I am Simply Divine

[Simply Divine]

I'm relatively new to the Simple Living movement. I've been drooling over Tiny Houses for years but didn't think I could do much "simple living" until I started doing the YMOYL program. I am working the steps for my first month. I spend more than I realize, and it isn't just because it's just Christmas shopping -- although that was a factor. I am going to shop around on toiletries and self-care as that seems to be an easy way to cut down spending on the basics.

Beyond that, I'm thinking about moving up in my company, but I'm not sure what. I have worked there less than 3 years, but I have held a variety of positions. I think I would be good in Personnel as a Training Coordinator, and it just so happens that the current one is considering leaving the company. However, I am very concerned about the stress of the position and if it's worth the extra money -- it's not much more than what I'm doing now in sales. I currently work in the seasonal/garden center area of a major retailer, and it's very easy. I'm very self-directed and productive so I always get the job done. The main issue is that I get so bored. It's nice to be relaxed, though. It is much less stressful than previous positions I have held. The thing is that 1) I want to get into a higher pay grade and 2) I want to use my mind for 8 hours a day, and I haven't reached financial independence yet. If I did have FI, I would just spend time writing. I am working on a novel right now, but I am taking a break for a month because of the holiday season. My work doesn't require a lot of thinking, but it requires running around and lifting heavy boxes a lot of the time. It's good for my waistline, but it leaves me tired, as it is often an 8-hour workout. If I work in Personnel, I would be more stressed, but at least I would be thinking and sitting down a lot more. But I am not sure if the stress is worth the money, and I'd probably gain a little weight from being more sedentary.

I'm not sure what to do, and I'm looking for advice about what to do if/when the position becomes available again.

[Tussiemussies]

Hi Simply Divine. Welcome to the SLF. Am not sure what would be best for you in your situation, but just wanted to say hello!

[boss mare]

I'm relatively new to the Simple Living movement. I've been drooling over Tiny Houses for years but didn't think I could do much "simple living" until I started doing the YMOYL program. I am working the steps for my first month. I spend more than I realize, and it isn't just because it's just Christmas shopping -- although that was a factor. I am going to shop around on toiletries and self-care as that seems to be an easy way to cut down spending on the basics.

Beyond that, I'm thinking about moving up in my company, but I'm not sure what. I have worked there less than 3 years, but I have held a variety of positions. I think I would be good in Personnel as a Training Coordinator, and it just so happens that the current one is considering leaving the company. However, I am very concerned about the stress of the position and if it's worth the extra money -- it's not much more than what I'm doing now in sales. I currently work in the seasonal/garden center area of a major retailer, and it's very easy. I'm very self-directed and productive so I always get the job done. The main issue is that I get so bored. It's nice to be relaxed, though. It is much less stressful than previous positions I have held. The thing is that 1) I want to get into a higher pay grade and 2) I want to use my mind for 8 hours a day, and I haven't reached financial independence yet. If I did have FI, I would just spend time writing. I am working on a novel right now, but I am taking a break for a month because of the holiday season. My work doesn't require a lot of thinking, but it requires running around and lifting heavy boxes a lot of the time. It's good for my waistline, but it leaves me tired, as it is often an 8-hour workout. If I work in Personnel, I would be more stressed, but at least I would be thinking and sitting down a lot more. But I am not sure if the stress is worth the money, and I'd probably gain a little weight from being more sedentary.

I'm not sure what to do, and I'm looking for advice about what to do if/when the position becomes available again.

Welcome to the forum... cow-hi I have been MIA for awhile but I can tell you that from my own experience that to me the few extra $$ was ssssooo not worth the stress.... I worked at a non profit dental office that caters to children of low income families A lot of hours.... and not much $$$ I got an offer to work at a private practice with alot more $$$$ and less hours But the Dr has been over extended $$$ by upgrading his practice and has become a living hell for me and the rest of the staff because of the economy and not as many patients as before... I am now " on call " with that office and have been picking up more hours with less $$$ at the non profit office and have been a lot more happier. Your Mileage May Vary Though

[ApatheticNoMore]

I think I would be good in Personnel as a Training Coordinator, and it just so happens that the current one is considering leaving the company. However, I am very concerned about the stress of the position and if it's worth the extra money -- it's not much more than what I'm doing now in sales.

