So, I quit my job looking for a better life, but now I'm regretting it.

14 Comments

1. AnonymousNovember 10,2025 at 10:57AM UTC

   To have a good work-life balance, stay far away from teaching except for working as a substitute. That actually pays much better than it did the past, and unless you have a long-term position, you're not expected to grade papers, plan lessons, or attend meetings; when the bell rings and the kids run out the door, so do you! If that's not something you want to do, look for employers with reasonable work hours (avoid restaurants and stores that open early/close late.) Look for jobs with 9-5 or 8-4 schedules, then do your best during the work day and forget about it until you're back at work.

2. WandaNovember 10,2025 at 1:29PM UTC

   Be honest when deciding what's important to you as it pertains to your career and your personal life and search wisely.

3. AyianNovember 10,2025 at 3:06PM UTC

   Start your own business and charge effectively for your services so that you can dictate how much you have to work to maintain your quality of life.

4. AnonymousNovember 13,2025 at 1:32PM UTC

   As the daughter of a business owner and my best friend is a business owner...you do get to work half days when you own a business you just get to pick which 12 hours you work. My Dad said this to me, and it always stuck with me. Something to keep in mind.

5. AnonymousNovember 10,2025 at 5:35PM UTC

   I recently found a career coach who focuses on work life balance. She is the only one I’ve found that doesn’t focus primarily on career and the work race. If you want to contact her, let me know.

6. AnonymousNovember 11,2025 at 5:01PM UTC

   No need to regret the decision. But it's a very tough market right now so stay strong and vigilant.

7. AnonymousNovember 11,2025 at 5:42PM UTC

   The pay definitely varies and you need the money if you teach in NY because rent and general cost of living is so high. Most teachers work MANY unpaid hours just to stay afloat with all the grading, data, phone calls, lesson planning, etc. that they are expected to keep up with. I am a teacher who spends at least two hours each weekday and at least ten hours over the weekend trying to keep up with all I'm required to do. Granted, I teach English; the PE teacher likely has less work to do outside of work hours, but we all spend significant unpaid hours working. That is why I don't recommend teaching if work/life balance is the OP's top priority. It's rewarding to help kids, but it's a hard job with long hours.

8. AnonymousNovember 11,2025 at 9:20PM UTC

   So sorry for the loss of your sister. Try again to get back to your old company; explain to them that you had to process your grief but now you are ready to come back to work. Keep trying and keep applying until you get something.

9. Tami CannizzaroNovember 12,2025 at 4:27PM UTC

   I've long held the belief that "work-life balance" is a myth. For this to be true, that would mean work and life has to be equal to begin with, and one side can easily "cede" to the other. That's rarely, if ever, the case. Yet there is a way to work hard and still find time to have hobbies, go to the gym, spend time with loved ones, etc. Try not to think of it as "equal time" though, as work and personal will not be 100% even. I've thought of it more in terms of flexibility. And I came to understand that during different phases of our lives we are able to devote more time to work, then at other times we may want to devote more time to home. This can happen even during different times of the year: when work is busy, home/personal life may have to flex. Then work will slow and personal life comes back into focus. When I was starting my career, I had more time to pour into my work. As my life and career have progressed, I've adapted to help care for aging parents. Flexibility; not balance. Think about what you want long-term when it comes to career, home life, etc. Then look at what it takes to achieve those goals. There are definitely 9-5 jobs available that may provide a set amount of free time, yet they don't pay as well as others and may not help you achieve your long-term goals.

10. AnonymousNovember 12,2025 at 6:42PM UTC

    Yes, dwell on the past!

11. AnonymousNovember 13,2025 at 5:40PM UTC

    If you have a time machine, let her borrow it. If not, she cannot change the past, so she may as well do the best she can with her current situation. We all have made mistakes at some point; making her feel bad doesn't help. Have some compassion; she lost her sister.

12. AnonymousNovember 13,2025 at 5:41PM UTC

    They probably are. Any employer that claims to be a family is usually a dysfunctional family to say the least, and banks can be brutal.

13. Kerry RoperNovember 13,2025 at 7:04PM UTC

    Thats a bot!

14. AnonymousNovember 14,2025 at 1:51AM UTC

    Wow