What to do if my 9 to 5 job is killing me?

What should you do if your 9 to 5 job is killing you physically, mentally, or you feel it’s a waste of life?

You should immediately request time off if you feel your job is killing you. Take some time to evaluate what you want out of life, look for other work opportunities, further your education, or start a side hustle. The most important thing you can do for your health is find work you are passionate about and find fulfilling.

Imagine, waking up every day and going to a job you hate. You are so stressed out about your job that your alarm clock brings you anxiety.

Your job should not cause you to look down on life.

Luckily for you, I’ll show you what to do if your 9 to 5 job is killing you. I’ll show you if you can quit your job and help you develop a plan. You’ll be one step closer to leaving a job you dislike and achieving happiness.

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Is a 9 to 5 job right for me?

A 9 to 5 job is perfect for someone who is looking for job security, steady paychecks, socialization, and a daily routine. Some 9 to 5 jobs allow people to feel a sense of contribution or making a difference in the world. Other people feel a 9 to 5 is a waste of life and leaves them unfulfilled or depressed.

In some cases, you might be working the wrong job. Certain company dynamics can either make or break a company. You may have gotten into your career because you had a passion, but just ended up with the wrong company.

Not everyone wants to be an entrepreneur or work for themselves. Instead, they are happy to wake up everyday, punch the clock, and make some money. They are perfectly happy talking to their coworkers and knowing what they’re doing on a daily basis.

Some people find a job that helps them make a difference in the world. For example, a nurse might take comfort in the fact they’re helping people heal. A lawyer might enjoy helping abused individuals out of a bad situation and fight their abuser.

However, a good majority of people still feel like a 9 to 5 doesn’t do anything for them but provide a paycheck. It’s a vicious cycle, you need money to live but hate being chained to a desk for 40 hours per week.

The main cause is typically performing unfulfilling work or not doing something you enjoy. You either need to find work that does fulfill you or make money on your own terms.

Remember, ‘he who has the gold makes the rules.’ In most cases, your employer can make all the rules because they have the money.

Can I quit my job due to stress?

It is perfectly acceptable to quit your job due to stress. A 9 to 5 job will typically demand too much from an employee without adequate pay or time to recover. Prioritize your health before earning a paycheck, but make sure you have a plan in place before you quit.

You need to have a method for surviving if you quit your job. Chances are that you have bills that need to get paid. Don’t quit your job without having a way to support yourself first.

What to do if my 9 to 5 job is killing me?

You should immediately request time off if you feel your 9-5 job is killing you. Have time to enjoy life and ponder what you want from life. You can look for better work opportunities, go back to school, or start self employment. Following your passion is the best thing you can do if you feel stuck in life.

Request time off

The first step is to request time off from your job. You need to get separation from your daily routine and your job. Time off can be beneficial for your mental and physical health while giving you time to think about your life.

In some cases, all we need is a week-long vacation. We can unplug from technology and get back into nature to reset our mind, body, and soul. 

Personally, I get overwhelmed with work sometimes. When I do, I try to do as little as possible over the weekend. I try to minimize any work around the house, shopping trips, or anything else that exerts energy.

I allow my body the time it needs to rest. Typically, I’m ready to tackle work the next Monday without Monday morning blues.

Look for other work opportunities

Your employer can either make your life amazing or stressful. Constantly feeling stressed out from work is a sign of a toxic work environment. Chances are that your employer is too demanding and not giving you enough time to recharge.

Now would be a good time to fix up your resume. Check out online job boards or contact a recruiter to see what job opportunities are available. In some cases, a recruiter can help you find what you’re looking for in a job, such as remote work opportunities.

Take a mini retirement

It’s perfectly ok to take a mini-retirement or a year off from working if you are able to swing it. The only downside is that taking too much time off can impact how much money you end up with in actual retirement.

Some people have the ability to quit their job and take an extended, but frugal vacation. For example, you might quit and take a year to backpack through Europe. You try to limit how much money you spend, but have an amazing experience.

Evaluate what you want out of life

Seriously, what do you want to do before you die? What steps can you take to achieve your dreams and goals?

The problem most people have is they’ve sunk into a routine. They wake up, go to work, come home, eat, and sleep. Life passes you bye until you wake up and chase after what you want.

For example, maybe you always wanted to be a veterinarian but never made it to college. It’s still your dream, but you ended up working a dead end job instead of going to school. Can you make a plan to go back to college?

The problem is the bigger the change out of life you want, the harder you have to fight back.

Staying with your current routine is easy. Quitting your job to go to school is hard. Starting a multimillion dollar business is very difficult.

Further your education

Going to college isn’t always worth the cost, especially if you end up with a low-paying job afterwards. However, you can always look at trade schools or free sources of education like YouTube. The more you know, the easier it is to have an income producing skill.

Start a side hustle

Starting a side hustle is a difficult journey. However, a side hustle can grow to become your full-time income. You can eventually work for yourself if you have enough dedication for your side hustle.

Even if you don’t make a full-time income, a couple thousand dollars per month can improve your situation. You could even take a lower paying, but lower stress job if you can supplement your income with a side hustle.

Follow your passion

I can’t stress enough, following your passion is the best thing you can do if you hate your job but can’t quit. Happiness is the best thing you can do for yourself, even if it means taking a lower paying job. Ideally, you can find a way to follow your passion and monetize it as well.

For example, I’m a huge personal finance nerd. This blog allows me to write about personal finance while monetizing through methods like display advertising.

Summary: 9-5 job is killing me

As you can see, if your 9 to 5 job is killing you then it’s time to take a break. What do you want out of life and what steps can you take to achieve it? Do you need to further your education or start your own side hustle?

Our bodies are not designed to work 40 hour work weeks. You need to let your body recharge through unplugging and time off. However, unplugging from your work life may only be a temporary solution.

Not everyone is designed to be happy with a 9 to 5 job. For some, a 9 to 5 job provides a solid structure, community, and sense of fulfillment. Other people need to escape their 9 to 5 to feel like they can actually live life and not waste it.