I don’t want to work anymore. I am tired!
I’m tired of getting up every day. I’m tired of struggling through the tedious workday. I’m so tired of working!
These, and more, were my thoughts when I decided to quit my job. I just didn’t want to work anymore!
Why I decided to make the change
I’m a military spouse and was living thousands of miles away from my family and friends. I hadn’t made any new friends yet, my husband was on deployment, and the deployment curse was coming in FULL FORCE that year.
The atmosphere in the company I worked at also changed when people started getting laid off by the handful. Due to that and other circumstances, I was physically, emotionally, and mentally EXHAUSTED.
After a long email-chain of communicating with my husband, I decided to quit my job and put in my two weeks notice. I am no quitter and rarely even take days off, so this was an agonizing decision for me!
Things didn’t immediately get better, but it allowed me the time I needed to focus on my well-being. Eventually, I found a job that I LOVED.
This is how we got to a place where I didn’t have to work:
1. We live frugally on one income.
Quitting your job without a plan is a bit reckless. But, we keep our expenses so low that we can easily manage them with just one income.
If you have decided you don’t want to work anymore, start by making a budget and cutting back on your spending.
These are a few ways that you can easily cut everyday costs.
2. We have an emergency fund
Even without having low expenses, we also have prioritized saving over the years. We’ve built an emergency fund to cover any unexpected circumstances, such as unemployment.
Before deciding you don’t want to go back to work tomorrow, start by saving 3 to 6 months of money. You might even need more depending on the difficulty of securing a new position in your field. This is a better option to have some money to tide you over if you don’t have someone to help cover the bills.
RELATED: Learn how to financially prepare to quit your job with these 9 steps.
How to get over work apathy:
It’s normal to not want to work anymore. It’s exhausting to keep working when you don’t feel like it. But I understand that not everyone is in a position where they can wake up and decide to quit their job.
It may also just be a temporary feeling and you need help getting out of a rut. The reasons why you don’t feel like working anymore can include:
- A toxic work environment
- Bad management
- Poor work/life balance
- Health issues
- Problems at home
- Stress
- Long commute
Start by figuring out why you’re starting to hate your job, and work towards making your situation better. Here are some suggestions:
1. Talk to your boss
Some things can be solved simply by talking to your boss/ manager. You would be surprised at the lengths some companies will go to so they can accommodate and retain good employees.
Your employer may be willing to let you work at home to avoid a long commute, work a more flexible schedule to balance home life, etc. You will never know until you take the step and ask.
2. Take a break
I’ve always tried to be a great employee. I never called out or took a vacation. I took extra shifts if I was a called in and I worked longer hours if it was needed.
This just leads to employee burnout. “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.”
Sometimes you may just need to take a sick day, and relax.
Go on a vacation and enjoy yourself.
Take a stay-cation and do absolutely nothing.
Or, just make it a point to enjoy your weekends by having fun and enjoying new experiences. Gaining a more positive outlook on life may be the answer to your problems.
3. Start working part-time
It’s a tendency to increase our spending as our income increases. I mean… if you have it, why not spend it?
But doing this only increases your expenses every month, which means you have to keep working to keep up that lifestyle. It’s a vicious cycle!
If you are tired of working 9 to 5 and 40-hours every week, you could probably just cut back on your cost of living. Budget in a way that you can live from working fewer hours and start enjoying your extra free time.
Other than working part-time, you could find a job with a more flexible schedule. Maybe you would prefer working longer shifts, and less days per week.
There is also plenty of work from home positions that you could apply for.
Related: Over 100 Companies That Allow Remote Work
4. Find a different job
This job just may not be for you. The worst thing you can do is stay in a job that you hate going to every day.
If you don’t want to work anymore but need the money, find a position that you can do work you find meaningful. Don’t waste your life being miserable! Instead of quitting right away, start applying for a new job first.
Or maybe you just don’t want to work for anyone again? You could start a side hustle that earns enough to replace your full-time income.
Many people find it lucrative to drive for ride-share companies, do freelance work, or start their own small business.
