Are you scared to quit your job because of money?
You’re not crazy for wanting stability, but I’m going to share a few things I wish I had known before I had quit my draining, boring job to follow my heart.
In this post, I’m going to share my story of quitting my job without having a plan, and what I wish someone had told me about money and life.
Scared to quit your job? You might be like past Lucy
So for context, I used to be a textbook people pleaser. I would always say yes to things I didn’t want to do, and then be angry and resentful the whole time I was there.
I learnt how to put myself first unapologetically and make decisions without worrying about what people thought, which is how I started working for myself and then quitting my part time job to go full time in my first business.
Cue the most stressful time of my whole life! I jumped without knowing what was going to happen, and although it did all work out, there’s a few things I would go back and tell my past self to save myself a lot of heartache and stress.
Back story before I quit my job
In university my professor said in passing that most people don’t get work life balance until they’re in their 50’s.
Acca-scuse me?
I knew that I could either work hard for other people or work hard for myself. Instead of looking for other jobs, I went back to my part time work as a medical receptionist.
I worked part time while building up my first business, The Little Content Co.
I am a big believer in taking ownership of your decisions.
Was it the perfect situation, working in a job I didn’t love? No, but it paid the bills, and I was happy building my business, so I had enough reasons to stay. If you are scare to quit your job, you might have similar thoughts.
My job wasn’t exactly toxic, but eventually it was toxic for my dreams of bigger things.
I remember one afternoon about 6 months in. I was on like my 5th cup of coffee, staring at the screen wondering why I was so tired.
Then it hit me.
No amount of coffee will help if you hate what you’re doing. Coffee won’t fix a tired soul.
That’s when I decided that it was time to move on and go full time in my business. At the time I was making about five thousand dollars a month so it seemed like the right moment.
The most stressful 3 months of my life
What followed that resignation was probably the hardest 3 months of my life.
I was excited to be out making it on my own. However, right before Christmas my biggest monthly client pulled out. I went deep into overdraft. My husband paid my half of the rent. I felt like I couldn’t stop working for a second.
Work life balance was out the window and instead I just cried in the shower so people couldn’t see.
I was SO worried that I would have to get a new job and ask my old boss to be a reference. She would know that I had failed.
This isn’t a story about staying in a job you hate because it’s not safe to follow your passion. If you’re wondering whether you should quit your job without a plan, here are a few things I wish I knew
6 Thing I Wish I Knew Before I Quit My Job
1) You can figure it out as you go
You don’t have to have everything figured out. Ever. Nobody actually does. I made a parachute on the way down. I eventually decided that I actually wanted to pursue coaching (which is what I do now!), picked up a few side hustles like dog walking and doing virtual assistance, and made it up as I went along. You don’t have to quit your toxic job and land straight in your dream job. It’s your life and you can figure it out as you go
2) Money is Money
Money comes from unexpected places and still counts. I obsessed over how other people saw my business so much that I ignored other potential sources of income and fixated on having to beg for my old job back. I told myself “it isn’t good enough if I didn’t make it in my own business!”.
Money is money.
If you want to learn how I got on top of money, click the link to my Money Mastery workshop below!
3) Scared to quit your job? Staying isn’t easier
Staying in my job longer wouldn’t have made it easier. I wouldn’t have been more mentally prepared, my biggest client still would have pulled out, and I might never have started my dream business as a work life balance coach. Listen when something is pulling on your heart strings.
4) Figure out your WORST case scenario
Your worst case scenario isn’t the worst thing in the world. My worst case was that I would have to ask for my old job or get them to be a reference. But that isn’t actually mortal danger. It wouldn’t kill me even though it physically hurt to think about. Putting yourself first is still more important (and often the worst doesn’t eventuate anyway).
5) Rest anyway
You are allowed to rest even if you don’t think you deserve it. I was going crazy because I felt like I had to keep working because I needed the money, but it was actually making it HARDER to be creative and figure everything out.
6) It’s harder to stay
It takes a lot more energy to do something you hate than to take a chance on yourself. Sitting in a job you despise that drains your soul and asks too much of you will cause a lot more stress, fatigue and FOMO than gritting your teeth and leaving. Be scared for a moment or risk being unhappy for the rest of your life. I know which path I will always choose!
Still scared to quit your job?
If you are working in a toxic workplace, need to set boundaries, or you’re ready to make the leap into something better, then let’s work together! You can find out more about my 1:1 work life balance coaching here.
