I am experiencing severe work burn out. Help!

[Scout1071]

I need to make a job change. Soon. I've been in this position for the last 7 years and I've been in the biz for the last 12 years. I'm so burnt that I cannot even make myself go in. I "work" from home and I use that term loosely.

The problem is that I'm so fried that I don't feel like I can go straight into a new job. I really feel like I need a few months off to sort myself out, investigate career change and possibly even locale change. As you can imagine, I can't necessarily afford to do that without getting fired so that I can collect unemployment while I make the change.

Any advice? Things are at a breaking point as I type.

[ThomCat]

1. If you find a good answer, please share.

I think a bunch of us are in similar situations.

[Scout1071]

4. Will do. I want to figure out how to get paid for messing around

on DU all day!

[LaurenG]

2. Start looking for a new job now

once you find one see if you can start in 4-6 weeks. Give your 2 week notice and take the rest of the time to sort out what needs sorting. That way you won't be hurting yourself while you take a break.

[Scout1071]

3. That sounds good. I honestly don't think I could start somewhere

right away. I'd be a short-lived employee I'm afraid.

Thanks!

PS - I am looking. It's just that my industry is so specific that I would really need to change the city I live in to stay within the industry. I'm not sure that I a) want to move b) want to stay in this industry and c) how to change my whole career at this point in my life!