dandan
When you are feeling burned out, how do you distinguish between "needing a fresh start (like going abroad)"
Hi all I’m seeking advice on how to navigate a major career crossroad. Right now, I feel stuck between wanting to pursue what I’m naturally good at, dealing with personal energy limits, and deciding whether to take a big leap like moving abroad. Here is a bit about my situation: My Strengths & Interests: I am fluent in multiple languages and have a deep passion for writing essays, storytelling, and creative expression. Ideally, I want to direct my time and energy toward work that aligns with these talents. Current Challenges: I am currently feeling extremely drained by my job, and managing depression/burnout makes it hard to maintain energy. External Pressure & Market Reality: The local job market feels uncertain, which makes me hesitant to quit without a solid plan. On the other hand, my parents are encouraging me to go abroad for new experiences while they are still in a good position to support my independence before they retire. My Dilemma: Part of me feels I am rushing to find an exact answer or immediate growth. However, I want to make sure I am clear about what I actually want to achieve—and build enough stability within myself—before making a big move like quitting my job or relocating.
Jobs I did is mainly administrative work and all that skills I learned is exclusively for the job and the company and now I want to build skills that are able to make me feel I am real skilled
1 answer
Johnson Tran
Johnson’s Answer
One way I separate the two: a fresh location changes your surroundings, but a career change changes your daily work. If what drains you is the work itself (admin tasks that use neither your languages nor your writing), a new city will feel wonderful for a month and unfamiliar by month three. If what drains you is the environment, the routine, or the market around you, the work may be fine and the setting is the problem. Try writing down which parts of a normal week drain you and which parts give you energy; the pattern shows up fast on paper, and it usually answers the abroad question before you debate it.
On the emotional versus practical split: I would treat them as two separate decisions with their own timelines. The emotional question is whether you have the energy and support for a big move. The practical one is whether a concrete plan exists: what work, what income, what runway. You can answer the practical one without quitting anything. Pick the skill you actually want to own (writing, translation, communications), and start small this month with one project or course while you are still employed. Stability built first makes any later move cheaper, not smaller, and it also gives you skills that transfer instead of skills that belong to one company.
One gentle note: managing burnout and depression is real work in itself, and it deserves support from a professional alongside any career decision, not as an afterthought.
Johnson Tran
Math Tutor / Educator
Johnson recommends the following next steps: