to ask if you have ever been envious of a friend's career?

[Pilotress]

What did you do to get over it?

I've got a job that seems very glamorous from the outside - lots of travel, meeting high powered people, parties - and I'm envious of my friend who's a SAHM with a business she started from scratch, I wish I could spend more time at home with my kids like she does... and I know she's envious of me. Grass is always greener!

Not friends, but I'm jealous of some of the people I know through the internet with their freelance writing and their travel blogging and their craft businesses. I know they must work bloody hard but it seems like such a good lifestyle. The power of social media, I guess!

Yes, frequently. In my case it's less fancying another career altogether, and more envying those who are doing better in the same field (academia). I try, mostly successfully, to get over it by focusing on the 'whole picture'. Many of them, for instance, work much harder than me and dedicate almost their whole life to work. I remind myself that I'm not willing to do that, so it's ridiculous to resent not having the rewards that it would bring.

No. I chose to give up my career and be a SAHM and have only worked in min wage jobs since. But I can leave home at 8.15 and get back at 5.15 and never bring work home with me.

The truly successful people career wise in my social group have either had ill health, a nervous breakdown or a mid-life crisis inc affair so I'm definitely not jealous of them. They've all given up a lot to be where they are and IMO it's not worth it.

Mind you, they probably look at us and wonder how we cope without eating out at restaurants very often, and buying clothes that are high street rather than designer!