I don't want to go back to work

I'm currently unemployed and have been so for a little over half a year. I know I SHOULD want to go back to work and I do at some point.

One the same token, I don't want to go back to work because of dealing with the same old crap. I'm tired of office politics, dealing with disorganized, poorly run departments, the terrible lack of communication on a MASSIVE level, along with poor supervision and little to no training, or crappy training.

At my experience level, I'm more than likely to end up at a company that considers the above its holy grail for success. I'm also attending school to further my educational level and fill in the gaps with what I don't know or didn't learn enough of when I received my associate's degree.

I know a lot of people go to school and work at the same time, and that's not what I'm worried about. I'm worried about taking some ****** *** job with a crappy company, getting super stressed and tired and overwhelmed, and then I have to withdraw from a class or for the semester.

My husband and I are pretty good financially, and I could do to reduce my spending a little more, but we're not in dire straits or anything. As much as I know I need to get back to work, I have this strong sense of dread and trepidation.

I'm also worried about a lot of employers not being understanding or accommodating to an employee in school. At my last job, there were many weeks where I stayed until 6 or 7 trying to get my work done because I wouldn't get enough helped or things were breaking down. A lot of the job postings I see say "must be able to work after business hours" or "must be willing to work extended hours." With homework, class lectures, and travel time I don't know how I'd do it.

What also makes me feel bad about this is I'm on unemployment. Granted, I did earn my benefits by working 40+ sometimes and worked a second job, I feel like one of those lazy bums people talk about milking unemployment because I don't want a job...

UGH

Hello Strive4Health: Statistically, I believe, the longer a person is out of work the less likely it is they'll ever go back. I used to work in the worker's compensation system & this is part of the reason workers comp insurers always want to get injured workers back to work as soon as possible.

I presume you've considered part-time work, along with going to school. This might be a good compromise since you're pretty good financially. The other alternative might be to do some volunteer work while you're in school. It could help to make you feel better about yourself. Plus it would look good on your resume once you are ready to return to full time employment.

Granted there are likely to be hassles of one sort or another whatever you do. But the important thing is to get going one way or another so that you don't continue to feel like a "lazy bum". That kind of feeling can grow to the point where it can become a real problem. I wish you well...

I'd like part time work. Right now I have some anxiety it might not bring in enough money, and I'm concerned about compromising school for some job where they might treat me like crap. It seems to happen more often than I want...

What about doing volunteer work? If you don't have to work while going to school, this could be an option that gives you control over what you do, and you would be working, not being lazy.....

Could you freelance/consult?

ETA: I identify with everything you said about not wanting a full-time job. I started a freelance gig that's really more like a part-time job last year and although it has been annoying, over all it's so much better than a full-time job. The nice thing about freelance is that you have a lot more control over your schedule. I feel like there is a kind of mental difference, too, where I am less willing to put up with crap than I would be as an employee.

If I wasn't going to school right now, I'd take a full time job because I'd have more mental energy. I'm going to go the part time route with an internship and see how that goes, but I won't be able to accept one until the end of summer.