If your job isn’t sedentary/office-based and you’re on a £25k+ salary...

[Kernowgal]

...what do you do for a living?

I spend my day sat in front of a computer and I hate it. I’m so bored. I’ve put on loads of weight since starting this job. I swim and walk/hike regularly outside of work but I only have a half hour lunch break so there’s no chance of a lunchtime leg stretch. Commute is 30 mins each way and no option but to drive.

I don’t mind a few hours in the office each day, but I’ve had enough of being chained to my desk. Help.

Midwife.

Chartered surveyor, probably works out about 50/50 office time and out & about.

Field based HR, love it but finding it hard to progress without going back to an office.

I did go back to an office role last year but hated it and quit after a week. Now field based again.

Working with volunteers (very active ones). I crave a desk and a chair.

Not me, my DH is a HGV driver, earns 30 to 40k a year

Radiographer

Detective constable. Some days are office based but usually get out and about most days and every day is different!

Also following. But I can't do healthcare as I've got the bedside manner of Adolf Hitler and I hate blood.

You can just about scrape to 25k in countryside management or environmental education roles.

Scientist. Running about a lab for 8-11 hr a day. Weekends too if you feel you are feeling energetic. I Wear trainers for a reason.

I’m a community based occupational therapist - 50-50 out and about and office/paperwork.

I actually loved my sewer unblocking job. I worked for a water company, had a van with a set of rods and sometimes a jetter. Used to fix pumps at pumping stations as well.

Only stopped because they introduced a stupid new system where if you got a job over the radio at 4.30 that you knew would take you last your 5pm finishing time you were no longer allowed to hand over to the crew who were on call that evening. You had to finish every job you were given even if it meant not finishing until 8pm. I had a baby at a childminder who I needed to guarantee I could pick up. So I left.

Any chance of improving where you are now while you look around for something else? How about switching to a standing desk, or adding a small under desk pedal cycle thing?

Field based sales manager in the travel industry. I spend 1 or 2 days a week desk based but the rest on the road visiting travel agents, your operators, training, events and meetings. It’s crazy busy but great fun and money is ok at £35k (perks are the best)

Practice nurse. Office based but on my feet all day. See my fair share of wounds, upset people, vaginas. Make people’s days better. All good.

DD is an ecologist with a big firm. Her time is split between doing surveys in the field (day or evening), anywhere in UK, and spells in the office crunching data and doing reports. She loves it.

It does require a relevant degree though, so you'd have to retrain if you don't have one.

Lots of outdoor work in the environment sector.

This is great, loads of interesting suggestions to think about.

Also sort-of heartening to know I’m not alone. I’ve been in the job for long enough to know that it’s not going to get any better (god knows I’ve tried) so it’s time to rethink.

Following with interest. I’m desperate to get out of my office/desk based career, been doing it 20 yrs and can’t face another 20. I want to do something people-centred but can’t afford the time or £ for lengthy retraining.

Police officer

Archaeologist. But its notoriously badly paid as a profession. Im a specialist though so get paid more and just scrape in 25k if i was full time. Ive been at this level for 10 years now. I earnt more as a pa 15 years ago.

Not me but DH - earns 45k as a personal trainer. But I think that’s on the rare side as he happened to fall into a wealthy client area when he first started. I think probably 25kish though, for a regular PT?

Nurse

Caseworker for prisoners. Only PT but a senior role would be 25k+ full time. 50/50 office based.

Civil Engineer