preferred a less stable, but free career for career advancement. Is it a reasonable choice?

“Thank you but no”

When I turned thirty, I was literally paralyzed by the question, which, as it turned out later, is asked by the majority of women: what I do with my life? I then torn between several part -time jobs, unsuccessfully trying to reduce the debit with a loan. Therefore, when a year later I was offered a well -paid work of a full -time screenwriter in the startup of an entertainment project, I, of course, grabbed onto this opportunity.

Then there were nine months with a 60-hour working week and the loss of any similarity of social life. Then the promotion happened, and the prospect of moving to Los Angeles finally loomed before me. What was my answer? Nervous “thank you, but no”. At that moment, the decision made me scared, but now I know that it was one of the best in my life.

On paper, the position of a full -time scriptwriter that I occupied was a fairy tale. Everything that, in my opinion, can dream of a woman of more than thirty years old. But for this place I had to pay a big price. Work in non-stop mode not only meant rejection of personal life and the inability to spend time with loved ones, but also affected my physical and mental health. Labor tasks have become a priority for me: I began to regularly miss a lunch break, wake up in the middle of the night to respond to countless emails, and since I worked remotely – less often left home.

Society almost made us believe that a stable career is the basis of a successful life

But I did not feel successful, I felt driven and torn from life. And ultimately refused not only an increase, but also from office in general. What is the meaning of a good salary if an unpaid overtime work is going on in addition to it and the inability to be with the family? I was unhappy, and this helped to understand what I want from life. And there was no work on this list, which suggested sitting after a laptop at 14 hours a day, six days a week.

I decided on radical changes: I began to work in a bar for half -time. To my great surprise, the choice of incomplete working day turned out to be an extremely right step. Such a schedule not only gives me the opportunity to communicate with friends and receive a stable income, but also allows you to implement writing ambitions on my terms. I have free time, I can see my relatives and pay attention to myself.

Work-Life Balance

After talking with several women, I found that I was not alone: today many voluntarily refuse an exhausting career and prefer a balance between work and life.

Thirty -year -old Lisa told me that she had a nervous breakdown when, after the college, she received the work of her dream – the position of consultant in the interiors: “I went to this for several years, but I had to quit to save myself. Now I get much less, but I feel much happier and I can see me with dear people. “.

Her peer Maria also admits that working conditions do not allow her to pay enough attention to her spiritual health: “I recently buried her mother: she died of cancer is still young – and realized that my mental state leaves much to be desired. And that no one will help me other than me. And I decided that I should stop working for a while “.

Having taken a step back in my career, I found how much time remains for my other interests and hobbies

I was not allowed to spend time on them in a past life. The podcast that I have long wanted to do? He is already under development. The script that spun in my head for the past few years? Finally he finds outlines on paper. That ridiculous cover group with the repertoire of Britney Spears, which I dreamed about? Why not!

A similar opening was made by 38-year-old Lara. She recalls that “I was looking for independence in everything: in the image of thoughts, activities and distribution of time”. Lara realized that she would be happier, balancing between freelance and creativity. And she threw her “cool position” of the PR man to live this way: “I can write, release podcasts, engage in advancement in those areas that are really interesting to me. I am finally proud of my work – this was not when I worked as a PR man in fashion. “.

Kristina, 28 years old, also abandoned the full rate of a digital marketing specialist in https://themetamorphosis.net/news/unraveling-the-best-of-red-lion-casino-bonuses-and-promotions-guide.html favor of other projects. “For those 10 months that I left the office, I published a book of culinary recipes, began to cooperate with Airbnb and now I earn more, working several hours a day than at a full rate of 55 hours a week. Not to mention the fact that I spend more time with my husband. I do not regret my decision at all!”

Like Christina, I realized that the presence of free time releases a sea of energy that can be invested in my favorite classes is another huge advantage of abandoning the usual career path. I see friends when they really need it, and I can at any time, slowly, chat with my parents. What I considered back in my career, in fact, helped me move forward.