Taking a Mental Vacay!
Many people work eight plus hours a day and 40 plus hours a week all to fulfill someone else’s dreams or visions while ignoring their own life goals. Do you or someone you know work at a job they no longer like or quite frankly hate? One in which they hate the idea of getting up every morning and going to a place they despise. Through an informal survey thisisallison.com conducted there are a few common reasons the women we interviewed “hate” their jobs or are looking for a break.
- Racism in the workplace.
- Sexism in the workplace.
- Outgrown the position.
- No room for advancement.
- New management/owners.
- Bored or uninspired.
- Feel like it’s a deadend job.
What does one do when they feel this way about the place where they spend most of their time away from their families, friends, and home? Depending on your company and benefits you may have a few options if you need a break from it all. Melanie has worked for the school system over 20 years. Her children are grown, she is divorced, and frustrated with how the school system in her opinion has failed employees and students. She needed a break from it all and here is what she did to take a mental vacation until she could sort it all out.
Allison: When did you know it was time to take a break?
Melanie: I knew it was time for me to take a break when everything about my job made me irritable. It even became difficult for me to get out of the bed in the mornings and motivate myself for work. I would literally be dragging to get myself together and go to work. I had to be to work by 8:15 and most days got there at 8:20 or 8:25. Though that’s not majorly late, to know me means that I don’t like being anywhere late. I also knew it was time for a break because I literally hated what I was doing and didn’t see a light at the end of the tunnel.
Allison: How did you know what options were available to you in order to get the time off you needed?
Melanie: I work for the school system so I researched the kinds of leave that were available to me and what type of documentation was needed from my end as well. It was easy to find because the company has it publicly available on its website.
Allison: How much time did you take off?
Melanie: I was written out of work from February 27th until the end of the school year which was June 10th.
Allison: Was the process confidential?
Melanie: The reason I took my leave was confidential but the principal at my school announced my leave of absence to the entire staff at a faculty meeting. I am not sure how I feel about that. I guess it was information that everyone needed to know. What really made me mad is that I had at least four people from four different schools contact me and ask me if I was ok because they heard that I was out of work on leave. So I guess I’d have to say that it wasn’t confidential at all and I think my principal was out of line announcing it to the whole staff.
Allison: What did you do during your time off?
Melanie: I did a whole lot of nothing. (Lol) But in all honesty, I slept as late as I wanted to. I cleaned my apartment some. I went to the movies during the day. I exercised and tried getting my physical health back up to par because I had let it go along the way. I started back prepping my meals for the week. I went out to dinner with friends, here and there. I was able to go to my grandchildren’s schools for programs. I went on a lot of interviews for a different job in a different field. I applied to at least eight jobs and received job offers from two but declined them because the pay wasn’t where I needed it to be. However, my most favorite thing that I did was binge nine seasons of the show Shameless! It’s a great one if you’re wanting something to binge!
Allison: Was it worth it?
Melanie: I do feel like it was worth it. Mentally, my mind is as clear as it’s been in a long time. My brain does not feel as cluttered and now I don’t have those negative feelings that I once had for my job. I feel more grateful for the job and am looking forward to returning to work.
Allison: What advice would you give someone considering a mental vacation or leave from work?
Melanie: I would say if you’re feeling burnt out you should definitely research the types of leave that your company offers, talk with your doctor, and make the decision to take the leave or not. I have no regrets!
