I'm 34, and tired of working.

[William Gaatjes]

At the ripe old age of 34 I've decided that I'm tired of working a 9 to 5. 2013 was like 2012, and 2014 is looking to be more of the same.

Now don't get me wrong, I don't have a bad life, per se. I'm single, no kids, have a rock-stable job and make a decent living ($75,000). But I'm just not going anywhere. I can't envision the next 30 years doing more of the same until I'm too old/tired to get up in the morning.

I'd love to transition out of the rat race and doing something enjoyable. Maybe the proverbial "mid-life crisis" is hitting me early. D: The only time I really feel free and alive is when I take cross country road trips and explore. I'd love to find a job that allows me to venture out and see more of America.

But I gotta do something. I HAVE to. I'm tired of not doing anything with my life. I'm tired of waking up early fighting D.C. traffic, sitting at my desk dealing with other people's issues, hoping for a promotion or recognition year after year and my only friends being people I know from work.

Anyway, I know I'm ranting without purpose. Maybe it's just the holiday blues, but we're 5 days into the new year and I'm already feeling depressed. Did anyone leave the daily grind for good last year, or planning to this year? How did you do it? I'm yearning to do it - to do something, anything, because I can't keep going on going nowhere.


Cliffs:

• 34 years old, single, no kids
• Feel like I'm going nowhere
• Cannot spend another year feeling depressed

If you can handle it financially, how about working for 32 hours a week ?
That gives you three free days to do what you want.
I had to work for medical reasons 32 hours instead of 40 hours a week for a year.
And i could almost live with the reduced pay check. Three days to relax is great. A long weekend so to speak for every 32 hour work week.
That is something i hope to gain in the future and am dreaming of, working 32 hours while having my current 40 hour salary.

 

[ponyo]

You're probably just too comfortable with your situation in life. On your next vacation, travel outside the US and see how the rest of the world live. It will make you appreciate what you have. Everything is relative.

 

[drbrock]

You're probably just too comfortable with your situation in life. On your next vacation, travel outside the US and see how the rest of the world lives. It will make you appreciate what you have. Everything is relative.

Do not go to Europe though. Head to a 3rd world country. Europe is too good lol. It will seriously make you even more depressed on the rat race topic.

 

[Vdubchaos]

Do not go to Europe though. Head to a 3rd world country. Europe is too good lol. It will seriously make you even more depressed on the rat race topic.

Even Europe will do a good job of putting things into perspective...

 

[Drako]

Do not go to Europe though. Head to a 3rd world country. Europe is too good lol. It will seriously make you even more depressed on the rat race topic.

First world problems - life is too good, oh how depressing.

 

[drbrock]

First world problems - life is too good, oh how depressing.

haha. Life is too good. Europe is good at showing you that life is not about work. The general impression I got was they put work second or even third in their lives. where I think Americans in general put work first. I been to almost every country in western Europe. Going to check out Eastern Europe in June. I have been told it is a completely different place and attitude.

 

[Vdubchaos]

haha. Life is too good. Europe is good at showing you that life is not about work. The general impression I got was they put work second or even third in their lives. where I think Americans in general put work first. I been to almost every country in western Europe. Going to check out Eastern Europe in June. I have been told it is a completely different place and attitude.

America puts work first?

riiiiight

 

[Xonim]

The general impression I got was they put work second or even third in their lives. where I think Americans in general put work first.

That's because the average American doesn't have a choice. If you don't put work first, your employer will find someone that will -- and the government does nothing about it. Have a look here. But that's a P&N discussion, not ATOT.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

America puts work first?

riiiiight

No, he's right. Way too many people seem to prioritize their jobs ahead of everything else -- vacations, spending time with families, etc. I laugh whenever someone says "I have all this vacation time built up, but I can't take it because we're so busy at work." I have a name for those people -- sucker.

 

[Kev]

Welcome to the club. If you figure out the answer let the rest of us know. Good luck!

Same here. Marking this thread to see if anyone comes up with anything!

 

[Engineer]

No, he's right. Way too many people seem to prioritize their jobs ahead of everything else -- vacations, spending time with families, etc. I laugh whenever someone says "I have all this vacation time built up, but I can't take it because we're so busy at work." I have a name for those people -- sucker.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Sorry Engineer, but I call it as I see it. If you have vacation time built up, use it. The only legitimate excuse not to use it, IMO, is if you're given the option to cash it out.

At my last company, I was the only person who did my particular job. That didn't stop me from taking a couple of weeks off in the spring to go to Europe. My philosophy is that my work not getting done in my absence isn't my problem, it is the company's problem and their responsibility to address and plan for these sorts of things.

