Doing something new...

[graculus]

As of today, I am unemployed.

Readers of my previous posts on the subject of work may recall that I moved jobs at the end of last year after an absolute nightmare with my previous manager that led me to have a minor breakdown and get signed off work with stress and anxiety. While things started well with my new job, to put it bluntly, I then did something I shouldn't have done and that combined with last year's shenanigans has ended up with me getting the sack.

The only upside of this has been that their inability to deal with the matter in a timely fashion has at least meant I've been sitting on my arse and getting paid for it for a significant chunk of this year. That's helped contribute to my very fortunate position in that I should be financially okay while I look at what happens next. If I had dependants other than the fuzzbutts then it would be quite another matter and now at least it's all over and done with.

So anyway that's me done in terms of that line of work, which I was thinking about anyway to be perfectly honest, and looking now at an unexpected career change. To something or other about which I currently have no idea! ;)

Comments

[superbadgirl]

(((hugs)))

It's pretty telling that the overwhelming emotion is relief, no?

[penfold-x.livejournal.com]

Wow, sounds like things have been absolutely brutal. I'm very glad you're in the financial place to take some time to figure out what you want to do next. You've got the attitude and tenacity to find the right thing. :)

[przed.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry to hear this. It sounds like you've been dealing with complete bollocks for several years now. Take care of yourself, and I'm sure you'll find something brilliant to do.

[nakeisha.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry to hear this.

It sounds as if you've had to go through and put up with a lot of horrible stuff.

Take care of yourself and good luck in the next stage of your life.

[graculus.livejournal.com]

Thanks, it kind of feels like this has been a long time coming, one way or another - my only regret is that the end of this particular chapter wasn't on my terms, rather than theirs, but there's nothing to be done about that now!

[graculus.livejournal.com]

I'd had low periods before but nothing like last year, when I felt as though I'd been literally ground down by everything - utterly relentless pressure from my boss to the point where it was a standing joke in my team that I had carpet burns from getting dragged into her office so much.

Thanks for the kind words, I have no idea what the second half of my working life (yes, I am that old!) is going to bring, but look forward to finding out...

[rhade-rad.livejournal.com]

I know that sense of huge relief. While I guess you could argue their actions created the stress which impaired your usual good judgement, probably best to draw a line and move on.

Good luck with finding a new career.

[seanchaidh.livejournal.com]

Good luck! How are the fuzzbutts?

[louiselux.livejournal.com]

It sounds like you've had such a stressful time! I'm glad to hear it's over and that you've got a bit of financial security too. Have fun deciding on your new career :) Fuzzbutt rescue service?

[emony.livejournal.com]

Goodness, sounds like you've been through it. I hope you're now out the other side and can move on. I know it's quite different, but I had six months off after my last job before getting my current job at the university and I feel like I really needed it. Some people can be a bit judgemental about you taking a career break like that, especially when the reason is basically "for my own mental health", but the employers who did interview me once I started looking again didn't care as long as I could do the job they were filling, so if you need more time (and can afford to do so), I definitely recommend taking it.

And once you're ready, you have hundreds of options in front of you, maybe things you've always wanted to do, maybe things you've never even considered before. It's a freeing feeling and a huge relief, I think, to get out from under a bad work experience, and it can take time to recover, but you do recover and if it lets you move on into something bigger and better, even if just in the sense of being something that actually makes you happy instead of miserable, it's worth it in the end.

[nausica2.livejournal.com]

((((hugs)))))

Things can only get better now, that's a relief. And take your time to decide next move, after such an experience, spending time figuring things out it's good.

[graculus.livejournal.com]

Thanks, I have no idea what I might be doing in 5 years time and that currently feels like a very good thing indeed - I'd been thinking before about the number of working years left in front of me and the thought I would still be dealing with that sort of BS had filled me with dread.

[graculus.livejournal.com]

Thanks, I hope to continue feeling positive about this and we'll see how it all works out...

[graculus.livejournal.com]

That was indeed the line I took - it was one of those out of the blue stupid things such that I still can't fathom why I did it, and their view seems to be since I felt I was okay to be back at work and didn't feel I was struggling with anything, my previous mental health issues (which they caused) are moot.

Now to figure out what I want to do next...

[graculus.livejournal.com]

Thanks! And the fuzzbutts are fine - one of them got a trip to the vets a couple of months back because he was a bit constipated (and giving ferrets medication is no funfair ride) but other than that they're both doing good.

[graculus.livejournal.com]

Yep, it's been hell on wheels at various points and the amount of ranting I've done online and off has been extreme at times. We'll see what's out there and where things go from here, though sadly I don't think there's any money in ferret wrangling. ;)

[siluria]

It's good that it's all over now. Good luck with finding a new job!! xx

[ruric.livejournal.com]

Thank god you are out of it all ad have the space and time to consider What's Next!

Unexpected career changes can be good fun - even more so if you're not under a huge amount of pressure to "find something right now",

Good luck with figuring it all out and moving on to a new and exciting chapter!

[graculus.livejournal.com]

It's not been fun and games at Chez Grac, that's for certain - my plan is to try and get some voluntary work and see what I can pick up on a temporary basis while I figure out what I want to do in the longer term. Thanks for the encouraging words! :)

[graculus.livejournal.com]

Thanks, I'm hopeful this is the end of my shitty work experiences as I feel I've had my fill for a while!

[graculus.livejournal.com]

Thanks, it's been longer than I care to remember since I was last unemployed but we'll see what happens...

[graculus.livejournal.com]

Yep, I am extremely fortunate that my squirreling tendencies (and lack of other folks to demand I spend money on them) mean I have that breathing space - looking forward to seeing where all of this takes me!

[khek.livejournal.com]

(((Hugs)))

Good luck with figuring everything out. It sounds like you needed to be out of there. I hope you find something perfect for you!

[rhade-rad.livejournal.com]

My advice is to give yourself a good break. It took me quite a while to adjust and realise how drained I was from the stress. I developed writer's block and only now, 2 years on, am I beginning to break through it.

So take time. You deserve to indulge yourself after all the sh**. We're all here if you want/need a sounding board.