My voice cracked a little as I said it and the swirling galaxy of anxiety expanded in my chest. “I’m going to resign” I breathed out.

 

First relief, and then a series of events ensued that would change my life completely.

 

Now, seeing as you’ve clicked onto this post I’m sure you’ve visualised a similar moment in your head.

 

If you’ve reached boredom point in your job, career, or life in general let me convince you to take that giant scary step and say those words.

 

Here are 13 reasons why you should quit your job… 

 

1. Because you only live twice

 

“You only have two lives. The second one starts when you realise you only have one”

 

Absolute fire from Confucios. The final nail in the coffin must have been the Northern Line at rush hour for him.

 

So If you did only have a few years left to live what would you do? 

 

Spend it going from your ridiculously expensive flat that you barely spend any time in because most of it is spent slaving away in a soul-sucking job and that would forget about you after a month even if you did leave? Or explore the world, feel alive, and start your second life.

 

Extreme. Maybe. But it’s probably not too far from the truth for you. And you are the person I’m writing this to.

 

This realisation will come soon or later.

 

2. Because you’ll get comfortable with being uncomfortable

 

I sat down in the corner of Nando’s in Gatwick Airport. Ordered a butterfly chicken breast, med salad, and Peri-Peri fries. The swirling galaxy of anxiety was present, but not affecting my appetite for a cheeky Nandos.

 

Now, I welcome this feeling. Because it means I’m either teetering on the edge of my galaxy of comfort or thrusting into a new one.

 

Get comfortable with being uncomfortable.

 

That’s what they tell you nowadays. You don’t have much choice when you’re shouldering 2 overpacked backpacks and wandering around a foreign city (quite literally) in a continent that’s depicted as the wild west by our media. It’s not. But, how’s that for an uncomfortable situation. 

 

There’ll be plenty more…

 

I’m an introvert. Being forced to make small-talk in hostel after hostel is sadistic for me. But, you do. And you make friends with people. Sometimes it’s for a day. And sometimes you’re meeting up in Buenos Aires a month later, or in Colombia 2 years later. 

 

Feel weird eating alone? You’ll get used to it. Embarrassed talking another language? You’ll have to. Don’t think you can get used to sleeping in a room of 12 snoring strangers? No, me neither.

 

3. Because you’ll become truly confident 

 

Doing shit alone pays off. It might be subtle. And your friends and family may not even notice the change. But in my opinion, true confidence isn’t something you show off. That’s fake confidence. An act. I’m talking about quietly knowing you can handle the situation that’s in front of you despite the discomfort.

 

You’ll be able to sit in a cafe without using your phone as a security blanket. You may even ask that cute guy or girl out you made eye-contact with over your red velvet cake…

 

(I’d never have done that before)

 

4. Because you’ll learn what you don’t want from your life

 

I spent a large amount of my life thinking about what I want. It wasn’t until I was in my mid-20’s that I started looking at what I didn’t want from life. Now, I can’t put it anywhere near as eloquently as Ella Luna author of the crossroads of should and must. So I encourage you to read her book (I’ve read it 4 times now and each time it speaks to me in a different way).

 

Anyway, my biggest revelation was when I arrived back in England after 8 months in South America. After lying to myself for a few weeks anyway …“that’s it, the travel bug is out of my system” I’d say.

 

Maybe for some after a long trip like that, it is. But my heart knew it wasn’t. It had tasted freedom.

 

From then on, I knew I didn’t want to work in London again. So, naturally, I went back to my previous job in London.

5. Because you’ll reinvent yourself (part 1)

 

One night in Buenos Aires I ended up having dinner with a fellow Brit and French girl, Sophie. It turned out Sophie was a marketing manager for J&J in the UK. My biggest client. I asked, “do you know Zappi?” She replied “YES!”. I asked “do you know Gareth & Charlotte?” She replied, “OF COURSE!”. Small world, eh?

 

Anyway, dear Sophie now lives in Chile. Doing what exactly. I don’t know. But it’s certainly not related to marketing baby products to mums of 0-3 years old…

 

In my case, I’ve decided to start a blog (after starting a new Insta, YouTube, and TikTok page). In fact, this is my first blog post. It may not lead anywhere, but I’m reinventing myself until it feels right.

 

Does what you’re doing feel right?

 

6. Because you’ll reinvent yourself (part 2)

 

How often have you used: “I’m not that kind of person” or “it’s not really me” as an excuse?

 

Well, when you’re traveling you have a blank slate. Those labels you’ve reinforced about yourself because you wouldn’t want to break the perception friends or colleagues have of you. They’re gone. You can become who YOU want to be. And who YOU really are.

