Things I’m Loving Since Leaving the Day Job

This time last month was my last day at a company I had worked at for nearly 14 years. It’s been a bit surreal not going into work each week but a month on and I thought I would share some of the things I’ve been enjoying now that I don’t have a place of work to go to:

The holiday feeling – it still feels like I’m on annual leave or something. I feel generally relaxed, refreshed and with less worries too. Anyone who works will have that ‘Monday morning feeling’ and I love not having that any more. Although I’m still working with this blog it isn’t the same, it’s still very much a rewarding hobby and so it’s lovely to not have that eugh feeling at the start of a new working week.

Things I'm Loving Since Leaving the Day Job

Not having to use Windows – this may sound silly but I use a Macbook at home and always used Windows at work but I spend so much more time on my computer at home than I did at work and so using Windows at work was always a headache – with different short cut keys, different passwords and different applications. It’s nice to now have some consistency when it comes to computers!

Saturday morning lay ins – for the past two and a half years I have worked every Saturday apart from the ones I’ve booked off as annual leave, where we had plans and so had to be up and out early. So now I’m loving Saturday morning lay ins, the chance to just relax, spend time in my PJs with the kids and not do too much. It’s such a novelty and something I doubt I will ever get bored of.

Weekend morning cinema – but, some days, instead of a lay in we go and do something we haven’t been able to do that often – weekend morning cinema! We now have double the opportunity to go to the cinema together and it’s swiftly turning into one of our family’s favourite activities.

Earlier dinner times – When I was working we had to have dinner at 6pm so that I could get home and get changed just in time to sit at the table. Now, we’re able to have dinner earlier and it really takes the stress out of the evening, the children are less tired, we can relax a bit more and just enjoy the simple things like bath time and stories before bed.

No uniform – I love not wearing uniform anymore. There’s less washing, less ironing – although Dave does the ironing I’m sure he appreciates this – and I can just wear whatever I like each day. I have worn a uniform to work since I started working at Woolworths when I was 14. 18 years later and it’s great to not have uniform hanging in my wardrobe.

No black socks or ‘work shoes’ – I was on my feet at work a lot and so had specific shoes for work – flat shoes that I wouldn’t have worn outside of work. But, they also needed socks worn with them and so it’s lovely to not only ditch my work shoes but also to ditch the black socks too! I love big fluffy brightly coloured socks and it’s so nice to have a sock drawer just full of colours now.

Not dealing with the general public – As much as I love people it’s nice to not have to serve the general public anymore. Anyone that has worked in a customer facing industry will appreciate what I mean by this. Customers kept us in a job, without them I wouldn’t have had a job. But, there were times when you felt like you were banging your head against a wall. I’m glad to be away from that.

Cups of tea – When I went back to work after maternity leave I loved having uninterrupted cups of tea that were just the right temperature. But, sometimes you just want to make yourself a cup of tea and instead you need to make a tray of ten cups or you’ll be really dreaming of a cup of tea and someone else will make it and it will arrive too strong or looking like dishwater. It’s always the thought that counts but it’s so nice now to just be able to make myself a cup of tea, just how I like it, whenever I want it.

Things I'm Loving Since Leaving the Day Job

No overflowing inbox – On days when I used to work I would come home to dinner, bath and bed and also an email inbox to battle. It’s nice now to be able to deal with my inbox as and when through the day and not have it all piling up until the evening – it makes my blog workload so much easier.

A new routine – Mostly we are all loving a new routine. The children love having me at home, Dave loves not having to get up early when he’s working nights and we all love being able to spend more time together. It’s nice being able to do the school run every day, to go to the gyn regularly and to be able to do the same things each day or each week.

So far, not being at work has been all positive. It still feels like I’m on holiday, it still feels a bit weird but it also feels pretty good. And we are all a lot happier.

Author

  • Donna Wishart is married to Dave and they have two children, Athena (13) and Troy (11). They live in Surrey with their two cats, Fred and George. Once a Bank Manager, Donna has been writing about everything from family finance to days out, travel and her favourite recipes since 2012. Donna is happiest either exploring somewhere new, with her camera in her hand and family by her side or snuggled up with a cat on her lap, reading a book and enjoying a nice cup of tea. She firmly believes that tea and cake can fix most things.

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7 Comments

  1. So glad to read how happy you are. I’m 3.5 years in to self employment. I love Mondays! Today for example I’m off to the town with my daughter and we are going to do some shopping and have lunch. The town will be quiet and we will be able to zip in and out of the shops! Lovely. So glad it is working out for you x

  2. I’m so pleased for you that you’ve finally taken that step and left your day job. I’m glad it’s all going so well. The weekend morning cinema sounds lovely too, we’ve never done that but I bet we could do it around here. I might look into it next weekend.
    Nat.x

  3. So pleased that you are loving your new routine. There is no worse feeling than the dreaded Monday morning is there. I only work 10 hours a week, and stupidly work on a Monday so I still get it. It must be so lovely to have all the time to dedicate to your blog, and still have lots of lovely family time x

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