9 Changes Since I Quit Working Nine to Five

I’ve now been eluding the day job now for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,6, 7 months. Life is a lot different since I quit working nine to five.

The daily grind came to a halt back on October 6th, when I decided I could no longer handle going back.  The position was working for a brokerage, and it’s not that being employed there was so terrible, it was just not a good fit for me.  I hadn’t realized at the time, but working there actually altered me into a completely different person.  A bland, boxed-in individual with narrow interests.

Ok, I’m being a little harsh, but it certainly did change things for me.  Reflecting is strange for me to think back about how this all went down.  But it was for the best.  Since then, I’ve started this blog, travelled to Mexico, placed over 60 trades, and most importantly, I’ve had more time.

Some of this extra time has been used to think.  And lately, some of the key differences have been starting to pop out.  I find it surprising that it’s already been 7 months since I worked for the bank.  I almost can’t believe it.  That said, I wanted to share some of the everyday changes in my life I’ve noticed since eluding the 9-to-5.

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Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek. – Barack Obama

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9 Changes Since I Quit Working Nine to Five:

1. I Wake Up Earlier

Most of my life, I’ve been a night owl, so it’s surprising that I wake up earlier now.  Before, I started work at 10:30 AM and I’d have to leave by 9:00 to get there, so I’d wakeup at 8:00.  But I was completely exhausted and without motivation.  I now wake up by 7:30 and sometimes even earlier.

2. I Drink More Wine

What do you do when you have more time and you live only a 10 minute walk from the LC?  You drink more.  The good news is that I make more money on bottle returns.

3. I Eat Better

The great thing about avoiding the office is that you never have to force feed yourself garbage food.  Granted, I do eat my fair share of junk food because I live too damn close to the dollar store.  However, I have more time to prepare meals as well as shop for groceries.

4. I’m Spending Less

As you would expect about someone who works from home, spending is down.  I avoid spending money on the costs of transportation completely.  There’s no more dollars being transferred over into Tim Hortons or Starbucks pockets on a daily basis.

5. Time Goes Even Faster

Have you ever noticed how time goes faster every year?  Or how fast your weekend goes by?  It goes even faster when you work from home.  And although my day to day is slowed down, the time is passing by more rapidly than ever before.

6. I Work-Out More

There was a time while working for the bank I managed to fit a gym routine in, but it never lasted long.  I’d get too tired and skip a few days, then just stop completely.  I’ve been working out more consistently, especially since recently establishing a schedule.

7. More Time for People

While at the bank, I usually felt too exhausted and miserable to want to do anything on Friday nights.  I basically became a recluse.  And though I still probably fall closer to the side of being introverted and anti-social, I’ve been able to spend more time with friends and family.

8. No More Shaving

I’ve totally stopped shaving and have been growing a beard for 7 months straight.  I’ve only trimmed it up a couple times to avoid looking completely homeless.

9. No Dress Clothes

I haven’t worn dress clothes in 7 months and, admittedly, spend the majority of my day in pyjamas.  I thought I wanted to dress up for work but it turns out I was wrong.  I’d much rather go through the day in comfort.