 

Want to be a “man-slut” or “hoe”? Go for it (safely)

 

Try dancing Salsa or Tango? There’s no better place in the world.

 

Get a tattoo?  Do it! (I now have 5)

 

7. Because you’ll create memories that hit different 

 

Travel memories hit different. Sure, that bottomless brunch for your mates birthday was good fun. The mimosa hazed memory of it anyway…or your beach holiday tinged with the impending dread of having to go back to work by the 2nd week will be precious.

 

But, watching the sunrise over Machu Picchu after 5 days of hiking through the Andes. Eating vomit fruit in a Finca in a picturesque Colombian town. Or cycling down the tallest Mountain in Ecuador conjure up emotions that will make you realise how lucky you are to even have the option to travel.

 

8. Because you’ll meet people from walks of life you’d never normally meet

 

One morning in Ecuador, I arrived in a hostel greeted by a gentleman in his 50’s tapping away on his iPad. Later that day we walked along the beach together to grab lunch. He was a war veteran from Newcastle. I’d never have guessed it. He told me about how he’d struggled to return to civilian life and despite numerous attempts to hold down a job, he decided to sell everything and travel the world. I caught him 20 months in. I love the fact we didn’t exchange numbers, Instagram, Facebook, anything. We just shared that moment.

 

You’ll find the average age traveler in South American hostels seems to be higher than in Asia. And you’ll often hear similar backgrounds. Usually citing boredom as the impetus for change. And never a regret in sight.

 

9. Because you’ll have a reason to learn something new (if you want to)

 

I’m sure you can guess where this is going…You’ll never have a better opportunity to learn Spanish. In fact, I’d suggest taking classes before you leave. And also enrolling in a Spanish course in your first destination.

 

I spent one week in Sucre in Bolivia. Three hours in the classroom each day. And home staying with my now second family. We’d sit down in the evening to watch horror movies with my second mum Marlene and her two charming young daughters. It was as special as climbing any mountain.

 

Now, It doesn’t have to be Spanish… 

 

Want to give being a YouTuber a crack? Travel photography? Or finally, starting that blog?

 

Time & headspace is now on your side. Take advantage of it. Or don’t. Your experience traveling is yours, don’t feel pressured to make it into a side hustle or force things. You’ll only end up feeling anxious for what the future holds by the last month. Trust me…

 

10. Because you’ll see landscapes that make you feel something strange

 

Ever seen a beautiful sunset, taken a photo, and it looks bang average? Like, you wouldn’t even put it on your Insta story it’s that bad… Somethings are only meant to be experienced in that specific moment. It’s impossible to put into words what you’ll see.

 

But when you watch the sunrise over Macchu Picchu, the sun drop below the horizon in Santa Marta, or the epic storms on the way to the end of the world along Ruta 3 in Argentina. You’ll feel something. I’m feeling it again right now as I type this.

 

You’ll know your role in this universe.

 

11. Because you’re not getting any younger

 

If not now, when? I’m not talking about telling your boss to stick it. I’m talking about making that decision in your mind to change. And then committing to a date. Buy the damn ticket! (I pushed mine back a month so don’t worry if you need to. Just do it!).

 

How much more of your life will you waste on Insta or Hineg in the toilet cubicle at work?

 

12. Because every life should have at least one extraordinary chapter

 

That quote stuck with me (I can’t find who said it).

 

The chapter length and number of chapters is up to you. Now, you may not even have to quit your job completely. If you work for a company that values you they’ll understand. If anything, they’ll welcome back someone who has grown due to the 11 reasons that precede this one.

 

It then comes down to whether you want another extraordinary chapter…

 

13. Because you won’t regret it

 

This.

 

re·gret

/rəˈɡret/

 

verb

1. feel sad, repentant, or disappointed over (something that has happened or been done, especially a loss or missed opportunity).

 

I’m not going to quote something cheesy about being on your death bed looking back at your life. Or a quote about missing every shot you don’t take. Instead, all I have to say is I’ve not met a single person who regrets traveling the world, experiencing life, and becoming a more rounded person.

 

Yet, I’m sure there are some people who wished they’d taken advantage of those younger years. Hiking 5 days through the Andes to reach Macchu Picchu at dawn would be a hell of a lot easier!

 

Oh, fuck it! I’m a sucker for a good quote…

 

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails.” Mark Twain

 

(Couldn’t help myself, sorry)

 

En fin.

 

Now, I know all of this may sound farfetched to you. Or the thought of packing it all in seems unrealistic. And for most people, the perfect “fuck you, I’m off” scenario doesn’t exist. It didn’t for me either. Like every great escape, you need a plan.

 

So stay tuned…

 

Before long I hope to share my step-by-step quit your job escape plan for lazy but not THAT lazy people.