#CareerStruggles #Burnout #JobSatisfaction #LifeChanges
Hey everyone! 😊 I’m reaching out because I’m feeling a bit lost at 30. I’m a single female living in a high cost of living (HCOL) city, but I’ve got plans to switch it up to a lower cost (LCOL/MCOL) area next year when my lease runs out. After doing a B.Sc and opting out of a PhD (I mean, have you seen how some of those super smart folks struggle financially?), I dove into nursing. I worked hard, got my RN, and now… I’m totally burnt out. 😣
To be honest, healthcare just isn’t my jam — it’s like trying to fit into shoes that are two sizes too small. I’m currently in a nursing job where I interact with patients as little as possible (thank goodness) but the environment is toxic, and let’s just say, it’s not exactly paying the bills. My salary is putting any dream of buying a house out of reach. Maybe a tiny townhouse if I keep cutting corners—yay, right?
Anyway, here’s what’s been keeping me up at night:
- Dread for Monday: I go to bed anxious, thinking about the workweek ahead.
- Toxic Work Environment: It feels draining to be in such a negative atmosphere.
- Financial Worries: I worry about being a financial deadbeat as my partner and I plan for the future.
So, is this what work life is supposed to feel like? 🤔 I thought I’d be in a better spot by now. What I really want to know is, am I doing something wrong? Isn’t there a way to find a job that doesn’t suck the joy out of life? 😩
Maybe I need some fresh perspective or insight! Have any of you been in a similar boat? What did you do to turn things around? Any tips for finding a fulfilling career that doesn’t require diving back into school? Let’s chat! I could really use some advice or just to hear your stories. Thanks for listening! 💕
I work in healthcare too, but “behind the scenes”. Love what I do. Making almost $40/hr in my hospital role that didnt even need a degree for. So I am sure a low pt ineraction position will pay simillarly. Not sure what state you’re living in, but that could contribute to it. Definitly moving to a lower COL area will help, specifically in a state that values healthcare like VT or MN. Where I live $40/hr goes very far.
I’m not 30 yet but I think the HCOL and the burnout job are two big ingredients for a discontent life. You have to go to work to live and you don’t like the work you have to do to live and you’re not even living how you want— see how nowhere on that assembly line are you happy? I would start going down a rabbit hole of career pivots that RNs can make and/or thinking about a career shift and doing something else that interests you. My true advice would also be to just take a break from nursing but that HCOL probably says otherwise— again, see what I mean. It will get better. But you gotta think of changing something and creating a plan and sticking to it. Otherwise, you’re going to keep doing this, expecting a different outcome. That’s called insanity. You’re too great and powerful to go insane! ❤️
People can’t find job, people want job stability, people go into nursing, people get depressed and burnt-out, people try to switch careers
I’m not in the medical field, but I can relate to absolutely dreading my job. It is possible to have a job you don’t hate. It’s possible to have a job that pays well. Both can happen but it’s very very rare. I currently loathe my bartending job, which I took because it pays better than my previous job in retail which I actually kind of enjoyed. Have you looked into trade jobs you could study? I live in a state that offers free tuition for in demand fields, and I’m signing up today to pursue something totally new. Thay could help you out if it’s something available in your area. Best of luck!
Why do people pick careers they hate
You sound a lot like me when I was your age except I’m in the UK. Not sure how easy it is in the US but I went from nursing into law enforcement specifically immigration which I enjoyed obviously law enforcement in the US is massively different so the experience may be different. I have since moved on to a completely different career (health and safety and training) but I actually somewhat miss that job and after being a bit of a doormat in nursing it was a nice change of pace.
At age 26, I had a Masters of Engineering and was working on my PhD in Engineering while working as a safety engineer in a big multinational with an amazing salary. Thing is, I hated Engineering and corporate life even more. I was miserable every day and felt I am in prison (I was living in HCOL city in Canada). One day, I had a legal issue with my employer, and suddenly realized how I have passion for law, then went to law school.
Every single person in my life cautioned me against law school and being a lawyer, but I defied everyone and did it. Now, at age 34, I am a lawyer, with my own practice, and I make a six figure salary. Relatively happy person.
Lesson is, don’t listen to people, and follow your gut and what you really want.
i get to be creative for a living. its really really nice. i design packaging and displays for stores. no job is perfect, working sucks…but i’m not miserable.
I feel you. I had a hard time falling asleep due to job anxiety last night. I’m in my 30s. The world is just simply harder than it used to be. Health care is especially difficult these days. A lot of people struggle with what you’re describing
Be careful what you get good at. You’re 30, now is a perfect time to try something else. I disagree it’s a matter of burden, it’s a matter of happiness and that is one of thee most important factors in life next to having realistic expectations.
Why would you keep on doing that, which you hate, to keep on doing what you hate, it’s poison.
I’d rather postpone home ownership and a larger salary to be happy than to continue on being miserable doing that which I hate.
Rn here also. I worked in a busy busy er and then transferred to a busy L&D. But nowhere as busy as my er job. I’ve grown to love my job. I’ll have to move in coming years but I’ll miss this job. I feel supported by management and coworkers (mainly because I pick up on short notice and also bilingual). Do you feel supported by your group? What can you do change that? I felt alone at first but I helped with translations and traded assignments and did the things no one else wanted to, and now I’ve learned a lot, people come help me when I need them. They say hard work doesn’t pay off but it has for me. Good luck!
I’ve had jobs I love but the pay is terrible.
So I stick with jobs I hate bc they pay well. But now I think I’m depressed from having to suck it up all these years.
I like my job a fair amount. I’d argue I hate the income it brings me. I’d like more money. I do work hard in a dangerous field, I feel I should be making a little bit more than I do. But I’m happy otherwise. I found housing I could afford and have a family that loves me. And I have goals set for myself professionally. I’m working hard to study for certification exams to get into cybersecurity or network administration. I also have hobbies. I play video games, ride a skateboard, practice target archery, and a few others of course I only have time to pick one to fiddle with a day usually.
You might be able to find a job with one of the big insurance companies. We use clinical staff for reviews and case management. Then you could potentially have a foot in the door to move to a non clinical position. Big companies usually have educational benefits if you eventually want to go that route. I’m really lucky and the culture at my office supports work life balance and people rarely work more then 40 hours a week.
There are lots of Office jobs that RNs could do or be a school nurse? Look for the city you want and see the local health or educational options.
Trying to switch to nursing now bc I don’t like my current industry (education), many people try to tell me not to do it, but your experience really depends on the hospital from what I’ve heard from nurses or friends of nurses.