This blog is just one of multiple streams of income I have been working on to be my own boss. Because if I am honest… I don’t want to work. But since I have to (plus I get bored easily), I will find a way to do it on my own terms.
Related: How to Make Money by Blogging
Change is never easy, but don’t continue down the same path that is bringing you unhappiness. Figure out the problem, and find the best solution for you.
So you’re a military spouse and quit your job to be an unemployed military spouse… you’re the real hero. LOL so the real message here is to be a Dependa. Where do I sign up for a military spouse?
Hi, Jonathon! Actually, I am currently employed with the Gov. while running 2 profitable side businesses. I was lucky enough to have a partner to lean on.
However, the REAL message is to have enough savings and a low cost of living that you can stop being in a toxic work environment and find a job that you enjoy. There are plenty of ways to live frugally and save money even without a spouse.
To answer your last question…Military members are not rich, so you might have an easier life being married to a doctor, or even a truck driver. However, you can probably just frequent the hangouts around a base to meet someone. I do think most bases, like mine, are currently still on lockdown though.
@Jonathan McDaniel, you sound really upset. Calm down, little guy.
@Jonathan McDaniel, boy oh boy am I tired of this kind of shit.
When a woman gets a job, men tell her she’s horrible and selfish. When she stops working, they tell her she’s horrible and selfish. If I didn’t know any better, i’d say you actually just hate women and live a lonely, sad life with nothing better to do than go on random women’s blogs and shit on them.
Thank you for your kind words, I find myself crying on Mondays and hating my job, feeling like a trapped mouse. Your blog entry helped me cope. 🙂
Hey Joanna. I’m glad my post could bring some comfort to you. I know the feeling of dreading Mondays.. and there are too many opportunities out there to stay feeling trapped. I wish you luck!
Typical woman. Let the man work and just complain and add drama.
Hi Tom, it’s pretty mean-spirited of you to want to judge others without knowing their story. Especially since you did not chance upon this post, but must have been searching for it due to possible unhappiness with your own occupation?
Anyways, if I am the typical woman, you must know some great ones. Ones like me who hold down a full-time job along with starting businesses of their own? Good on you!
@Martina, don’t waste your breath or energy on this guy, save it for something more enjoyable. Thank you for your blog.
Thank you for your kindness, Loretta.
@Tom, boy oh boy am I tired of this kind of shit.
When a woman gets a job, men tell her she’s horrible and selfish. When she stops working, they tell her she’s horrible and selfish. If I didn’t know any better, i’d say you actually just hate women and live a lonely, sad life with nothing better to do than go on random women’s blogs and shit on them.
(Though I think you’ve seen this message already because I believe that you and Jonathan and Joe are all the same asshole. =) )
Hi Martina.
I read your entire post. I felt the same as you but didn’t quit my job. I used to be very proactive and creative in my job until 2 years ago when I saw I was not going to get anywhere or have a promotion. I made this known to my employer but the situation didn’t improve, also partly due to COVID. Then suddenly I started to hate my job. It was just the begining of a long suffering. It started to built up. My personal life was not good as I had sacrificed myself on hard work for many years without getting a promotion or a definitive contract. I was living away from my future wife and we were not married yet. On the contrary, I started having 3-months contracts during 2021. This made things worse. I asked my boss to return in my home country and work remotely from there for some time. Then I realized I hated even more my job (the one I used to love so much and considered myself lucky to have it). Indeed, I was very highly paid and working from home but for some internal reason I could barely wake up in the morning having to do that. Horrible feeling and exhausting. I was waiting to have my full time contract finally but again didn’t happen. So I decided not to work anymore, just do basic staff until it lasts. I started to enjoy a bit my life not having to think of my work and get some free money from disengaged work. I got married. I started to go to the mountains with my friends. I started to go out with my wife indifferent cities, and so many other things. Then the inevitable happened. My contract was extended for just two more month and it wouldn’t be renewed anymore. Fair enough. Now it has ended but the problem is I feel I don’t want to work anymore because of bad memories and this posses problems for the people I live with, including my wife and parents. It’s stressful because of them now. I don’t need anymore money as I have saved enough from the highly paid job to live comfortably for at least 20 years, until I retire , including 2-3 travels a year with my wife. But still my family disagrees with that. I’m trying to find a new job not because I want to but because my wife, family and friends say so. It’s such discomforting and stressful. I always felt we face stress because of our work, I never thought I would face stress because I don’t want to work. Great irony of life.
