Every time I look around, the job market feels like a dead end. What’s out there either pays less or would set me way back. I’m tired all the time, the stress never lets up, and Sunday nights feel heavier every week. I don’t want to stay, but I don’t know where else to go right now.
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@OP I understand what you're saying, and my situation was the same. I ran into age discrimination at every turn, and the job market is trash right now.
I was so stressed out and unhappy at work that I didn't have the energy to search for a new job. Because I was remote I took barely any steps during the workweek. Most days I just rolled out of bed in the morning and started work without getting dressed. After work I just zoned out in front of the TV. I was not eating well or exercising and was putting on weight. I was showering only 2-3 times a week. Not good.
My solution was to sign up as a volunteer with a local organization. It got me out of the house a few hours every weekend. It gave me a reason to get showered and dressed. Something I didn't expect was how refreshing it would be to interact with people who weren't depressed or angry -- which seemed to be everyone at Optum. It was like a switch was flipped. I felt my natural personality returning because there was zero risk of getting chastised for expressing myself and sounding like a normal human being.
I'm not good at networking, but I met someone through volunteering who was looking to fill a position. She approached me and encouraged me to apply. It took a few weeks and several interviews with her employer, and I wasn't optimistic, but I got the job!
Truth be told, I'm overqualified and it was a slight decrease in pay. I'm in the office every day so I have the expense of commuting and wardrobe. But it's 100% better than my situation at Optum. It's a nice place with a friendly culture. No one slams me for having ideas. So even though this was a step back, I'd do it again in a heartbeat.
You should really start looking while you have a job. You sound so depressed and unmotivated that once you get laid off you'll never be able to mask your emotions and come off as damaged or unhireable.... the best thing going for you right now is u HAVE a job as a bargaining chip. Real question is do you have skills people need anymore.
@ak Dang Aristotle, that's some profound stuff
Welcome to reality. Majority of us are insignificant and have unfulfilling jobs. So redirect you efforts elsewhere to stuff that is important like family and interests outside or work. It is a big con job to attempt to climb the ladder and be somebody that just keeps the hamsters spinning i the wheel.
When I am stuck in one of lifes rutts I re-read chapters of Thoreau's Walden
These problems and the feelings behind them are as old as mankind itself. You follow in the footsteps of billions of people feeling the same throughout history. Life is more than your plight, situation, job and that job does not define who or what you are. It's a trap and you need to see it as such no matter how hard it is to do so. Neither the job nor corporate america care's one twit about you or your happiness. Understand the game. You owe yourself at least that much.
Focus on LIFE and LIVING. Figure out how to live and the other concerns start to disappear or fall into their proper place.
Make the mental change and switch your focus and see where it takes you. You're getting crushed right now and you need to change that dynamic ASAP. I believe once you get yourself on the right side of the power curve you'll be fine. Make it work. It's really the best choice you have.
@a3 I agree with you but don't know that people have a "life's calling." In my experience, most people work to pay the bills. Don't feel bad if you're not passionate about what you do. Ideally your job provides some sense of fulfillment, but I think there's a tendency, especially in larger corporate structures like this, to overplay the significance of the job you hold.
Don't let excuses get in your way. "Feels like a dead end", "Everything pays less" etc are all Generalized excuses. You need to fight through it and find the job and your life's calling.
You CAN DO IT!!