How do you know it will be stressful? I mean why do you think so, was the last Training Coordinator putting in overtime running around ragged with impossible demands or what? Is it a management position and you just think management is stressful in general? I definitely don't think management appeals to all personality types. Is it just because it's new, everything new is initially stressful but if that's the only stressful aspect of it, it will diminish to normal eventually.


I currently work in the seasonal/garden center area of a major retailer, and it's very easy. I'm very self-directed and productive so I always get the job done. The main issue is that I get so bored. It's nice to be relaxed, though. It is much less stressful than previous positions I have held. The thing is that 1) I want to get into a higher pay grade and 2) I want to use my mind for 8 hours a day, and I haven't reached financial independence yet.

Alternately you have time to use your mind by it not being consumed by your work 8 hours a day (of course hard physical labor might preclude this - as your mind gets totally consumed by the physical task). I think the ideal for being free to let your mind wander is light physical labor.


If I work in Personnel, I would be more stressed, but at least I would be thinking and sitting down a lot more. But I am not sure if the stress is worth the money, and I'd probably gain a little weight from being more sedentary.

and from the stress! :) Which is fattening itself, and you may have no physical way to discharge it immediately (yea sure you can go to the gym after work), and it will be more fattening if you are at all tempted to eat to deal with stress. Well, I just gained about 5 pounds from two nightmare weeks :\

[SteveinMN]

Welcome, Simply Divine! I have no career advice for you beyond what the other posters have mentioned. Just thought I would say 'hello'.

[fidgiegirl]

Welcome aboard!

I think it doesn't hurt to apply, and then you can find out more details and decide if you will accept or not. But by not applying you're closing the door to yourself without all the information.

[tetrimbath]

Another consideration is how long you can continue the physical aspects of the job. A friend just turned 40-ish and realized that she'll have to find another type of job within a few years. Where do you see yourself 5, 10, or 30 years from now? I hope you become Financially Independent, but what is sustainable until then? Physical labor that is low stress and where you are well suited may actually save you on health care. But, if physical labor wears you down, maybe you'll need to find another job - eventually. Don't rush, unless you need to. Something from outside the company may arrive too, true?

[gimmethesimplelife]

Hi and welcome to the forums. Rob

[Gardenarian]

Hi there! and welcome!

For the work situation I'd do the traditional 2-column Pros & Cons and see how it works out. My personal feeling is that working in Human Resources is pretty tough; I'd rather work with plants...but that's just me. Good luck!

[Simply Divine]

Welcome to the forum... cow-hi I have been MIA for awhile but I can tell you that from my own experience that to me the few extra $$ was ssssooo not worth the stress.... I worked at a non profit dental office that caters to children of low income families A lot of hours.... and not much $$$ I got an offer to work at a private practice with alot more $$$$ and less hours But the Dr has been over extended $$$ by upgrading his practice and has become a living hell for me and the rest of the staff because of the economy and not as many patients as before... I am now " on call " with that office and have been picking up more hours with less $$$ at the non profit office and have been a lot more happier. Your Mileage May Vary Though

I totally agree that an extra dollar or two isn't worth the stress -- or even an extra ten or twenty dollars. I value my health and expect to live a long time, so if I want to enjoy my "twilight years" I need to take care of myself today.

[Simply Divine]

How do you know it will be stressful? I mean why do you think so, was the last Training Coordinator putting in overtime running around ragged with impossible demands or what? Is it a management position and you just think management is stressful in general? I definitely don't think management appeals to all personality types. Is it just because it's new, everything new is initially stressful but if that's the only stressful aspect of it, it will diminish to normal eventually.



