Last year, I had what you could call a ‘quarter life crisis’. I quit my 9 to 5 job, moved across the country and worked a variety of odd jobs from cheese making to waitressing. I thought that quitting my 9 to 5 would solve all of my problems. Spoiler alert: it didn’t. However, what it did do was teach me some life-changing lessons.
9 Lessons Learned From Quitting My 9 to 5 Job
Below are 9 lessons I learned from quitting my 9 to 5 job.
1. Your Job Doesn’t Define You
When we meet someone new, it’s pretty common to ask what they do for a living. It’s so ingrained in our culture that when someone doesn’t ask us about our jobs, it can feel like they’re not really interested in getting to know us. That’s why I’ve always thought our jobs say a lot about who we are.
Unfortunately, when I was working my 9 to 5 job I remember feeling like it wasn’t a great reflection of who I was as a person. So much so that when people asked me what I did for a living, I didn’t want to tell them. In fact, when asked “what do you do?” I would start listing off all of my hobbies instead.
Quitting my 9 to 5 taught me that despite what society has us believe, our jobs don’t have to define us. You can be climbing the corporate ladder one day and the next day, you may decide to walk away.
For many of us, a job is just a means to a paycheck, and if it weren’t for the money, we might not be doing it. Sure, you may be one of the lucky ones whose job aligns with your passions, but don’t beat yourself up if it doesn’t—your job doesn’t define you.
2. There Is Freedom in Stability
Although working a 9 to 5 can sometimes feel like you’re sacrificing so much of your freedom, you may end up sacrificing more freedom by doing something else.
When I quit my job to start waitressing I thought that I would have ultimate freedom. I definitely romanticized what it would be like to work a flexible schedule. I envisioned myself traveling the world and taking impulsive trips. What I didn’t consider was that it would also mean regularly giving up my weekends and being on opposite schedules from many of my friends who still worked 9 to 5s. This meant I was missing out on tons of weekend trips and fun weekend activities. And let’s be honest, I didn’t feel free at all.
Working a 9 to 5 also means you’re guaranteed a certain amount of hours every week. You don’t have to worry about taking time off and returning back to the office to find that your shifts have been given to someone else. On the other hand, if you’re a waitress, this happens all the time.
So, before you trade in your 9 to 5 for a job with an erratic schedule and paycheck, it’s worth considering the unique kind of freedom that a stable income and a predictable schedule brings.
3. It Sucks Not to Have Something to Work Towards
The main reason why I quit my 9 to 5 job was because I told myself that there were other ways to make money. I told myself that I was under no obligation to keep working a corporate job just because that’s what I was doing. I believed that I could find value in other aspects of my life and I could treat my job as just that, a job.
Unfortunately, this mindset failed me. During the time that I was working those odd jobs I’d never been more depressed. I realized that it really sucks not to have something to work towards. In fact, I’m convinced that it’s human nature to want to work hard, contribute to society and add value to our communities.
Now I’m not saying that making cheese and waitressing wasn’t adding value, I mean who doesn’t love cheese?! But it didn’t make me feel like I was working towards anything.
The thing about 9 to 5s is that working towards goals is usually woven into the structure of the position. With other jobs, that’s not always the case.
So, if you do decide to quit your 9 to 5, make sure and have something in your personal life to work towards.
4. “Unworking” Works Wonders
There’s this concept in the homeschooling world called “unschooling”.
Unschooling is the idea of allowing children to learn in an unstructured way. Unlike traditional schooling, unschooling doesn’t follow a curriculum. Instead, it allows children to pursue their interests and learn naturally. The philosophy exists on the basis that children learn best when they’re motivated by their own interests and have a natural curiosity to learn.
When I quit my 9 to 5, I felt like I basically ‘unworked’ myself.
I worked part-time, stopped pursuing a career goal, and told myself that my job didn’t matter and didn’t define me. And you know what that did? Over time, it made me want to work. Six months into not working, I suddenly had this deep desire to set goals and work towards building a career again.
Now I’m not saying that this will be your experience with quitting your 9 to 5, just like all children don’t have the same response to unschooling. But it was mine!
5. Changing Your Job Won’t Change Your Life
It’s easy to think that switching jobs will bring you more happiness. However, in many cases, changing your job won’t necessarily change your life.
Finding a new job won’t automatically change your mindset surrounding work or transform your habits and routines. You won’t wake up early and exercise just because your work schedule allows for it.
