I’ve been in digital for over a decade – a mix of project management and marketing roles – and I feel completely and utterly burnt out. I’ve never truly found any of the work fulfilling, despite moving in to the charity sector fairly recently, but now with this burnout I’m really struggling to find the brain power needed for these types of roles, and with AI taking over the industry, I feel as if I’m being left behind.
I’m in my mid-thirties and live at home rent-free (I ‘pay’ my way in other ways – gardening, taking my elderly parents out for lunch, doing housework; etc.). I have around £40k in savings and would absolutely love to pivot to the countryside access sector. I’ve tried to study part-time previously but found it too tricky to balance on an overloaded and burnt out brain.
Do you think I would be insane to quit my job and do some volunteering in the countryside space? I have an interview coming up for a volunteer role which could significantly help me to gain valuable experience. I figure if I leave my job I could commit to 3 full days a week to volunteer there, and possibly another 1-2 at a local wildlife trust.
I’m aware the job market is kaput so it might not be the most sensible thing to do, but honesty, staying in digital just isn’t sustainable for me. My average burn rate on jobs is around 12 months because I burnout real quick. I need to find something more fulfilling, sustainable and ideally away from a full-time office job.
What do you think? It’s an insane concept to quit a job, right? Eugh – I wish I’d listened to myself many years ago before going down this digital path and chasing the money carrot. Money doesn’t always buy happiness. 😞