5 Steps for Divorcing the Corporate World

Wake up early. Go to work. Sit for 10 hours. Go home. Eat dinner. Go to sleep. Repeat. Sound familiar?

Up until a year ago, I was married to my corporate job and this was my life. I was always thankful to work at a large hedge fund, make good money and work with amazing people. But, when I started not feeling like myself, I knew something had to change. I was beyond fatigued and beginning to have random, unexplainable symptoms. Basically, Wall Street had kicked my butt.

My body was telling me I needed a break and, in October 2011, I finally listened. I took some time off of work and left for the best weather in the country, San Diego, CA. I was craving the sun, a slower pace of life and an answer to feeling like total crapola. During my two months out West, I did a bunch of research to solve my mysterious ailments. My findings lead me to revisiting yoga and improving my diet, including the elimination of processed food. I decided to make a serious commitment to these two things. And, within a few months, combining regular yoga and clean eating helped rebuild my system.

This impressive transformation sparked my interest in health and wellness and I wanted to learn way more. So, when I got back to New York, I signed up for the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. I’m now a Holistic Health Coach, pursuing my dreams instead of those addicting PowerPoint slides.

If your relationship with your body has taken a turn for the worse, you may need to prioritize yourself again and say peace out to the corporate rat race. Here are some steps for divorcing the super demanding corporate world.

1) Listen to your body

The most important thing we can do for ourselves is to be in tune with our bodies. Being mindful of our mental and physical status can prevent stress, chronic illness, depression, etc. If you feel more run down than normal, it may mean that you need to slow your life down a bit. Pay attention to your body. It knows you better than anyone.

2) Get over your fear

It’s hard, I know. But, fear is what holds most people back from making changes and pursuing their dreams. So, if you can let go of your fear, you can push through to the other side. Believe in yourself and the fear will slowly subside.

3) Get support

Open up to people who you trust. Having a solid support system is key to any big life change. Close family and friends will help you stay strong and provide a much needed sounding board during the transition. So, don’t be afraid to lean on them.

4) Find your passion

If you haven’t already, think about what you want to do now. Maybe you can turn that weekend hobby or something you loved as a kid into a profession. You have a second chance to decide what you want to be when you grow up. So, make it count.

5) Take the leap

Figure out the best strategy for parting ways with your current employer. If you are having health issues, perhaps you can work out some sort of arrangement. Maybe you can work part-time while you start your new health coaching or jewelry biz. Once you make the change, you will feel free and your body will thank you tremendously.

Since I left my corporate job, every day is new and exciting. I make my own schedule, which means I can prioritize my mind and body on a daily basis. Yes, the money is tight, but I believe it will come if I stay motivated, energized and persistent. More importantly though, I’m mentally and physically healthy.

There is such a thing as burning out. When that happens, you feel crappy and, therefore, lose that spark you once had for your job. If you are heading down that path, it may be time to part ways with your daily routine. It may be time to divorce the corporate world and marry yourself again.