When you can’t find joy in your day job
In early 2019, I left my marketing job in London for a life a bit more off the beaten track in North Wales. I left behind the idea of income and stability to follow something that I felt a strong pull towards. The first thing I did was book a place at Ballymaloe Cookery School to take part in their 6 week sustainable food course. I also spent my time researching and learning about cooking, growing, and baking, and built a vegetable garden inside an old Victorian walled garden. As I learnt more, my passions grew and I started to feel more confident. I think that at the root of that confidence was the fact that I felt like I had finally figured out what it was that makes me tick, gets me out of bed in the morning, and drives me through the day. On top of this was and is a love of nature. I love being outside and I think, although it’s becoming more recognised, the practice of being outside is underrated as a major positive mental health supporter, something which I’d struggled with while living in London.
I now work as the Food and Food Sustainability Director across my families’ businesses which are; a pub (The Glynne Arms), a farm shop (Hawarden Estate Farm Shop), a festival (The Good Life Experience), and a holiday accommodation business (Glen Dye Cabins & Cottages), and I’m also a freelance chef and organic vegetable grower. I spend most of my time outside, or on my feet, and I feel like I’ve learnt more in the last year than I did in all my time at school.
I was only 23 when I made this decision to leave my friends, boyfriend, family, and job in London and I will be the first to admit that there have still been moments of serious doubt and questioning myself, but I can hard on heart say that it was the best decision I’ve ever made, and will ever make. Something felt really right about it, and still does. I think we live in such a structured, scary world that making drastic life decisions can seem scary and uncomfortable but I really urge anyone, whatever age, to make sure that they are enjoying what they’re doing. And if you can’t find joy in your day job, pick up a hobby that makes you excited for the evenings or weekends. It’s life changing and it’s definitely a reason to be cheerful.
Xanthe Gladstone