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.

I'd love to retrain to become a fitness instructor, but I'm too old for that craic unfortunately!

As much as I’d love a non desk job, I know I’m going to be working till I’m in my 70s and I’ll probably be glad at that point that I can sit down all day!

I would also love to be a fitness instructor and sometimes think of doing it part time. Not sure what the earnings potential would be.

A couple of friends retrained recently as massage therapists and seem to be doing quite well, they’re always busy.

This is my big dilemma. I discovered the joys of field based working (HR) seven years ago but found it hard to progress as there aren't that many opportunities and field based roles are quite competitive.

I left my field based role last year for a more senior role that was office based and lasted less than two weeks. I have become totally office-phobic. I couldn't bear the thought of not being able to come when I wanted, go when I wanted, be 'on the go' travelling around and just having to sit there, immobile, staring at a screen in a room full of 100 or so other people all day long. I used to go to the toilet on another floor just to have another 30 seconds or so of not being chained to my desk.

Luckily I was able to find another regional role although not a step up as I'd ideally wanted. I've basically traded career progression for freedom from the office and I wonder daily if I've made the right choice. Glad to hear I 'm not the only office phobe, I do sometimes feel a bit pathetic that i am this way!

Placemarking as I want to come back for inspiration!

Not me personally, but lots of friends:

teacher
pastoral staff at a school (less than 25k but only as salary is pro-rata for term time only)
scientist in a lab - I have friends in pharmaceuticals (lab work) and in animal science (theres fieldwork with animals involved in this as well as lab work)

HGV driver. I get to see over the hedges, eat bacon, listen to my choice of music. My route home today is the scenic part of the M6 up to Carlisle then the A69 past Hexham.

Town Planner - development side rather than policy. Lots of site visits.

Do student nurses have to pay the uni fees now?

I'm a Civil Engineer, out and about on one big site or various little ones depending on whats going on, bit of office work writing up reports etc. I love it.

I used to look for leaks in water mains before I got qualified as an Engineer it was great, just me a listening stick and a van!

I was just about to start the opposite thread! I work in health and I want to move to a desk job. I'm sick of lifting heavy people, smelling/seeing/touching their blood and poo, hearing their cries of pain (heartbreaking ) and not being able to have a drink of water or use the toilet when I want.

Sitting at a nice clean desk, quietly, with my drink bottle in the corner typing away sounds like heaven.

I guess ideally we would all move around and do different things to keep it interesting.

Pastoral at secondary school. Primary person responsible for first aid/medications/medical needs for 1000+ students and all staff plus general pastoral duties and care. Running around (sometimes literally) all day and plenty of variety. Absolutely love it. Less than £25k just because it's only 8-4, Mon-Fri term time so a lot of weeks a year not working. On maternity leave for 12 months now though and really miss it already, Sports Day today and kind of wish I could be there. I only finished 2 weeks ago! Great job 😊

Full time Nanny

Loads of jobs I hadn't even thought might exist! I never know what to search for on job websites but this has given me some great pointers. Thanks all.