So, I’m finding that I’m not particularly happy at my current job, but my various constraints make it very hard for me to find something else that ...
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I wonder if you can make some kind of transition to make life easier for yourself within the company you currently work for. I'm thinking of things like reducing your hours, or maybe going into another role. For example, becoming a business analyst or scrum master vs. a programmer (if those positions exist). Or possibly going from development to something like maintenance or QA. It depends on what specifically is the problem. That is, is it a matter of the number of hours you're working, or is it more to do with the kind of work you're doing? Programming involves a lot of typing as well as a lot of hard concentration, so I wonder if doing something related but slightly different would help.
Currently I work in a small research lab at a university and there isn't really any mobility in terms of job role. This was a job I took specifically to get away from the stresses of working for corporate/commercial software, where the only lateral moves were into project management, which I don't have the brain for.
Would teaching be a viable option? Maybe you could replace some of your current work hours with time as an instructor, teaching assistant, something like that...
Unfortunately, I only have a small amount of teaching experience, and bigger the issue with fibromyalgia is that it does its own thing on its own schedule; I can't predict when I'm going to be in too much pain to get out of bed.
I understand. Hopefully you can talk to your employer and get some reduction in your work hours so that you can have time to recuperate. It may be worth considering asking to do some work from home as well if that is possible. That way, if you're not feeling well, you can stop. But if you feel up to putting in an hour or two, you can do that, and then go back to resting some more. I hope that you will have some relief and that things will get a bit easier for you.
Thanks. The thing is, I'm already being very well-accommodated at the current job, but I'm just not happy with the work I'm supposed to be doing. But there's this gigantic barrier to me finding another job I'd rather be doing, because of my constraints.
Hey fluffy.
That sucks. I am not going to offer empathy or sympathy because they don't really help much. I look for things that help:
My suggestion would be to find someone young, fit, eager & capable of doing the things you can't as a co-founder. Between the two of you, it's possible to get what you need done that way.
I hope that is helpful in someway.
Gl.
While it would be great if it were as simple as me starting a company and paying someone else to do the things I can't, that requires a lot more money than what I have, a product idea that would generate revenue that attracts investors, and a completely different set of skills than what I'm good at.
Not paying someone. A partner, co-founder. It is pretty easy (relatively) to raise money with some kind of startup. There is wealth of VC/big tech/gov/crypto funding from Seattle to San Diego.
The co-founder is supposed to have the other skillset you need.
It's unfair when your options are cut off while looking around to see lack of gratitude/waste/easy options for others. It is frustrating & demoralizing but it is that way.
I prefer to direct anger into the thing I need to achieve than be defeated which makes it a lot harder.
This option is the one that allows: work anywhere/any time/on your terms while filling the gaps where you can't. Not many other things work like that (freelance/jobs etc).