Not a moan about teaching specifically, but I work in a tough school in a core subject with lots of marking, and I don't see it as something I can sustain until I'm 70 or thereabouts. Apart from the daily pace of the work, there's huge pressure to meet mid and long term targets, and continual monitoring. Behaviour is challenging and while now I can just about control the toughest classes, I can't imagine having the energy to do it for very much longer.
Changing jobs is a possibility in the medium term but I'm top of the scale and will struggle to find anything without moving into management, which isn't for me. Also the pressures of accountability and scrutiny will be much the same wherever I go.
I'm 37 now so have many working years ahead of me. A desk job is calling to me. It needs to be something I can do fairly rurally an I don't have any crafty or making skills, so I'm thinking of doing an AAT course with a view to working in accounts or business more generally, in some capacity.
AIBU to think this isn't going to be an issue just for me and the teaching profession? Healthcare, law - there are so many careers that really aren't sustainable for workers in their 60s I think.