Quitting your full-time job
It’s not easy to quit your first full-time job, especially if you don’t have anything lined up afterwards. However, the experience of overcoming your fear and doubt will teach you how to engage with freedom. Here’s the thread I posted when I quit:
I left my job last week. today for the first time in I don't know how long I feel wonder and freedom and the desire to know and understand and create humming in my bones
— Sid (6/100 digital art) (@ftlsid) April 6, 2022
After leaving, you’ll probably feel aimless and a bit nervous. In an absolute sense, your freedom hasn’t really increased, but your willingness to take action—your Agency—has increased tremendously. This can be dangerous, so make an effort to avoid doing anything stupid in the first few weeks after quitting.
not having a ft job exposes the huge questions "what the hell am I supposed to do now", "where should I go", "what is the point", "what do I even like doing", "why am I not having the time of my life" etc and it's important to find temporary answers as fast as possible
— Siddharth (@ftlsid) September 8, 2022
After the initial shock passes, you’ll encounter a period of curiosity and rapid personal growth. For the first time in my life, at age 23, I had no responsibilities and nobody telling me what to do. The lack of rules and limitations helped me become more optimistic and hopeful.
5 months later: I got a 10hr/week software contract position, started drawing every day (art instagram soon ???), traveled all over the place and made several new friends https://t.co/JHaRCbRQEi
— Sid (6/100 digital art) (@ftlsid) August 15, 2022
The book that encouraged me to take the leap is The Pathless Path, by Paul Millerd. It’s worth a read even if you’re not thinking about leaving your job.
See also Making money.