11 Tips for Escaping the Nine-to-Five Office Lifestyle

Posted by Ella on Oct 5, 2011 in Blog | 26 comments

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For some workers the nine-to-five office lifestyle provides the security, regularity and conformity that bring happiness and contentment to their lives. To many others, the nine-to-five job is grindingly boring, oppressing ambition and wearing away hopes for an independent career in the future. Escaping the office is a dream shared by a growing number of workers, and is becoming an increasingly realistic lifestyle option.

Developments in communication technology have made it possible for many employees to work from home, on a part or full-time basis, or to set up their own home-based business. Mobile technology means that businesses no longer need a permanent base; work can be conducted on the move and anywhere in the world where an internet connection is available.

Making the break from office work need not be technologically orientated; it could mean a move back to a simple life of more traditional pursuits. The freedom that comes with becoming your own boss can make it one of the most rewarding lifestyle choices you can possibly make.

Whatever your line of work or plans for the future, this post brings together 11 steps, general ideas to help you on the path towards escaping the nine-to-five office lifestyle.

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1. Weigh-up the pros and cons.

From time-to-time we all dream of living a different life. If you are beginning to seriously consider ditching the nine-to-five lifestyle and becoming your own boss, it’s time to weigh-up the pros and cons. Escaping the office and going freelance is a huge change in your life, and comes with a variety of advantages and potential disadvantages. These will vary greatly depending on your current circumstances and plans for the future.

What family and financial responsibilities do you have? What funds do you have available to support these changes? How will becoming freelance impact on your lifestyle and standard of living? What exactly will be the benefits of escaping the office? All these issues and more must be considered when thinking about making the break. Write lists, compare the pros and cons, and decide whether it’s a realistic possibility offering worthwhile benefits.

2. Change your self-image.

Once you’ve decided to escape the nine-to-five office life you need to adjust your self-image, decide how you want to shape your new lifestyle to make the most of this exciting new direction. Toiling away the weeks, months and years in a dull office job can make you feel that this is all the future holds, a complacency in the securities that this type of work offers while your more ambitious hopes for the future are slowly eroded away. Making the escape from the office is an opportunity to re-energise your hopes and desires, a chance to remould your self-image as you take control of the future.

When you tell your colleagues, friends and family that you are opting out of the nine-to-five, possibly rejecting a professional career, you may be met with looks of incredulity. People may think you are ‘dropping out’ and wasting your time. Having a clear image of yourself and your plans means you can answer any doubters with clarity and confidence, sure in the knowledge that you are making the best lifestyle choice.

3. Identify your skills.

When leaving your nine-to-five job you may have already decided exactly what you want to do instead, or it may be the case that your plans are a little vague. Whatever the case, unless you are very fortunate, you are going to need to find another source of income to support this new lifestyle. The first step to this is pinpointing your skills. Make a list of all your skills and knowledge, including everything relevant to your previous work experience. Also broaden the list to include other capabilities that may become important in your post-nine-to-five life. This could include anything such as cooking and gardening; creative and artistic skills; DIY and practical know-how, general knowledge, interests and past-times, anything that could be applied to generating income.

Once you have drawn up a comprehensive skills list, you can start to hone it down, identifying your key strengths and start planning for how you are going to make use of  these abilities. Which skills can be turned to profit and used anywhere outside the office? Which can be used to develop working from home, or applying to part-time work to supplement your income, free from the constraints of the office? Now you can start looking for employment to suit your new lifestyle.

4. Develop your CV, and your life story.

The CV you will now use to advertise your skills and experience is likely to be very different to the previous one, which you used to find work in the office, the world from which you are escaping. Your new CV should have a complete makeover, highlighting the abilities that you consider more relevant to your new direction. Your CV can also detail the narrative of your career change, showing how and why you rejected the office life for a brighter future. Having a prepared ‘career narrative’ is also helpful in day-to-day life: when people ask ‘what do you do?’ you can explain the reasons for a change of career, and this in itself can lead to new connections and work opportunities with people you meet.

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5. Learn a new skill

Breaking free from the nine-to-five routine is a great opportunity to learn new skills and further broaden your horizons. Learning something new also helps you focus on what you want to do with your life, the direction you want to take your career. Get some guidebooks on your field of interest, join evening classes and weekend workshops, or do a spot of voluntary work to gather precious experience. Activities like these will strengthen you skills set, leaving you in a better position when the time comes to escape from the office.

6. Research.

Thoroughly educating yourself on all the issues surrounding making the break from your nine-to-five job will further enhance the chances of success when you make the move. Devour as much information on the subjects related to your chosen career path, seek the advice of others who have made similar changes, and research all the resources, benefits and support mechanisms you may make use of during the transitional period.

7. Include your loved ones.

When considering making a big life-changing move such as ditching the nine-to-five, it is crucial that you involve the important people in your life. Consult closely with family and friends, ask advice and keep them informed with your plans. This is particularly important for those closest to you, such as partners and children. A husband or wife may be less than pleased when their partner announces they are jacking in the job and will be spending much more time at home or going off travelling, especially if they themselves are locked into nine-to-five work. Make sure that you clearly explain your reasons, how you will manage the transition, your plans for the future and the benefits you will all enjoy through this change.

8. Work out your finances.

Some of the most important considerations when escaping the nine-to-five lifestyle are the implications for your finances. A regular nine-to-five job, despite it’s drawbacks, will usually provide some degree of financial stability and regular income. Freed from the office you may experience financial insecurity and erratic income and outgoings.

Try to work out where your money is going to come from, particularly in the transitional phase; look at your accounts to work out how much you can afford for different areas of your life; and make sure you have some savings aside to cover big, essential expenses such as rent, mortgages and bills. It may be necessary to make some drastic cutbacks to balance your books, and you will have to get to grips with managing your own accountants department. But always remind yourself that this is part and parcel of the changes you are making, changes that offer both the responsibility and the freedom of becoming your own boss.

9. Network and build your community.

Free from the constraints of a nine-to-five job you are also responsible for building and maintaining you own network of work-related contacts. Make use of all the contacts in your address book, including friends and previous colleagues, to make useful connections for finding work that fits in with your new life.

Working on your own can be extremely rewarding but at times a little isolated, and you may miss the conversation, interaction and encouragement of workmates. It’s possible to build up a network of fellow freelancers and free spirits, keep in touch through social media and traditional meet-ups, and use this community to support your new working life.

10. Prepare for escape.

Now you’ve laid the foundations for your escape from the office, gathered all the relevant information and resources, and designed a plan for the future, it’s time to set a date to make your move. Having a deadline in your calendar provides a very powerful motivator for making the necessary preparations for the escape. Once you’ve set a departure date you can spend your remaining time at the office tying up the loose ends of your job and also making use of all the benefits, assets and support on offer. Finally, it’s time to give the boss your notice, thus committing to escape and setting the date in stone.

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 11. Make the break.

Escaping the nine-to-five office lifestyle can be a very daunting mission, but also one of the most rewarding and positive lifestyle changes you can make. It takes hard work and good planning to make a success of becoming your own master, but the freedom and sense of achievement can be enormous. And always remember, if you don’t try making the break you’ll never know what you are missing.