Work Restlessness
I have a tendency to get restless, whether its the school I'm in, the town I'm in, or the job I have. After watching my aunt struggle in retirement, I decided to hunker down and settle into a job until I retire. But I find the longer I stay here, the worse my anxiety gets. I keep wanting to try something new, go somewhere fresh. When I get this way, I try my best to remind myself why I chose to work here and wait for the feeling to pass. Today I found myself impulsively looking for jobs to apply to. My job has really good benefits like healthcare, pension plan, and vacation.
Despite all of this that I set myself up for, sometimes I feel like I'm going crazy. I also have OCD, and when I stay in a place long enough, it's easier to have really complex narratives that cause me serious anxiety. I'm doing the work in therapy, but it's not easy.
Does anyone else get this restless? I'm not sure if it's better to trade jobs every few years for the mental relief and exploratory benefits (which are fun!), or if I should stay long term where I am. It feels like putting a boulder on my back, but pension plans are so rare these days.
Can anyone relate? Any insight from your own experiences? What did you end up doing career wise (long term versus switching every few years)?
@turtleTales
I'm sorry you are feeling restless.
It's so different for all of us.
Some find their passion early on and stay with a job.
Others like familiarity, so don't leave.
Some people need to change jobs, to feel enriched and motivated.
It's good to have future benefits.
Alot has to be weighed.
Some people simply need to pay the bills and they don't question it too much.
I guess, it's just about what makes you happiest 💚
@turtleTales
I was very much like that when I started out in employment, job hopped repetitively not always out of choice as I really struggled to motivate myself to complete repetitive routine tasks.
I then settled into a 22 year stint as a database developer/analyst, it is as repetitive in a away as it sounds but as it was in a field marketing company there was a constant influx of new clients and over the time period with technology constantly developing it was often challenging which I have recently learnt was quite well matched to hyperfocussing.
A couple of incidences of a health issue has forced a change, I am now just working night shifts replenishing stock in a supermarket predominently in the frozen and produce sections. It is about as repetitive and bring as it can be but 8 years now and still going strong. The physical nature and constant movement is like medicine to me, it helps me control the PTSD anxiety I get since my health issue.
I'd suggest making a list of what you are looking for from employment, other that a nice fat salary cheque as that goes without saying, and decide from there. I don't feel satisfied from my current employment but the relief from anxiety is valuable.