I get it, you’re done! You’ve had enough of this shit, all of it.
The workload, the city life and the traffic that comes with it. You make all this money and somehow you never have any of it left. And then there’s the debt this life has gotten you into, always buying the next best thing to make your current situation a bit more bearable at the moment, a nicer house, a better car, a bigger tv, 17 new throw pillows, you get the idea. Sound familiar? That’s because beyond the smile we put up in public, YOU are actually part of the biggest in-the-closet community of the 21st century – (we’ll get a better name for it, I swear, but for now, let’s call it) the Corporate Burnout community.
I know this too well, I’ve gone through it myself. It got so bad that I sold everything down to the last teaspoon, quit my job with no real plan and went to live on an island for a year.
The 3 stages of burnout
Now, at this point, it’s probably worth figuring what stage you’re at:
- Stage 1 – I hate my job but I can still see some light. Other people have it worse off, it could be worse! I’ll just drink some anti-depressants and man up.
- Stage 2 – I’m about to pick this pc screen up and chuck it out of the 3rd floor window
- Stage 3 – Fuck it, I’m out!
I myself was at stage 3, and if you’re there, stop reading this article right now, go to the airport, book a flight and just leave. There’s no fixing it. You, have so much motivation and energy built up in you to no longer be in this situation, it will almost certainly propel you straight into the next phase of your life!
For the rest of you, stuck somewhere between phases 1 & 3, there is a more sensible way to go about this.
Your current setup
I guess the first thing you need to think about is if you are alone, with a partner or married with a family. Each of these scenarios will have its own complications, for instance, if you’re alone, you are alone. There’s no one to go through this with you and hold you on a dim night. You’re it. You have to figure it all out on your own, and this is more than a little scary.
If you have a partner, it’s best to see where they are at in their corporate journey, and this could lead down a lot of different paths. For instance, they might be perfectly happy in their corporate life, at which point you have to look at your relationship and ask yourself the hard question – is that person worth sticking around for and eating all of this cow manure? If not, then go your separate ways and join the singles crowd (I’m simplifying it, I know, but you get the idea). Or perhaps your partner is fully on-board with you and also ready to quit. That will make it a bit easier as you don’t have to go through this alone.
If you have a family, (and believe me, there are a ton of people like you that have families and quit the rat race) it’s a bit easier on the one hand as a supportive environment will help, and a lot more challenging on the other. The biggest thing here is that you have to set yourself up financially so that you can go without needing any income for at least a year before you make your move. There’s no point in running out of cash 3-4 months in and staring to stress about money before you’ve even had any chance to recover.
The Exit Plan Step 1 – Choose your destination
Once you’ve figured out your personal setup, it’s time to start planning, and this is where it gets fun. Where will you go? What will you do? Perhaps you’ve gone on regular trips to a small town in Italy that you love, or you’ve spent family holidays in the Greek islands as a child. Maybe you have this dream of living in Bali, or if you’re addicted to Thailand like me, consider going to stay on one of their many fantastic islands. Choosing a place you’re a little familiar with will help with the transition. And make no mistake, this is a major life transition!
Wherever you decide to go, make sure it’s somewhere where you can get some context on the world. I’ve found overseas trips always do this for me, you always come back home with a new perspective on life, and that will be very important for your mental health at this point. In addition to this, planning your escape will fuel excitement, which will give you the energy to see this through!
The Exit Plan Step 2 – Money
Depending where in the world you currently are and what your personal bank balance looks like, you might or might not have to work if you are a little savvy with your money.
When I got to Thailand on my escape journey, I met a family of French expats who I’ve since become close friends with. They were in their late 30’s at the time, so had built up a bit of a nest-egg and didn’t need to work. They had travelled all over the world to the popular expat destinations while planning their escape and decided a small island in Thailand would give them the lifestyle they were looking for, as well as a great exchange rate! At the time, coming from Europe, I believe they got something like 40-to1. The €2,500 per month they get from renting out a small investment apartment they own in Paris means they can live a very comfortable lifestyle in Thailand. And that is a perfectly fine plan.
If, like me at the time, you are in your 20’s, don’t have a nest-egg and come from a country with an exchange rate of 2-to-1, you need a plan! What plan, might you ask? It’s time to start your side-hustle!
Be comfortable knowing, no matter where your journey starts, there is a way!
The Exit Plan Step 3 – Sell sell sell!
Now if you’re emotionally ready, this part will just be the natural next step. But don’t worry if it’s a little scary, that’s just part of it. And remember, it’s all just things, you can always get it back again.
Most of us will have cars and furniture and probably even a house with a mortgage, and that’s alright. At this point, you want to get rid of all of your debt and their associated assets. Sell your fancy car, sell the fancy couches and pay off the credit cards, sell the boat, the bikes, the lot! Get yourself into a space where you literally have almost nothing left. And what you can’t sell, donate! I promise you, it will be the most liberating feeling! Not owning any worldly possessions, being absolutely free from stuff, must be one of the highest highs you can feel. It is SO good for you!
In my case, having sold everything movable, I couldn’t get a buyer for my house in time so I rented it out and the tenants covered the mortgage, but your situation will be unique, so handle it as you best see fit. Don’t let it weigh on you, property is always an investment that appreciates in value, so either way, sell it or keep it, it doesn’t matter, so long as it doesn’t drain you financially every month.
The Exit Plan Step 4 – Quit!
Nothing to it, just saying goodbye to a career you’ve probably spent years and years of your life building. Lol. Okay, it might be a little harder than you thought. Or perhaps your boss sucks and it’s really great! Either way, just do it! Quit you job. No sabbatical, no 3-month holiday. Quit. You’ll thank me later!
That’s all, folks!
Sitting there in your office chair, this might seem impossible at first. But don’t be dissuaded, with a bit of a plan, it is very possible. Real people with a whole life do this on a daily basis, and you should take comfort knowing that you are not alone in this journey. As soon as you get out there, you will realize that the fear of leaving was all in your head, and that there is an entire world out there, full of adventure and life, and you can be a part of it too. All you have to do, is make the decision.
So…, will you stay? Or will you go?