I Quit My Job Without A Safety Net. Now what?

Job stability is important, but so is mental health. What does one do when our mental health is in jeopardy but you need the income?

Photo by nikko macaspac on Unsplash

So, I did it. I prioritized my own mental health over the safety and ease of a full time job that was basically killing me. I’d spent almost two years working through the mental recovery that is necessary after years of torturous living in poverty, homelessness, and severe food insecurity. There is no way I’m going to allow my mental health to go to where I was two years ago.

So, how do I survive with the serious cut in funds that will happen in about a week? Lots and lots of work and strategic planning. I’ve worked out opportunities to babysit for friends with children, for former members of my class (all legal, yes I checked), and writing for Medium and my potential clients. I have a lot of work to do, but it’s super exciting to me that I’ll have the chance to jump out of the rat race and get going on my future.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m absolutely terrified. So many emotions are flooding through my system…worry, the sense of loss of all the children I’ve been a huge part of their lives, fear that we won’t make it, and so much more. As I still have a week where I’m desperately swimming to keep my…