Hi Bledi,
That sounds very stressful to be pressured into doing something that makes you unhappy. If talking to them and explaining your rationale won’t work, maybe try writing it out so they can read over and understand better.
Good luck!
-Martina
I did the same thing. I was so burnt out and my company’s culture had changed during the pandemic. Right now, I can’t see myself ever working in an office again. I’m toying with the idea of part time work and building back up to full time but I have a fear of being tied to a job again. I never want to be in that position again where I’m enduring abuse because I don’t have the time/energy to find a different job.
It is a hard place to be in, especially with everything else going on in the world. If you can, I would consider a side hustle or building a small business to fall back on. You could also work full-time for awhile to save money for a financial blanket if you ever need to quit again.
This article feels woefully out of touch. Your intentions are good, but it isn’t really “advice” to say things like “have an emergency fund” or “rely on a partner”. What if there is no other income to rely on? What if you have mental or physical health issues that prevent you from working full time (and giving you a chance to save?) what if you ARE working full time and you STILL don’t have enough income to save? The crux of this article seems to be “have money already, and if not, keep working at that job you hate!”
Hi Samantha,
The article shares my experience in quitting my job and those are the two things that I did that other people can as well. Completely leaving a job (even one you hate) without any income to rely on and possibly falling into debt is NOT something I would recommend. I also suggested taking a mental health break, working PT (if possible), and looking for another job. Of course, the circumstances are different for each individual and I can’t cover all situations.
-Martina
This article is not realistic for people who have real problems, you had a huge support system and leveraged it in order to make a change. Glad it worked for you but most people can’t use this advice for their own life.
Hi Joe,
Yes, this post shares my own experience when I quit my job. Then, it goes on to give advice on options others can take without the same support system such as saving money first as well or finding another job before quitting.
@Joe, Just because this experience can’t work for you doesn’t mean the author does not have “real problems.” Sorry your life sucks so much that you have to go around tearing other people down just to feel better about yourself. I’m sick of this culture shitting on people for having good things in their lives. Having a support system and leveraging it in order to make a change is a positive thing the author has done and you should be happy for her rather than envious. It’s very petty and disgusting.
@Joe,
Exactly. If you have circumstances in your life that prohibit you from “jumping through a myriad of ridiculous hoops” to justify your right to exist on this planet, you’re going nowhere. This woman has NO CLUE. Nothing useful here…
Hi, Martina! I found this article particularly helpful as i struggle with many of the things you and your readers noted. I really appreciated what you said about working PT, which i have considered but am too chicken to ask my mgr if i can cut back my hours. My emtional health is suffering and i have physical issues. I am burned out and your article inspired me to take action now. Thank you👌😊👌👌
Hi AG,
It’s great that you’re putting your health first. I hope you have a good manager and it all works out for you, good luck!
-Martina
Hello, I am disabled and your blog post helped me feel better about making this change. But given the couple of angry men (or maybe just one angry man pretending to be three people) came on here and shit on you for your choices made me realize that no matter what choice I make, someone will be envious.
Well, I did work hard to get here. I worked hard on myself to be the best person I could be and now a man loves me enough to help me get through a rough time in my life. It WAS actually quite difficult because I had to spend all of my single-woman income on therapy and medical care to get here. But now I can be the best partner I can be to my husband because I’m not constantly draining my life force for shit wages to please some random boss who will never appreciate me the way my family does.
People will be envious and it’s just how it is. It says more about them than us.
Hi Velma, I’m so glad the post was able to help you and that you are living happier in life. Also, thank you so much for your defense of me, I truly appreciate it. I realized that some people just want to be angry. But if I can help those who are open to it, then making these posts are worth it.
Good luck in life!
-Martina