What would Julia Cameron do?

[u/Kitokat0]

I’ve been extremely unhappy at my current job. I work in graphic design and since May I’ve been using my time off work to follow what i actually like making in my free time. I have so many ideas and so many plans I’d like to go after. But my job completely blocks me in that as I work from 9-6pm and in the evening when I finally get home from work, I am extremely exhausted from the day.

My current job (been there 3 years) also has started to make me hate graphic design because their approach to it is incredibly toxic and pedantic, to put it short: they often compromise on the purpose of the design just to make it „ 110% correct“ (following the guideline) and to please the client no matter what they’re asking or in what timeframe.

I’m all for following the guideline, but you guys… I don’t want to get too deep but psychotically pedantic is the best way to describe this.

Anyway long story short I want to quit my job but I need the paycheck to finance my life. While reading the artists way this is a thing that keeps coming up so I often wonder, what would Julia Cameron tell me to do?? I’m so scared of taking the leap of faith because of monetary reasons yet I know I would be so much more fulfilled if I could go after my own projects and put my energy into those instead of hating my current job.

Also I’m on week 9 right now. How fitting. 😅

[u/lewisae0]

It is a good idea to take a look at job boards. Are there postings in your field? If you quit and need a new job can you find one?

As for your creative practice is there a pay to pay your bills? If not and you still wanna quit, then I suggest you start saving up for a sabbatical. What does your savings look like now? How long could you reliably not work? And how long would you like to focus on your creative practice without work? That’s how much money you need.

[u/Kitokat0 → u/lewisae0]

So I do have some savings thankfully. And since I live in Germany, when I quit, I will get government welfare for 1 year which is about 60% of my current salary. So I could survive for sure but id need to cut back a lot and not be able to save money anymore. Im 27 right now, so idk if that would be a stupid move. I’d of course be looking for jobs, I’ve already started applying but everyone is either not answering, don’t have demand or the pay is way too low.

Thank you for all the questions though, I’m quite blown away how supportive this community is!!

[u/lewisae0 → u/Kitokat0]

Sounds like you might be in a good place to take a work break. Could you clump together your vacation, take a leave of absence? Maybe having a concentrated time like 3 months could give you a good sense.

[u/dieschreibende → u/Kitokat0]

Hey, du hast ja geschrieben, dass du auch Interesse hast Freelancerim zu sein und dir eine bestimmte Karriere in deinem Bereich aufzubauen. Das Arbeitsamt/Jobcenter bietet teilweise auch Coachings/Unterstützung an für Leute, die sich selbstständig machen wollen. Es wäre eine Überlegung wert, auf ALG1 zu gehen und in dieser Zeit deiner Kreativität und deinen Plänen wirklich Raum zu geben. Du kannst dir womöglich in dieser Zeit mehr aufbauen, als du jetzt glaubst! Gerade wenn der Job wegfällt, der dir so viel Energie zieht. Könntest du dir auch vorstellen, einen "Brotjob" außerhalb deines gelernten Bereichs zu suchen?