I retrained to be a social worker nearly nine years ago. I found my office job very toxic. I randomly applied for a step up to social work training course, challenged other applicants on assessment day as they were v rude to each other and in my feedback said I had no chance of getting a place. Well I did. My job is challenging but when I can help to empower others it makes my day. I feel you get to a point in your life where you can’t just be a lego piece. Life is too short. You need to do something that helps keep your sanity.
I think the generation where we do stuff to people please and can be bragged about is gone - “my son/daughter works in a bank, is a doctor etc.” People are very disposable in this work climate. It is best to do something you are passionate about or have curiosity about. My husband looks miserable in his job but it is one that looks good to others. Sorry I missed the online chat last Wednesday- we were in Ireland and driving back from visiting the in laws.
I might be in this boat having recently been made redundant from a corporate job and at 55 wondering who would pay for tacit experience when they can hire cheaper graduates and use AI instead. I am not sure what will happen next but I am equally terrified and excited about not being on the hamster wheel for a little bit at least, maybe longer if the job market is as rubbish as everyone is saying. I went to an executive training workshop yesterday and there were 80 Gen Xers in the room and I think I was the only one who didn't have the fear. Maybe I'm being too much of a Pollyanna but I hope whatever happens next is the right thing 🤞
Thank you for this conversation…After a mental health crisis during the pandemic I found my calling as an artist. Painting helped me to heal from trauma. Now aged 60 the financial uncertainty of working as an artist is far surpassed by the joy I get from painting & living my life this way. I now also run creative expression art workshops for adults as a way of paying it forward. It is something I’ve always aspired to have…a job that doesn’t feel like a job!
At 52, a I am just about to qualify as a counsellor after 4 years of training. It’s the hardest and most rewarding thing I’ve ever done. I’m now at the fear stage of wondering if I can actually make a living doing this, but excited for the potential life change it will bring.
Hi Annie, I was a nanny for 30 years in London / New York falling into that job by accident after not being able to be a sound engineer. For the past 18 years I volunteered alongside my job as I wanted to work for a charity, but that didn’t happen until I moved home to Liverpool in 2018 and got my first charity job in mental health aged 51. Six years on I’m still working for another charity. Still volunteering for arts/ music events and get loads of training opportunities in my current job. Financially I had to wait til I moved home - single so have to support myself, very happy though 💚
That's major Katherine. Your dedication to the charity work = volunteering on top of your job, and then finally ending up there. So glad you are fulfilled after all that graft to get where you want to be ..
Love this! Really resonated with me. After being laid off from my corporate marketing job while pregnant, my husband and I took some time to reflect on our priorities and what we wanted our lives to look like. We took a huge risk and started our own business. It's been challenging, but worth it. Like you mentioned, jobs don't have to be permanent – we'll see where the journey takes us! Thanks for sharing.
Hi Annie, I was a nanny for 30 years in London / New York falling into that job by accident after not being able to be a sound engineer. For the past 18 years I volunteered alongside my job as I wanted to work for a charity, but that didn’t happen until I moved home to Liverpool in 2018 and got my first charity job in mental health aged 51. Six years on I’m still working for another charity. Still volunteering for arts/ music events and get loads of training opportunities in my current job. Financially I had to wait til I moved home - single so have to support myself, very happy though 💚
Beautiful post, Annie! I especially love this bit: “Sometimes when you are on the hamster wheel of a busy job, it feels impossible to find the time to figure out just how to break away from the cycle you are in. You have to consciously create space and protect that space in the same way you would treat an important work meeting.” For me, I’ve found the time I’m spending on my own work and projects equatable to the meetings and people I’ve really enjoyed (and feel energized from). But that’s not an everyday thing. When I work on my stuff, I can’t help but think, “Wow, this could be an everyday thing.”
Two years ago I left my career as a teacher because I was so deeply unhappy and unfulfilled. I’ve retrained as an interior designer and now have my own business which is steadily growing. I also discovered I have a passion for writing and started writing here on Substack about career change and creativity and my passion for all things French.
I’ve just turned 40 and I feel like a completely different person. I was stuck on the hamster wheel and it took a while to work out how to get off it, but I am so glad I did.
Thank you for this! This is very much me at the moment. Feeling trapped in a fairly well-paid (I know, woe is me) corporate job that is sucking the life out of me.
The comment about freelancers having to hawk themselves on social media/LinkedIn is bang on. I have been helping people with their CVs on the side for years, in the military spouse community. I’d love to do more of this, BUT the desire/compulsion to not use socials is huge. And there is my, probably self-perceived barrier.
I really enjoyed this article & reading all the stories shared in the comments. I took a small career break in 2019 where I did all sorts, including volunteering with Oxfam at Glastonbury and writing and performing a one woman show at Greater Manchester Fringe. Day job had been corporate tax. Though doing these things in that break I learned a tonne about myself, not least how much having a creative outlet sustains me as a human being. I have met so many more people than I ever would have if I just stuck to the career ladder. I have also learned to let go of climbing a ladder and have only worked part time since returning to 'the day job' and have made more time for living (including during a pandemic) than I did in my 20s and 30s.
I retrained to be a social worker nearly nine years ago. I found my office job very toxic. I randomly applied for a step up to social work training course, challenged other applicants on assessment day as they were v rude to each other and in my feedback said I had no chance of getting a place. Well I did. My job is challenging but when I can help to empower others it makes my day. I feel you get to a point in your life where you can’t just be a lego piece. Life is too short. You need to do something that helps keep your sanity.
absolutely love this Loretta. thanks
I think the generation where we do stuff to people please and can be bragged about is gone - “my son/daughter works in a bank, is a doctor etc.” People are very disposable in this work climate. It is best to do something you are passionate about or have curiosity about. My husband looks miserable in his job but it is one that looks good to others. Sorry I missed the online chat last Wednesday- we were in Ireland and driving back from visiting the in laws.
