Have you started looking for a new job?

Sounds like this job isn't for you. And that's okay! A lot of people stay in jobs they hate, but honestly I don't know how they're doing anyone any favors. Find something you enjoy, don't stay where you're dreading every day.

I quit a freelance job last week. I was supposed to be there for 2 weeks but I was there for 3 months. I hated it desperately (especially the drive) but the people were nice and I needed the money. I was driving 2 hours every day, and with rainy season coming I told them that I just wasn't comfortable with driving my Miata on slick roads next to semi trucks every day. This was not a lie. Yet even as I was leaving, I was feeling visibly guilty... I just hate quitting jobs, even ones I hate, especially when I don't have a new job to go to yet. Feels irresponsible, but misery feels worse.

So Friday was my last day and then on Saturday my tooth absess happened. I figured I was being punished, because of course I have no income to pay a dentist. So my first day off on Monday was spent getting a $1500 root canal.

Thing is, life is funny. On Tuesday, while I was all drugged up, I received an e-mail from someone I interviewed with over a year ago asking about my availability for a project. She came over today and now I'm booked for the next 2 weeks at a much higher rate than that sucky job would've ever paid me.

Moral of the babbled story... never stay in a situation that makes you miserable. If you follow your heart and trust your instincts, things will work out somehow. Sometimes when you least expect it. The key is just to keep working and not give up on your goals. Like Thomas Jefferson said, "I’m a great believer in luck... the harder I work, the more I have of it."

By the way, I do think you should find a job before you quit this one though. I just got super lucky, really.

I started yesterday. I know it's awful to quit without having something lined up. At the same time, I'm just not happy. The SO, who is the major 'bread winner' has been asking me to quit for a couple of months - because he can see how unhappy I am. The thought of him supporting me while I find something is both comforting and disturbing. I don't want to be supported... I want to do the supporting. I think that in itself is enough to make sure I don't just sit around if I quit.

i don't like leaving anyone in the lurch. i've never been a leave at lunch never to return person.
But if it isn't a dire necessity to stay, i say go.
Figure out what you want to do or at least take a good look around and take a good wade in the new and unfamiliar. Sounds like you're lucky to have the opportunity to do it.
i don't know that snake handling is ever gonna be lucrative.
Anything else catch your fancy?
Let's brainstorm.

So snake handler is kinda my dream job right now. But anything really with animals would be cool. The vet clinic down the street is looking for an assistant / receptionist. It seems that everyone and their mother is looking for a dog walker. Animals + exercise! The links from my recent AskMe were good, but require degrees, which I do not have.

I miss working with my hands. I'd love to go back to a calibration lab. That's right, I used to fix industrial tools for a living.

i don't think there is a shortage of animal jobs as long as you're allergy free and willing to tend to deal with the business end of an animal.
Check on the lab stuff, maybe you can find part time things so you can have both hands on work and animal time.

The part-time thing is something that really appeals to me about the dog-walking thing. It could be a short term (6 month?) commitment if needed, and I can have some time to look for something else/have another job/take some classes.

Off to work now. *sigh*

Yes, do not stay in a job that sucks your soul. No job is worth that if you have options.

Pet sitting/dog walking is a great business. However, you have to set limits to the demands of customers. And, busy times are at holidays, so think of that too. Get yourself "bonded" so you are seen as responsible since you're going into people's homes. Within no time I bet you would be busy. If you don't like it, you can use time during the day to look for something else.

But, yes, do get something going before you quit your current position. Just think - even the plan to move forward is itself liberating!

I've always found difficult situations easier to deal with if I had a known end date. Give yourself three months, or six, or whatever seems a reasonable amount of time to find something else. Save as much money as you can during that time "just in case." I bet if you know you're leaving on such-and-such a date, come hell or high water, the job will be much more tolerable.

Yeh, YG44, if the SO can float some expenses, line up a part-time gig (dogwalking, dog-grooming, whatever), so you can contribute while you look around.

I like my work, but have yet to find an office that doesn't make me want to smash things. I don't know what I'm going to do.

...I still dread getting up and going every day.

That's (beyond) a sure sign you need a career change. It's one of the things that synched it for me.

I'd so much rather be working with animals than people and their money.

Animals can be tough too. I nearly passed out yesterday observing a simple feline OVH--a little kitty being spayed. Embarrassing as hell! Me = Cold sweat, dizzy, pale. Not sure why. I've seen much worse.

And I probably dodged a bullet, missing out on a recent shelter job. Shelter workers average eight months before burnout.

Good luck! You'll be fine in the end.

CONGRATULATIONS on making a big life realization and starting to look for your true niche in life!

Your life lasts all your life, you know. All of this lifetime, anyway.

Ooh, a shelter. I don't know why, but I hadn't thought of that before.

Thanks for the encouragement, guys. You're all great.

You know what, crush-onastick? We could start our own snake handling/[instert your dream job here] office. What do you think?

Yeah, if there is no chance of things getting better where you are now, put out some applications this week at the vet, other vets, shelters, dog walking services, etc. and then give your two week notice. By the time your notice is up, you'll likely have another job all lined up.

And if you would support your SO while he got out of something that was making him miserable and got into something that was making him happy without thinking twice about it, then why should you be unwilling to take the same offer?

You can also train to become a groomer (my first job at 14 was as a dog washer* at a grooming shop) or do they have one of those dog daycare places where you live? Those are very big over here. Maybe you could apply to help at one of those (or at a vet or local shelter as mentioned before).

*Just warning you in advance though... even simple little jobs like being a dog washer are NOT all fun. Ya gotta do some gross stuff. You just don't have any choice.