 

[ponyo]

No, he's right. Way too many people seem to prioritize their jobs ahead of everything else -- vacations, spending time with families, etc. I laugh whenever someone says "I have all this vacation time built up, but I can't take it because we're so busy at work." I have a name for those people -- sucker.

Or small business owners. Most small business owners work their asses off. If they don't, they'll go out of business soon enough.

 

[purbeast0]

No, he's right. Way too many people seem to prioritize their jobs ahead of everything else -- vacations, spending time with families, etc. I laugh whenever someone says "I have all this vacation time built up, but I can't take it because we're so busy at work." I have a name for those people -- sucker.

hah i'm with you on that one. i remember at my old job hearing about some of the managers who had 200 hours of vacation saved up and they would "lose" them because you can only carry over 200 hours a year. like wtf. i'm typically below 40 hours at all times because we're allowed to go negative 40 hours as well, and i usually am in the negative when i get back from vacation.

i don't understand what "i dont have time for vacation" means if you have hours upon hours of vacation saved up. that is exactly what that time is for.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Or small business owners. Most small business owners work their asses off. If they don't, they'll go out of business soon enough.

True enough, I should've been more clear and said "if you work for someone else and have PTO benefits."

 

[ultimatebob]

Join the military and do something that you can talk about later in life.

Go see the world and let the government pay for it.

If you did that now, the only "exotic" places that he's likely to visit are Syria or Afghanistan.

Unless he joins the Coast Guard, and gets stationed in Bermuda or something.

 

[monkeydelmagico]

Keep piling up the coins until you have enough to go do what you want.

 

[Gooberlx2]

I'm 34 and in the same boat. I used to work with animals, and loved it (mostly). But the job evaporated and I switched careers. Now I sit behind a desk all day and...I don't hate it but I miss having a cool job I really took pride in, that it kept me fit was an awesome bonus. ...Pay sucked though.

If my wife was healthy, I'd quit today and we'd go join the Peace Corps. or something.

 

[HumblePie]

America puts work first?

riiiiight

The amount of work hours per week has America ranked first of any country. Japan is second. Americans on average work more hours per week than anywhere else in the world.

Now America does have a significant amount of people that don't really work at all, but all countries have that. Ours just are a bit more vocal.

 

[Vdubchaos]

The amount of work hours per week has America ranked first of any country. Japan is second. Americans on average work more hours per week than anywhere else in the world.

Now America does have a significant amount of people that don't really work at all, but all countries have that. Ours just are a bit more vocal.

How many hours you sit at work and work you actually do are completely different things.

The hardest working people in America are the ones at the lower pay scales. Those have no choice but to bust their asses.

Office work on the other hand.....whole bunch of slackers.

 

[monkeydelmagico]

How many hours you sit at work and work you actually do are completely different things.

The hardest working people in America are the ones at the lower pay scales. Those have no choice but to bust their asses.

Office work on the other hand.....whole bunch of slackers.

Work smarter not harder. :thumbsup:

 

[drbrock]

How many hours you sit at work and work you actually do are completely different things.

The hardest working people in America are the ones at the lower pay scales. Those have no choice but to bust their asses.

Office work on the other hand.....whole bunch of slackers.

depends on what you mean by low paying jobs. A roofer/day laborer has a horrible job with probably 12/hr pay. A guy at Burger King does not work that hard. Heck in college I worked there. I would trade places in two seconds with a BK employee during tax season.

I think lower level attorneys, cpas, and doctors work just hard as anyone and those are primarily office jobs. Long hours are the primary reason for their high divorce rates. Husbands/wives are never home. I come in at 730-8am and don't come home until at the earliest 9-10pm on a early day and on a late day 2am. Not a big deal a few times a month but when this is happening everyday besides Sunday it wears you down.

I do agree there are many office jobs that are lax. Go to the DMV and tell me those people are killing themselves lol.

 

[holden j caufield]

woke up feeling pretty good. Read this thread not feeling so great.

 

[Puppies04]

Did anyone leave the daily grind for good last year, or planning to this year? How did you do it? I'm yearning to do it - to do something, anything, because I can't keep going on going nowhere.

Should have another property I own ready to rent out in about 3 months (have saved up most the money to give it a much needed overhaul) I plan to be looking at quitting my job or at least moving onto part time so I can try some other ideas I have out.

 

[Blackjack200]

Should have another property I own ready to rent out in about 3 months (have saved up most the money to give it a much needed overhaul) I plan to be looking at quitting my job or at least moving onto part time so I can try some other ideas I have out.

How many do you have? I think I'd need ten to be able to quit my job.