ZenDen,

As soon as I started reading your post I was thinking you should start your own business as it is the reverse of the things you hate about your current job. But that is obviously a huge risk. On the plus side, you have a business degree so you hopefully have some of the knowledge to assist with this if it was an option…. perhaps starting a not-for-profit that could incorporate your interests in travelling & outdoor activities? Adventure trips abroad for under privileged kids for example…..? 🙂

Are there any positives you can take from your current job? Any skills you have learnt or things you have found you’re particularly good at? Maybe these could be a jumping off point for a new direction…? There are always transferable skills to take onward with you – you just have to look for them and re-frame them.

I agree with Michelle14 – you should definitely base this on some kind of time frame and give yourself at least 6 months to save money in your current job before escaping. I left a career I hated on the spur of the moment because I had reached boiling point and couldn’t take it any more – but now I wish I had thought it through better as I was getting a very good salary at the time & did not plan my exit so did not save anything which made the next few months very difficult financially as I was also in debt.

However – I did jump and it was a scary time BUT it was the best thing I ever did. I totally changed direction in my career and because of that I had to start from the bottom of a new profession on a very small salary and retrain all over again which has taken me 5 years to complete. BUT it was completely worth it, I am now so happy in my career, I know it is the right fit for me and people are in disbelief when they find out what I used to do! 🙂 There are times in my day where I find myself thinking “I can’t believe I get paid to do this!” and I hope one day you can say the same with a big smile on your face! Good luck xxx