Taking a career break

[longman]

Have you ever dreamt of stepping off the treadmill of working life for a while? Of doing something completely different?

Suppose you have a whole year time, what would you like to do?

[Strokes]

I'd go to the pub.

[Nick]

I've done it more than once, it's hard to do without support or if you have financial commitments - its also tough to call time on a permanent contract and blindly step in to oblivion. There's also a whole bucketload of social shaming and labelling that goes with this kind of decision.... "He's throwing it all away etc"

 

Sometimes though it's good to get off the treadmill before a decade or two goes by and you realise you've only ever had more of the same......

 

 

[longman]

2 minutes ago, Strokes said:

I'd go to the pub.

for whole year?

[Arriba Los Zorros]

8 minutes ago, Swan Lesta said:

I've done it more than once, it's hard to do without support or if you have financial commitments - its also tough to call time on a permanent contract and blindly step in to oblivion. There's also a whole bucketload of social shaming and labelling that goes with this kind of decision.... "He's throwing it all away etc"

 

Sometimes though it's good to get off the treadmill before a decade or two goes by and you realise you've only ever had more of the same......

 

 

I'm wanting to change career and was thinking of doing so before having children, but then it becomes a big risk for the future if it all goes tits up in the next career... Really hard to take the plunge.....

[Wymsey]

Wouldn't advise it for those in their twenties.

Employers will moan that the amount of time they'd have off would make then ill-equipped to hire them in the near future and a risk.

[bovril]

I wouldn't mind stepping on the treadmill of working life. Or at least signing up for the gym card of career development.

 

16 minutes ago, Strokes said:

I'd go to the pub.

This.

[separator]

42 minutes ago, Wymeswold fox said:

Wouldn't advise it for those in their twenties.

Employers will moan that the amount of time they'd have off would make then ill-equipped to hire them in the near future and a risk.

Twenties would be the best time to do it i'd have thought, less chance of having a mortgage, kids etc. I took about 18 months off in my mid-twenties and bought a round the world air ticket, best thing I ever did. Didn't cause any problems getting a job afterwards either.

[The Blur]

1 hour ago, longman said:

Have you ever dreamt of stepping off the treadmill of working life for a while? Of doing something completely different?

Suppose you have a whole year time, what would you like to do?

 

Teach you how to change your font size 

[longman]

59 minutes ago, The Blur said:

 

Teach you how to change your font size 

You got refund with colour.

[Focks]

I'm about to take VR from an IT job that Ive had for about 20 years, and would love do something completely different..

 

Something like watching Homes Under the Hammer whilst wishing that I'd become a builder.

 

I'd never take that round the world trip route though, sounds far too stressful

[Nick]

2 minutes ago, Focks said:

I'm about to take VR from an IT job that Ive had for about 20 years, and would love do something completely different..

 

Something like watching Homes Under the Hammer whilst wishing that I'd become a builder.

 

I'd never take that round the world trip route though, sounds far too stressful

 

I got an allotment and tried my hand at all sorts of skills I didn't have. Go for it!

[MPH]

I'd seriously look at going off the grid up in the mountains somewhere.

 

 

I have always liked the idea of being self sufficient...... Just as long as i had an internet connection and a laptop to play football manager!

[VLC86]

2 hours ago, Swan Lesta said:

 

I got an allotment and tried my hand at all sorts of skills I didn't have. Go for it!

So basically you grew and sold weed?  

 

i took a short career break a few years ago, had the opportunity to move to Italy with a family member so took it. Ended up going back into the same job and I'm stuck in it now, earning decent money but really regret going back. Would love to be in a position to do it now but have a huge mortgage which would make it impossible.

 

Looking for a career change though, i work in management for a financial institution and struggling to get anything else despite looking at a pay cut. 

[James.]

Currently taking a year off to go travelling with my wife and 18 month old daughter. Am writing this from a chalet in Northern Patagonia.

 

In short my wife has always dreamed of travelling but when our daughter was born we thought the opportunity had passed. I had a few bad days at the office though and it wasn't long before "f**k it, let's just do it" became a reality. We started in Rio in mid August and plan to keep going until May / June next year. Brexit and the shitty pound may bring that date a little closer (bastards).

 

We had some savings and yes the sensible thing to do would have been to put that towards a bigger house or our daughter's education but to coin a cliche life is for living and no way in 25 years time will I look back and wish I hadn't spent a year seeing the world with my family.

 

If you're interested we have a blog / Instagram, etc - see here: http://www.wanderlustandbaby.com

 

Happy to answer any questions etc.

[longman]

noway to delete a comment?

[longman]

17 minutes ago, James. said:

Currently taking a year off to go travelling with my wife and 18 month old daughter. Am writing this from a chalet in Northern Patagonia.

 

In short my wife has always dreamed of travelling but when our daughter was born we thought the opportunity had passed. I had a few bad days at the office though and it wasn't long before "f**k it, let's just do it" became a reality. We started in Rio in mid August and plan to keep going until May / June next year. Brexit and the shitty pound may bring that date a little closer (bastards).

 

We had some savings and yes the sensible thing to do would have been to put that towards a bigger house or our daughter's education but to coin a cliche life is for living and no way in 25 years time will I look back and wish I hadn't spent a year seeing the world with my family.

 

If you're interested we have a blog / Instagram, etc - see here: http://www.wanderlustandbaby.com

 

Happy to answer any questions etc.

Awesome, good news is the pound rise again. Best wishes to your journey.

[fuchsntf]

20 minutes ago, James. said:

Currently taking a year off to go travelling with my wife and 18 month old daughter. Am writing this from a chalet in Northern Patagonia.

