Ask Lemmy

Dude, if you're happy and can survive, you made the right move.

Working in IT has me questioning my entire existence. In many ways, I envy you.

I used to have a white-collar job and now work in retail. You know what I love? 1) If there’s a problem, it’s my manager’s problem. I am entry level by choice, and have as little responsibility as possible. 2) Work stays at work. The second I clock out, I stop giving a damn about that place. 3) On the rare occasion I get a call from work, I always screen it. If some jackass didn’t show up, and I don’t feel like going in, I simply don’t call back.

I like my job. I like the people I work with. I’m pleasant and helpful to our customers. Maintaining boundaries helps keep it that way.

Wayyyy ahead of you pal. Got into tech when I was a wee little lad, my dad would bring home computers from the work dumpster, hand me a screw driver and let me go at it.

When I was 11 I built a computer with my dad, and continued learning about tech and computers. I worked after school in middle school to help out the librarian, who had the job of looking after the laptops and computer carts.

Went into highschool and got into a Comptia± honors class, as the only freshman and the only person to get As in that class.

Fresh after highschool and 6 months into a computer job, I quit at the age of 19. Instead I went to pursue woodworking.

I had a great boss, and I was great at my job, but I was in computer repair. A dying industry and I was getting paid minimum wage, despite a lot of skill (microsoldering, logic board rework, macbook repair, liquid damage repair, etc).

Skill and knowledge that I studied for a decade, and I was being paid minimum wage. There were probably better opportunities but I wasn't interested anymore. The environment was just far too corporate, so I decided to start building my own business, woodworking, selling tools, and help teach.

Ive gone to tool events, tuned up a lot of tools, and given presentations and its 10x more fulfilling. Havent made a lot from the "business" but I'm happy.

Its good to destress sometimes

That’s literally the plot of Stardew Valley. Leaving the world of digital work in favor of something more tangible is a dream come true for many of us.

Theres a reason behind the "retire and herd goats" joke for IT. Burnout sucks. Sounds like your needs will be met financially, enjoy it!

17 years in tech. Made it to director level. Decided I hated ladder climbing. Transitioned to software engineering full time and spent the last 5 years doing that. The work life balance was a lot better but the corporate BS was not. I've decided corporate jobs may not be for me.

Currently working on a software project of my own. If that works out, great. If not, I may get out of the business instead of going to another corporate job. I've got enough experience to do just about anything I want to but I honestly don't know what that would be.

The best job to have is the one that you don't need. I was fortunate enough to retire early from a high stress job. I didn't hate the job. I just had enough. After 3 months I was bored. Got myself a part time job. And as was mentioned in an earlier comment, if the place burns down I couldn't care less. I'm always on time, never sick, and good at my mickey mouse part time job because it's a joke compared to the real job I had. It is fascinating to observe my fellow workers who are all very nice people because for them THIS is their career and for me it's just a throw away to get out of the house.

Good on ya mate. I retired, at least temporarily, from almost 30 years in IT today. I may do some part time consulting to pay for vacations in the future, but my FT days are over. I hope you enjoy being away from it as much as I will.

you remind me of me in some ways. I can't do what you do though as my wife has a lot of medical issues and its all on my pay. I must find something.

I went the other way around, I was a central heating engineer and plumber in my youth and even if I liked the work a lot I hated the winters, it's so cold in a building without heating. So I switched to factory work, the payment was better and it was always a comfortable temperature, but it was so extramly boring. And I just couldn't do it and resigned after 3 years.

So I switched careers again, went to school and eventually to university at 30 years old and then gör a job in a small startup working a lot with open source and the colleagues were all very smart and nice. The startup got bought up by a big company and it got a bit worse, but more stable when it comes to projects. After 10 years I still work at this company even though I moved to a different continent, etc.

I have been working from home since covid and people trust me to do my job so they don't bother me, it's very nice.

I went from being a highly technical CIO/CTO for most of my career, to becoming a bartender. I adore it, couldn’t be happier, and now am studying to become a sommelier. I still do occasional cybersecurity and tech compliance consulting when a project piques my interest, but very rarely. I absolutely loved IT, but getting out when I did (~2 years ago) saved my sanity and health. Now I do a lot of home automation programming for myself to scratch the tech itch. Best of luck!

I'm at a stage where I wouldn't mind a job that kills some of my love for something, like IT which I do have a passion for, in order to knock out the rest of my bills and build a safety net. One year at that rate would dismantle the remaining bills plaguing me.

I had what should have been my dream job. I absolutely hated it and everything about it broke me and made me suicidally depressed. I took a lower paying job without all the responsibilities and long commute. I was surprisingly happy there.

For a while, I felt bad that I’d “demoted” myself. Then I reshaped my thinking to the following: I don’t have to prove anything to anyone. I can do whatever the hell I want. Never cared again.

You've got the right idea, that video is spot on. I quit software for "work" in 2010 and moved to a job working for myself (self directed) doing work that I felt mattered (purpose driven) and that was work that required constant self improvement, both mental and physical (mastery). I'm no longer behind a desk, I meet new people every day and I am much happier. I also write more software now than I ever did at "work," because I write software with the express intent of supporting my self-employment endeavors - and not for anybody else.

Thank you for sharing this! I was a software engineer for over 10 years and was let go with most of my department in June. I've been coasting on SUB payments, enjoying the temporary freedom, and learning sooo much about myself. I've been applying to similar jobs, but the longer I've been away from that world, the less I want to go back to it. So much of me wants to run to a job I always wanted growing up - a barista, and restart my photography business which I had to drop as it was too much to balance with a full-time job. I've been mentally stuck the last few months trying to figure out what I want to do... it's nice to read something from someone in a slightly similar situation who is also considering a completely different path. I wish you the best of luck on your new journey, and I hope you find happiness in whatever work you decide on!

"Heaven in hardware" has been my retirement goal for quite a while. Chase your dream!

83k?? I've been in IT for 2 years and I'm about making that much. Would more money help? Maybe job hop to a company that fits your vibe better?

As a religious studies researcher both sysadmin and hard labor give me joy because they’re solvable problems and working with my hands