Alternately you have time to use your mind by it not being consumed by your work 8 hours a day (of course hard physical labor might preclude this - as your mind gets totally consumed by the physical task). I think the ideal for being free to let your mind wander is light physical labor.



and from the stress! Which is fattening itself, and you may have no physical way to discharge it immediately (yea sure you can go to the gym after work), and it will be more fattening if you are at all tempted to eat to deal with stress. Well, I just gained about 5 pounds from two nightmare weeks :\
I know it can be stressful because I had two informational interviews, one with someone who held the position until he started upper division classes at college, and the current one who likes her work but feels she is "pigeonholing" herself by working in HR. It's a lot of paperwork, a lot of policy and law to learn, and you cannot fall behind. However, the training coordinator's boss is reputed to be easy to work with, and you do get trained in a workshop the first week.

I don't mind light physical labor. I routinely lift boxes in the 15-25 pound range, and as I am not that strong I have suffered with some back pain. I have learned how to pick up boxes more safely, and yoga has increased my flexibility so I am not in as much pain as I used to be. That said, I don't expect to be in this position forever, judging by my family's tendency to have knee and hip replacements.

I actually lose weight when I am stressed, which is not as good as it sounds. If I am severely stressed during a long period of time, I start looking anorexic. A more sedentary job would require me to exercise after work a little more, but that wouldn't be a big deal as I have a stationary bicycle at home and can always take a walk around the block. I would be on my feet some of the time as I would lead new employee orientation classes once a week for a few hours. But most of the time I would be sharing an office as opposed to logging a few miles of walking every day like I am doing right now. If I take the job and feel I am getting too sedentary, I could buy a bicycle and ride to work and back, if necessary. It's 15 minutes one way between my house and work.

[Simply Divine]

Welcome aboard!

I think it doesn't hurt to apply, and then you can find out more details and decide if you will accept or not. But by not applying you're closing the door to yourself without all the information.
I have decided I am going to apply when I can, just to see what happens.

[Simply Divine]

Another consideration is how long you can continue the physical aspects of the job. A friend just turned 40-ish and realized that she'll have to find another type of job within a few years. Where do you see yourself 5, 10, or 30 years from now? I hope you become Financially Independent, but what is sustainable until then? Physical labor that is low stress and where you are well suited may actually save you on health care. But, if physical labor wears you down, maybe you'll need to find another job - eventually. Don't rush, unless you need to. Something from outside the company may arrive too, true?
The physical aspects of the job, such as dealing with the elements and having to lift heavy boxes, make me think I would not want to do this 20+ years from now. This is one of the reasons why a career in HR looks preferable. I don't plan to leave the company any time soon. I might get some master's degrees in HR and Business Administration so I could expand the career opportunities available, but that's more of a long-term plan for the next 10 years. If I get the degrees and learn I could go somewhere else that is a good expenditure of my life energy, I might go. But for the foreseeable future, I plan to stay with my current employer.

[Simply Divine]

Hi there! and welcome!

For the work situation I'd do the traditional 2-column Pros & Cons and see how it works out. My personal feeling is that working in Human Resources is pretty tough; I'd rather work with plants...but that's just me. Good luck!
Part of me would like to work with plants and such; part of me wants a nice middle-class career so I could finally make some decent money. The pros of going into HR are a solid career path, more money toward FI, meeting more people inside and outside the company, and sitting down! The cons are potentially more stress, becoming more sedentary overall, and putting more effort to avoid joining the rat race. It's easy to be frugal when broke and everyone around you is also frugal. I would probably run into more earn-and-spend people as I climbed the corporate ladder.

[Simply Divine]

Thank you Tussiemussies, SteveinMN, gimmethesimplelife, and everyone else for welcoming me to the forum. How nice!

[Selah]

Welcome, Simply Divine! I know the pull of wanting work that is mentally challenging, but also realizing that those jobs often come with increased stress and a sedentary lifestyle, which brings its own problems. I'm interested in hearing what comes of your decision.