Yesterday I handed in my “three weeks notice” at my job (in Norway it is actually three months, but the agency is short of money so they let me go earlier). Today I signed the contract at my new job.
I’m going from a job in the central health administration, being the one in charge nationally in my field (a minor field) to working in the city where I live. Several steps down on the “career ladder” and I also took a small cut in my salary.
But I’m happy!
This means that I don’t have to get on the bus at 06.00 to get to work by 08.00, work, get on the bus at 16.30 to be home at 18.10.
This means that I only have 3 km to work. It means I can actually run with my daughter (she on her bike) to school and then to work. It means that I get to see my family a little more while the girls are still young. It means that I can go biking after work. Even in the spring and autumn. It means that I can join the Master swimmers team here. It means that my wife don’t have to deliver and pick up the girls at school everyday.
How valuable is time with your family? How valubale is your own health and well being?
Be part of the solution not part of the problem.
The monster commute to the higher paying job is vastly over-rated. Cut out a few other things, take the lower paying job that allows you to spend more time with the family and do more of the things that you really like to do and overall you will be a happier and better person for it.
Many people complain that life is too hectic that there is no time for anything. Then I look at their lives and there is no wonder why they complain. They live in one place. One partner works way over in this place. The other partner works way over in that place. Kids go to school way over here. The whole day is spent traveling and coordinating traveling logistics! When queried, these people will say, “Well, we HAVE to do this” Who says you have to?
I don’t think you will regret it. 1.5 years ago I took about a 15% cut in pay to go from a stressful 60 hour (minimum, usually more) to a pretty straight 40 hour work week because after one 70+ hour week I started nodding off at my son’s second birthday party. This is after missing many nights with him because I’d leave before he woke up and get home after he was in bed. It was the best decision I’ve ever made.
PS. It was definatly a step or two down the corporate ladder but again, I only have once chance to watch my son grow up.
I made such a move a few years ago. Took a $10K cut in pay in exchange for 10 minute commute and more time for family. I was able to coach my son’s little league team and even train more. Hard to attach a value to that but for me it was worth way more than $10K a year.
