Don't Quit Your Day Job...Yet

How to Stay Sane In Your Day Job While Plotting Your Escape


Have you ever found yourself daydreaming over and over again about where you thought you would be at this point in your life?  You are not alone.  Many of us mull over the decisions we have made and how we ended up doing what we are doing.
 
I for one was going to be a travel writer.  I was supposed to be traversing the world writing about quaint, tucked away places as well as hidden secrets in the big cities.  Alas, that did not come to pass, yet! 
 
So while you might be stuck in a cubicle right now, pondering the big essential questions of the universe, there is no need to give up hope.  Yes we have all heard the stories of those Wall Street tycoons who give it all up for a ranch in Montana.  Or those fashionistas who have decided that tutoring children in the Ozarks, will bring meaning to their lives.  It might.  What is important to understand is that while you are still on this earth, you have the opportunity to incorporate those childhood dreams.
 
Whether you take the fast track or a slower route, you can find the time to find meaning in what you do.
 
You don’t need to run away with the circus(that sounds kind of creepy if you ask me) or start a cross country following of your favorite band, but you can incorporate some simple ideas into your daily life to help you revive those passions.
 
Make The Most of What You Have Now
 
1.You Receive A Paycheck.  This is important because it can help you take advantage of still making money while you quietly decide upon your other options.  When you can take basic needs off your checklist, it’s easier to plan your getaway.
 
2.Plan your strategy. Keeping your job is easier when you know that you have a strategy in place.  Make sure though that you keep doing your job and don’t start neglecting your responsibilities.  You don’t want to burn any bridges.
 
3.Pump It Up. The beauty of a snore job is that you know it can only get better if you change.  Use your dissatisfaction to your advantage.  It should be your motivation, otherwise you will topple over in your cubicle and nobody will notice. 
 
4.Be Tenacious. It may take time but hey what’s more important than bettering your life. Give yourself credit for making the effort and enjoy the journey regardless of the results.
 
5.Know Your Passion.  It’s not enough to say “my job sucks.”  People will stop listening to you.  It’s also not ok to think that at age 45 your dream job is to play center field for the Yankees.  It’s not going to happen, no matter what the “laws of attraction” say.  So before you launch into a complete overhaul, dig deep and decide what would give you a feeling of personal satisfaction.  What would make you feel as if you are making a difference?  What would make you not hit the snooze button? 

Do Not Become Bartleby The Scrivener
For those unfamiliar with Melville’s other classic piece, Bartleby a capable man is a shell of a human being, whose demise is predictable due to his complete withdrawal from all human contact and any sense of purpose.  Finding purpose and feeling as if we matter is a fundamental human need.  Deny it and you may just find yourself like Bartleby, hauled off to the tombs only to die of hunger. “Oh the humanity.”