‘Get out’: 27yo reveals why she quit her job

A young Aussie has revealed why she quit her safe and well-paying job and why the people around her wanted her to get “get out.”

At 10am on a weekday, Lauren Lietzow is sitting at a cafe drinking a coffee and ordering a pastry.

This is a radical change from the 9-5 grind she was used to.

The only reason she has this freedom is that she quit her job. Suddenly, the world is her oyster, and she’s no longer trying to squeeze life in.

“I’ve booked in to see the dentist, the doctors, go to the hairdressers,” Ms Lietzow told news.com.au

“I just feel like a different person. I’m having a coffee, and I don’t have to rush off anywhere, and I don’t have that anxiety.”

Lauren has explained why she quit her job. Picture: Instagram/laurenlietzow

The 27-year-old is feeling much less anxious these days. Picture: Instagram/laurenlietzow

Ms Lietzow, 27, was working in marketing, a job she secured halfway through a communication degree she never finished.

She liked her job, worked hard, and learned so much. Also, as far as job security goes, corporate work is a safe bet, but she made the “scary” decision to quit.

“It took me a long time to let go of a corporate career because it is so scary. I thought that was how I was meant to make all money and climb the ladder,” she said.

She’s now working as a pilates instructor, which she’s wanted to do since she was 18, but it got put on the back burner because she felt pressure to make a safer choice.

“It took me a year to pull the trigger and leave,” she explained.

The straw that broke her corporate career’s back was how work was making her feel. It was suddenly a source of stress.

“I don’t deserve to feel anxiety every single day. This is not how I should be living my life. My body was telling me it was time to leave and I took the leap.”

Now she’s teaching pilates and loving it. Picture: Instagram/laurenlietzow

Right now, she’s teaching pilates classes and freelancing, it’s only been four weeks, but she already feels different.

“It has been amazing. I don’t feel stressed,” she said.

Employment Hero’s Ben Thompson said workers are increasingly pushing to ditch 9-5.

“Having flexible working hours to promote productivity, outside just the 9-5, is something that has been an increasing trend ever since the pandemic,” Mr Thompson told news.com.au.

“This trend represents the latest development in the discussion around remote work. It’s a testament to the adaptability of the modern workforce, and we wouldn’t be surprised if it rises in popularity during the coming years.”

Ms Lietzow was nervous about telling the people in her life that she was going to quit her stable job, but she’s been surprised.

“I was so nervous to tell people. I was scared of their reactions, and I was scared of other people’s opinions. I had such a great response. My mum and dad were like, ‘Yes, get out.’” She explained.

“My partner wanted me to get out. Everyone wanted me to get a new job. They were so excited.”

Even the response from her mates, seeing her teach classes and be more relaxed and present, has been a huge reward, “they say I’m like a different person now.”

“I feel so much calmer. I don’t wake up every day with anxiety; I’m not constantly thinking, I have to get back to this deadline.”

She explained she’s now feeling calmer. Picture: Instagram/laurenlietzow

She now gets to work on her own time. Picture: Instagram/laurenlietzow

It wasn’t a decision she made without crunching the numbers first.

“My partner and I sat down before I made the decision. We needed to plan out and how many classes I would need to teach to make it through every week,” she said.

But she’s found the money stuff, so far, hasn’t been a problem; she’s picking up extra classes, freelancing more with marketing work and enjoying the fact she has time to think again.

“I’m not stressing about money at all. It also allowed me to find my creativity again, and I have motivation,” she said.

It has been a complete lifestyle overhaul. She’s able to run her life based on her needs rather than a workplaces.

“I do get home, chill out on the couch, make my breakfast, soak up the weather, and get to my emails whenever. Everything still gets done, but it gets done on my time.”

Originally published as ‘Get out’: 27yo reveals why she quit her job