Feeling stuck with professional decision.

[OceanSunset]

I've decided to take the plunge and join this community in the hopes that maybe someone out there deals with the same type of thing as me. I really do not have a bad life and in recent times I've entered a very happy space, but there is something that is holding me back and has been holding me back for almost 5 years.

The last five years I've been working from home and I feel sad due to lack of human interaction. I have all of these thoughts in my head that I'm doing a job and living a lifestyle that most people would love to be doing so I'm torn between this thought that is holding me back and wanting to progress forward and change my lifestyle for the better.

I don't feel like I have what it takes to actually be an employee again and to be a contributing member of a company because in my head I feel like I'm a loser working for somebody else.

I do not believe this to be true of other people - just me.

The work that I currently do being self employed is not a company or a business that I've created myself - I have no passion towards the work that I do. In recent times business has slowed down and I'm only working about 3 hours a day and getting a full-time wage. This really makes me feel down about myself and I'm scared for my work ethic or lack of, and I know that I'm better than this.

I have had great jobs in government etc prior to being self employed and I've been very happy in those jobs but I feel that because I have been living this lifestyle for almost 5 years, I'm not sure how to actually operate in the "real world".

I hate to admit that this is my problem because I do think that some people would think I am overly privileged to have this problem. I have struggled with this type of lifestyle for such a long time and I feel society is telling us these days to work for yourself and be self employed, which creates a battle in my head.

I don't know anybody else that works from home and I feel very much like the minority. I don't really feel like anyone in my social circle can truly understand the struggles of working from home.

I can't and I don't want to keep spending so much time on my own - it's not healthy and this isn't a job that I can go out and do something else for a couple of hours; I need to be here keeping an eye on things at home.

I apologise if this post comes across shallow, it is a big step for me to put this out there into the world and I hope it is received well.

[Croix]

Dear OceanSunset~

No way is this shallow, it is a big thing in your life, and I'd expect many others have been in similar situations, I'm glad oyu posted.

Working from home has many disadvantages, the worst for most people being lack of interaction with others - even interactions htat are not always good. Most humans need other humans.

This is the one side, on the other if you really enjoy the work it makes for a sort of balance and the price you pay may be worth it. Sadly you say you have no passion for what you do and do not even have the distraction and satisfaction of working flat out.

I'm sure you must have thought about this a lot, what alternatives do you have? Obviously you need money to live, throwing up a job without something to go to is often a bad move, and job seeking can be a very corrosive activity.

Is there any middle ground that lets you keep on working but allows for social interaction or alternate activity in your life too?

I can't say I really agree that society tells us to be self-employed or work for yourself. In fact many of the jobs that hold society together have to be part of an organization. There is satisfaction and accomplishment and worth in just about all areas.

You do sound rather isolated, is there anyone in you life that you can talk this over with ?

Croix