I might be in this boat having recently been made redundant from a corporate job and at 55 wondering who would pay for tacit experience when they can hire cheaper graduates and use AI instead. I am not sure what will happen next but I am equally terrified and excited about not being on the hamster wheel for a little bit at least, maybe longer if the job market is as rubbish as everyone is saying. I went to an executive training workshop yesterday and there were 80 Gen Xers in the room and I think I was the only one who didn't have the fear. Maybe I'm being too much of a Pollyanna but I hope whatever happens next is the right thing 🤞
I hope you can enjoy not being on the hamster wheel for a bit.. wishing you ample time and headspace to figure out the next steps...
Thank you for this conversation…After a mental health crisis during the pandemic I found my calling as an artist. Painting helped me to heal from trauma. Now aged 60 the financial uncertainty of working as an artist is far surpassed by the joy I get from painting & living my life this way. I now also run creative expression art workshops for adults as a way of paying it forward. It is something I’ve always aspired to have…a job that doesn’t feel like a job!
"the financial uncertainty.. is far surpassed by the joy I get"
Corinne that is so encouraging to read. Glad you're enjoying it!
Thank you. 🙏🏾
At 52, a I am just about to qualify as a counsellor after 4 years of training. It’s the hardest and most rewarding thing I’ve ever done. I’m now at the fear stage of wondering if I can actually make a living doing this, but excited for the potential life change it will bring.
gwan Catherine!
Hi Annie, I was a nanny for 30 years in London / New York falling into that job by accident after not being able to be a sound engineer. For the past 18 years I volunteered alongside my job as I wanted to work for a charity, but that didn’t happen until I moved home to Liverpool in 2018 and got my first charity job in mental health aged 51. Six years on I’m still working for another charity. Still volunteering for arts/ music events and get loads of training opportunities in my current job. Financially I had to wait til I moved home - single so have to support myself, very happy though 💚
That's major Katherine. Your dedication to the charity work = volunteering on top of your job, and then finally ending up there. So glad you are fulfilled after all that graft to get where you want to be ..
Thanks Annie, I love people, volunteering and music. It took time but yeah got there eventually!
“Fear is a strong adhesive” WOW damn. I’m in a period of unravelling a life that doesn’t fit anymore so I really enjoyed this – thank you!
Love this! Really resonated with me. After being laid off from my corporate marketing job while pregnant, my husband and I took some time to reflect on our priorities and what we wanted our lives to look like. We took a huge risk and started our own business. It's been challenging, but worth it. Like you mentioned, jobs don't have to be permanent – we'll see where the journey takes us! Thanks for sharing.
Best of luck with it Ruanna. PS I love your name
Hi Annie, I was a nanny for 30 years in London / New York falling into that job by accident after not being able to be a sound engineer. For the past 18 years I volunteered alongside my job as I wanted to work for a charity, but that didn’t happen until I moved home to Liverpool in 2018 and got my first charity job in mental health aged 51. Six years on I’m still working for another charity. Still volunteering for arts/ music events and get loads of training opportunities in my current job. Financially I had to wait til I moved home - single so have to support myself, very happy though 💚
I adore these paintings! Especially geometry homework 😂 Thanks for your wise words x
me too Rosie. She did a whole series on women playing football. I've asked for one for my birthday : )
Fingers crossed T comes through.
She seems to capture some of the wee weirdnesses of being caught up in your own thing, your flow state
Beautiful post, Annie! I especially love this bit: “Sometimes when you are on the hamster wheel of a busy job, it feels impossible to find the time to figure out just how to break away from the cycle you are in. You have to consciously create space and protect that space in the same way you would treat an important work meeting.” For me, I’ve found the time I’m spending on my own work and projects equatable to the meetings and people I’ve really enjoyed (and feel energized from). But that’s not an everyday thing. When I work on my stuff, I can’t help but think, “Wow, this could be an everyday thing.”
I was nodding along to so much of this.
Two years ago I left my career as a teacher because I was so deeply unhappy and unfulfilled. I’ve retrained as an interior designer and now have my own business which is steadily growing. I also discovered I have a passion for writing and started writing here on Substack about career change and creativity and my passion for all things French.
I’ve just turned 40 and I feel like a completely different person. I was stuck on the hamster wheel and it took a while to work out how to get off it, but I am so glad I did.
Hannah this is fantastic to read. Isn't it mad all the different versions of ourselves just sitting round the corner waiting to be discovered
Thanks Annie! I love this way of putting it. I feel like there may be a different version of me waiting in each decade I’m lucky enough to make it to.
Thank you for this! This is very much me at the moment. Feeling trapped in a fairly well-paid (I know, woe is me) corporate job that is sucking the life out of me.
The comment about freelancers having to hawk themselves on social media/LinkedIn is bang on. I have been helping people with their CVs on the side for years, in the military spouse community. I’d love to do more of this, BUT the desire/compulsion to not use socials is huge. And there is my, probably self-perceived barrier.
I really enjoyed this article & reading all the stories shared in the comments. I took a small career break in 2019 where I did all sorts, including volunteering with Oxfam at Glastonbury and writing and performing a one woman show at Greater Manchester Fringe. Day job had been corporate tax. Though doing these things in that break I learned a tonne about myself, not least how much having a creative outlet sustains me as a human being. I have met so many more people than I ever would have if I just stuck to the career ladder. I have also learned to let go of climbing a ladder and have only worked part time since returning to 'the day job' and have made more time for living (including during a pandemic) than I did in my 20s and 30s.