I Bet You’re Considering Quitting your Job in 2022.

I woke up this morning to a slew of facebook posts from my teacher friends and school parents all voicing their shock at rage at having to return to school today or send their kids to in-person school, at the outset of what will likely be the most significant Covid wave yet. One teacher wrote: "The state couldn't have come up with a more non-plan if they had tried."

It is an odd feeling viewing this from the sidelines as it were. A year and a half ago, that was me. My school had decided to go back in person, and I knew that after months of not being listened to, hearing promises of protections that were not followed through on, that I was on my own. That when and if I got sick, I would have to bear the burden of this policy decision myself.

At the same time, I was watching colleague after colleague turn in their resignations. Not just from our school, but from education. They were using this as their opportunity to make a change in their lives, and I was so fucking jealous.

This, the first time around

I went back that first day, and despite promises that in-person education would happen gradually, my first class was at 100% capacity.

I knew right then, without a doubt, that I was quitting. Not that day, I would go through the protocol. As angry as I was, I didn't want to take it out on my students. But it was clear that no one was going to be responsible for my health but me. No one was going to be there for me if I was suffering from chronic fatigue from long covid, living with reduced lung capacity or heart damage. No one was going to help me if someone in my family got sick. I was willing to make some sacrifices for my career. I'd already made a lot of them. But I was not willing to die, or even get seriously ill. I was no longer willing to sacrifice my wellbeing to save someone else some money.

Is This You?

I know as I'm writing this that there are thousands of people currently going through that moment. In a few months or weeks, they will no longer be teachers, or nurses or whatever job they committed to years ago because they wanted to help people, only to find that their sacrifice would be taken for granted. That while they volunteered to save lives, or save futures, their sacrifice would be used to save money. It might be you.

Enough is Too Much

This is about drawing a line in the sand. "I will not be treated like this." We've been trained, socialized, to accept any treatment at work. “It's not so bad, it's part of the job. What are you going to do, quit?” There has always been the question, how far would it go? What is the point that employers will stop themselves and say, "wait a minute, we can't do this to our employees"? And this moment has laid bare, that there is no end unless we make it. As a teacher working in a therapeutic school, I knew that I couldn’t teach my students to have healthy boundaries if I ignored my boundaries at work. So I quit.

New life in 2022

Here I am on the other side, and I’m so much happier. I have slept enough for the first time since I was a teenager. I had my first winter holiday that was not overshadowed by the anxiety of knowing that I would have to go back to a job I dread. And I have time to do things. I can buy things at stores that are only open on weekdays. I can get my car fixed if it breaks without having to use my last sick day. And I can implement my own safety policy: I only take the risks I’m willing to accept the consequences of.

Freelancing

Now, not everyone is made to be a freelancer. It doesn’t solve all of your problems, and it creates a bunch of new ones. Sure, I have enough clients this month, but what about next month? And all the months after that? Aaaaagh!

Yes, there are worries. But I like these worries better. Maybe it’s just me.

But I also get to sit here typing blog posts while my parrot beatboxes next to me. So that’s pretty cool.

And, I get to work with some of the coolest people. I build websites for therapists and reiki practitioners, veterinarians and artists. People who I love working with, who are dedicated to doing a job on their own terms.

If you are thinking of quitting a job that is throwing you and your safety under the bus, I’m here rooting for you! You inspire me, and I know you can do it!

Thinking about quitting your job in 2022? Tell me about it! I’d love to hear your story and help you out with tips on doing it well.

Keep following me for tips about preparing to make the change, to see other inspiring examples of individuals like you who decided this was the year they were not going to take it anymore. And when you need a website, I can build you a website. 😉