Job sucking up your life?

**Newsnerd68** · 07-09-2008, 10:44 PM

Does anybody feel like their job is just eating up the rest of their lives? I've struggled with this for a while and talked to my co-workers. Most of them feel the same way. We are never really off work. The nature of the business forces us to be available nearly 24/7 and to keep up with news events even when we are off work. Plus my schedule keeps me working until sometimes 2 in the morning with an hour drive home. I'm working when my SO, family and friends are at home.
It's just not worth it any more. I mean, the pay is pretty good, but doesn't that make up for missing out on the rest of your life?

Anybody else feel like this?

**Luv2BeFrugal** · 07-09-2008, 11:13 PM

Yep, that's exactly how I felt before I quit my job and went back to school... I know it's a big sacrifice, but I want a job that feels meaningful.

**qtkitty** · 07-10-2008, 03:15 AM

I don't feel like my job is sucking my life away ( i work 32 hours a week ) .. i do however wonder some days why their aren't longer days so i can figure out how to get enough sleep to function.

I would love to have a better paying job .. but then i know that i wouldn't be able to bring my baby along.. and around here i don't trust anyone to care for her.. i really don't trust child care centers they really give me the willies for some reason.

**Momto2Boyz** · 07-10-2008, 10:23 AM

I used to be the same way. My only solution was to leave my job.

I was a government contract specialist for a civilian contractor to the US military. Which meant that I worked internationally, and if I was needed to travel, I was needed for conference calls at 2:00am (to coordinate with other countries), or working on deadlines and working 12 hour + days.

I finally had to give up. There was one week where I worked well over 80 hours and realized that I hadn't seen my kids awake in over a week. That was my wake up call, that my paycheck wasn't worth missing out on so much.

I am still debating what to do when my kids are older. If I go back into the same field of work, I'll still have the same problems. I am thinking about being a substitute teacher, once both my kids are in school. Then I can work when I want, go on field trips with the kids still and be home about the same time after school!

**Edna_E** · 07-10-2008, 10:08 PM

Sometimes, but in my case it is at least partially due to my own work-a-holic personality. I'm a computer nerd, so the field can easily use all the time I am willing to give it, but my current job rarely demands a lot of overtime - most of mine is due to my own desires to learn more or do things differently.

While my son was in Jr High and High School, I dropped out of the industry and taught at a local college - which permitted me the luxury of having off the same holidays he had. That was a great solution to the parenting issue, but was also a major setback on the career track.