So, if you’re craving change, consider what changes you can make outside of your job first. Focus on expanding your social circle, starting a new hobby, or establishing a steady exercise routine instead. It might be the actual change you’re craving.
6. You Can Live on WAY Less Than You Think
When I quit my 9 to 5 job and started working part time, I was making way less than I had in years. I was worried that my new paycheck wouldn’t be enough to support myself and that I’d need to return to my office job. Surprisingly, that didn’t happen. On the contrary, I learned that I could live on way less than I thought I could.
When I was working my 9 to 5 I wasn’t even aware of how much money I was spending on things I didn’t need. Things like new clothes or eating out at restaurants. When I cut out all that extra spending, my lifestyle didn’t really change at all. I learned that I could live on way less than I thought I could while making very few sacrifices.
7. People May Be Unsupportive
Unsurprisingly, when I quit my 9 to 5 job to work at a farm, some of my loved ones were quite unsupportive. But I can’t really blame them. I had a college degree in marketing, was only several years out of school, and just starting to build my career. I hadn’t even held that many jobs within my degree and had already written it off as “not for me.”
My advice? Don’t jump the gun. If you’re considering quitting your 9 to 5 job, start expressing your feelings to your loved ones sooner rather than later. If you keep those feelings hidden, your decision will seem rash and impulsive. However, if you drop hints early on, they’ll likely be more supportive when you do decide to quit. Plus, having someone to confide in about your feelings may help you process them in a healthier way. Your loved ones may offer valuable insights that can either strengthen your decision or guide you in a different direction.
That being said, if you feel confident in your decision to quit and your loved ones continue to be unsupportive, I would say, ‘So be it.’ If you know it’s the right decision, your loved ones will likely come around when they see you thriving.
8. You Need to Have a Game Plan
A few months into leaving my 9 to 5 job, I realized that it wasn’t the work itself that I had hated so much; it was the lack of freedom.
The 9 to 5 job I had was at a startup where I was the only person who knew how to do my job. As a result, taking time off, even just for a week, left a massive gap in the company. It left my boss in the challenging position of having to juggle my responsibilities alongside his own. In hindsight, I know the company’s structure wasn’t my fault, but back then, I felt guilty every time I took time off.
When I finally quit, I had big dreams of traveling and embracing my newfound freedom. Unfortunately, I hadn’t realized how competitive serving jobs were in the small town I was living in. In fact, they were so competitive that if I took some time off to go on a trip, I’d most likely return to find my shifts given permanently to someone else. Us servers were always in a position where we felt like we had to defend our shifts so taking time off was a gamble. You might come back to find your highly sought-after weekend shifts replaced with Monday and Tuesday nights.
My game plan of traveling had failed me because I simply didn’t know what I was getting myself into. Looking back, I wish I had expressed my desires with my new employer. Even if it meant not getting the job, at least I would have known what I was getting myself into. I wouldn’t have taken a job that kept me stagnant and didn’t fulfill the one thing I had truly wanted when I quit my 9 to 5—freedom.
9. It’s Not a Permanent Decision
Stepping away from your 9 to 5 doesn’t mean you’re closing the door on ever going back. It’s not a permanent decision; jobs come and go. In fact, according to a 2020 study from the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the typical employee stays at a job for just over four years.
Even though it may feel like it, quitting your 9 to 5 job is really just an opportunity to learn about yourself and your values. You’re not a failure if you quit your 9 to 5 and eventually return to it.
So, Should You Quit Your 9 to 5 Job?
So there you have it, 9 lessons I learned from quitting my 9 to 5 job.
If you take anything away from this post, remember this, the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. You may feel as though quitting your job will solve all of your problems but it may not. So before you quit your job, consider other aspects of your life that could use a makeover. Focus on your habits, routines and relationships before seeking a career overhaul.
And on the flip side, keep in mind that quitting your 9 to 5 isn’t a permanent decision. It may seem like the choice you make will change the course of your life forever but it probably won’t.
When it comes down to it, quitting your job is an incredibly personal decision. It’s important to make sure that you are in a place financially, emotionally and physically to handle what comes with that decision.
Does your job feel meaningless? Here are 10 ways to find meaning when your work feels meaningless.
Mel says
I always love your articles, but this one is likely my favourite lol …probably bc I REALLY needed to read this. Thank you for sharing your honest experience! 💕
barefootminimalists says
Hi Mel! I’m so glad this resonated with you. Thanks for reading 🙂