 

In short my wife has always dreamed of travelling but when our daughter was born we thought the opportunity had passed. I had a few bad days at the office though and it wasn't long before "f**k it, let's just do it" became a reality. We started in Rio in mid August and plan to keep going until May / June next year. Brexit and the shitty pound may bring that date a little closer (bastards).

 

We had some savings and yes the sensible thing to do would have been to put that towards a bigger house or our daughter's education but to coin a cliche life is for living and no way in 25 years time will I look back and wish I hadn't spent a year seeing the world with my family.

 

If you're interested we have a blog / Instagram, etc - see here: http://www.wanderlustandbaby.com

 

Happy to answer any questions etc.

Great to see you took the plunge.

I did the same in the 70s..then the 80s, and again in the 90s.

1st on my own, then with my future wife.The last part with my wife and kids.

Strange to see what was free and easy for us, is now a very turbulent world.

Although we took in more places off the tourist track, when we also went to the classic

adventure areas or sites, there were then no tourist charges like now.

 

Safaris we organised ourselves, and trekking in the wild, didnt cost an arm and a leg, to

ask and organise own trip.Sherpas we never used though they loved to help joining us from other groups

because of our Kids.Orientiering was my hobby, so we never got lost, in the backwards, or older defunct base

Camps.Although some areas were awkward, many are now war zones, or guerrilla held territories.

Though there are still enough new lands to discover without hassle. My daughter has now taken over

in the last few years our bug for travelling, she will now with her husband and 1st baby not slow down but

will carry that urge and dreams further...

The Lifes  rewards are the permanent giving of great experiences that feed the wonders.

 

Maybe your daughter Will also carry the dream further with and for you, later...

Great blog. Shame we didnt have that platform in our time...

.

[Raj]

48 minutes ago, James. said:

Currently taking a year off to go travelling with my wife and 18 month old daughter. Am writing this from a chalet in Northern Patagonia.

 

In short my wife has always dreamed of travelling but when our daughter was born we thought the opportunity had passed. I had a few bad days at the office though and it wasn't long before "f**k it, let's just do it" became a reality. We started in Rio in mid August and plan to keep going until May / June next year. Brexit and the shitty pound may bring that date a little closer (bastards).

 

We had some savings and yes the sensible thing to do would have been to put that towards a bigger house or our daughter's education but to coin a cliche life is for living and no way in 25 years time will I look back and wish I hadn't spent a year seeing the world with my family.

 

If you're interested we have a blog / Instagram, etc - see here: http://www.wanderlustandbaby.com

 

Happy to answer any questions etc.

Respect.

I'm mid forties,wife and kids but I LOATHE  being on this treadmill. Gotta do it for the long term but REALLY been close to telling manager to **** off!!!

I left my last place after 25 years cos I hated the shifts so I know I can leave if I want to...it's only work... BUT.... Kids need food!!!

[jonthefox]

31 minutes ago, Raj said:

Respect.

I'm mid forties,wife and kids but I LOATHE  being on this treadmill. Gotta do it for the long term but REALLY been close to telling manager to **** off!!!

I left my last place after 25 years cos I hated the shifts so I know I can leave if I want to...it's only work... BUT.... Kids need food!!!

much cheaper in south America. 

[Dr The Singh]

Be a low paid pornstar

[Steven]

14 hours ago, Dr The Singh said:

Be a low paid pornstar

It is an already crowded market.

[Babylon]

17 hours ago, James. said:

Currently taking a year off to go travelling with my wife and 18 month old daughter. Am writing this from a chalet in Northern Patagonia.

 

In short my wife has always dreamed of travelling but when our daughter was born we thought the opportunity had passed. I had a few bad days at the office though and it wasn't long before "f**k it, let's just do it" became a reality. We started in Rio in mid August and plan to keep going until May / June next year. Brexit and the shitty pound may bring that date a little closer (bastards).

 

We had some savings and yes the sensible thing to do would have been to put that towards a bigger house or our daughter's education but to coin a cliche life is for living and no way in 25 years time will I look back and wish I hadn't spent a year seeing the world with my family.

 

If you're interested we have a blog / Instagram, etc - see here: http://www.wanderlustandbaby.com

 

Happy to answer any questions etc.

Your daughter will bloody hate you... she'll have travelled the world and won't remember a bloody thing about it

[samlcfc]

I am currently planning to drop everything in about a years time before leaving to take in some of what the world has to offer. Having originally saved to do something similar in my late teens, I splurged it all on a property and settled into the average routine.

 

I'm now in my mid-twenties and have a long term partner who's thirst for travel hadn't completely subsided and died! Further to re-invigorating mine, we've squirreled money away religiously to bolster our savings and are well on our way to getting out of here.

 

I am quite the anxious type prior to jumping in, however also understand that I rarely regret the times when I am flung out of my comfort zones. Being the youngest of my family and seeing those around me grow old with a myriad of health issues also pushes me to make a move. Always imagined that I could experience the things I wanted to do later in life and although that might be true, I might also struggle with health issues that would limit the possibilities in that respect. It all looked like a bit of gamble that I increasingly didn't like the odds of.

 

There will almost certainly be repercussions both good and bad that come from the decision, although I'm really looking forward to getting out there now and have become more comfortable with the idea as I get closer to realising it.

 

[Barky]

Did the whole travelling shabang in my 20's. Now in my 30's I'm generally pretty content being settled (which is something I never thought I would do or enjoy doing), but i still can't stand only being able to take 2/3 week holidays. To that end I negotiated a two month unpaid sabbatical with my last employer, then when I left them I gave myself six weeks between leaving and starting my new job. Both times I went travelling, both occasions among the highlights of my life. Very little sacrificed in terms of career progress. Can't wait for the next opportunity.