I’m in a bit of a hole at the moment and I’d really appreciate some opinions please!
I’m currently working just 2 days a week. I’m very fortunate it’s a well paid role, however it’s making me completely and utterly miserable. There are many many reasons why I’m struggling with it, but I’ve realised it’s been the main cause of my anxiety/depression for quite a few years now. I’m now medicated for this but I know why it’s not really helping.
I’m considering giving up this role and applying to a different job I’ve recently seen advertised. It would still be part time, although likely more than 2 days per week. However this new job is minimum wage, which means I’d essentially be on a quarter of my current hourly rate. So even if I worked full time, I’d still have a significant pay cut.
I’m in a very fortunate position of having paid off our mortgage with some savings, and DH earns just enough to cover everything else. So technically I don’t NEED to work, but I would like to work and it would be nice not to really struggle, although I realise my pay wouldn’t be huge.
Am I mad to give up a well paid career which I’ve done for nearly 20 years, and take on a much lower paid, lower stress role? Is that just a pride thing? I feel like I would enjoy this new role much more, and due to the nature of the work, it would really make a difference to my mental health. I have another 20 odd years of working to get through so it really does matter.
I have lots of other things going on in life including a disabled child in a special needs school and a few quite serious health conditions, so I’m feeling like there’s more to life than just money.
I realise I’m in a very fortunate position to even be considering this so I really hope I don’t sound ungrateful. But my recent cancer scare has really woken me up, and I feel if I was to go any time soon, I’d feel as though I’ve really wasted my life being miserable.
I’d really appreciate some thoughts on what others would do in this scenario, thank you so much in advance!