Have any of you left a job for a simpler one and felt better?

[Schooliskillingme]

I can't keep on going in the job I'm in. Really well paid, mostly lovely employees and very worthwhile. However, I'm in an unsustainable system which is cracking under the strain of not enough quality teachers, understandably low resilience and retention, not enough social workers and inadequate social care support, massive poverty, unacceptably poor behaviour and assaults from pupils, daily aggression and complaints from parents with mental health issues and no external support.
I've been in schools since I was 22, and now 19 years later at age 41 I can't do it anymore.
I'm at the point of resigning, even without another job to go to. I'd be leaving in December.
Have any of you left a job you've worked up to, and taken a lesser one for a smaller salary yet been happier?
And did you ever go back? Or never look back!

I feel your pain OP. I'm in a different profession but similar problems. I'm a lawyer in the care system. The pressure is enormous, social workers under huge strain, local authorities at breaking point, courts under funded and understaffed, yet expecting more and more from us. Dealing with traumatised kids or parents, with the problems you describe, cases needing to be dealt with at breakneck speed. Working all hours day and night just to keep treading water. I start a big case tomorrow and all the lawyers on it are working tonight as we are in email communication about various paperwork ready for morning. I love what I do most of the time but the thought of a less stressful job is so appealing. I get paid ok, not the fortunes people think, but money isn't everything. I toy with the idea from time to time

I resigned over half term and currently have no job to go to come September (looking for teaching but also thinking about leaving the profession). There will be money worries if I don't get one but I already feel much better!

Following this thread hoping to hear positive stories of what people did post-teaching.

jk it does sound similar. I'm a headteacher and feel like I can't do what anyone wants anymore - I have no answers.
Last week I had to push to get a child at risk of death through neglect taken into care, I had a member of staff resign, I had a kid break a bone on the playground and parents are going to sue me, I had an employee make a serious allegation against another, I had a parent complain to Ofsted with total lies and another lodge grievances against 5 staff.
I have little support through the local authority and I feel I'm rubbish at my job.
I used to be an excellent teacher and now it's all gone.

lemon I get it - I'd take the money worries over this level of pressure.
Is it just me who's not up to it?

Not a teacher but a senior manager. It's just got steadily more pressurised and was affecting my mental health and all aspects of my life. Literally a few weeks ago I was offered voluntary redundancy. It was a no brainer.
And tomorrow I start my job as a carer. Less than half the pay, 3 12 hour shifts a week but I'm ready for a new challenge with hopefully different stresses.

You're not rubbish at your job. The problem is in my opinion that this country is so chronically under funded across all public sectors that more and more pressure is piled on the people that are there. Families are in crisis because there is no support, but also social services are under such pressure that protecting the children is becoming more difficult. Children who have been subject to an obvious emergency 'incident' are priority and those subject to neglect are being left behind. It's heartbreaking. Fortunately my employers as an organisation are supportive but the general care/court system is teetering on collapse.

I'm following this thread with interest if that's okay.

I'm an academic and I'm seriously considering leaving in a few years once the mortgage is paid off and we've saved a health wedge of cash.

My job is changing massively; students get more demanding every year; I'm asked to do more with less; I'm being set funding targets in a context of very limited funding opportunities. Given all this, I feel like I'm failing at my job.

I want to leave. I dream of doing a couple of bits and pieces to scrape together money like delivering leaflets, taking in ironing, cleaning etc.

I'd love to see some success stories on here.

I just wanted to say that it's obvious just from your posts that you are doing a good job and that you care deeply about your pupils and your staff. When rubbish happens it doesn't mean that you're doing it wrong.

Only you can know what the best thing to do is. But is there any way you can find a mentor/ conversation partner who is on your side and will just listen to you vent/ download/ process once a month? Leadership is a lonely place to be sometimes.

Slighty different as I worked in retail, and it wasn't that well paid but... I kept on, knowing that getting something with the benefits and hours would be hard (I'm disabled), until my doctor actually said she would forcibly sign me off (or near as). It was making me very very unwell. I was on maternity leave so had some time but was resolved I'd rather be anywhere but there. My doctor was very worried and put the fear into me! I got a job two weeks later and quit. It doesn't have the perks, it's less per hour.

However, I work a few extra hours, it's the nicest place I've ever worked. My boss is amazing, I love the people I work with. It's a simple job with a great atmosphere. A while later I'm nearly back to earning what I was before and I'm healthy and happy. Life is too short.

For what it's worth my husband recently did similar. We aren't well off, actually we're well below the poverty line but we cope and we're happy. Worth it!

Thanks everyone.
Puddlet - there's a couple of people I can offload to, but they're in the same boat.
It's almost like in these areas of extreme deprivation and poverty there's going to have to be a total collapse before it gets any better.
The children don't deserve this!
I think I'll be able to think clearly when I've resigned.
Has anyone further advice?

Not a teacher but worked with high needs children and families.

Had a total mental breakdown; it just wasn't the career for me.

Aside from seeing and hearing some awful things, I hated the bureaucracy of the job, and never feeling like I could make a difference, despite being told that it was my job to do so in impossible circumstances.

I'm in admin now. Not great pay but zero stress and part time hours. It's a job, not a calling, and I'm totally ok with that.

I am in a different profession to you all, but feel similar. I have been in the NHS for 13 years but just cannot take it anymore. I am so unhappy in my life right now and the 6 days a week that i have been working for the past year has nearly killed me. i have reduced to 4 long days a week but i still hate it.

I woke up one morning a few months ago and i made a choice - the hardest one i have had to make and i am going to hand my notice in, something has too give and as i spend most days of my life at i work - it was work that has to change.

i wanted to hand my notice in 3 weeks ago but still havn't done it yet (some tricky bits at work, waiting for it to settle) I am going to and this is what is keeping me going at the moment. I will have no job to go too and i do not know what i want to do. I spent over 5 years at university to have the job i have today - the money is poor and the hours are long and stressful.

I am worried about not having a job and an income, but i am sure i will find something I'm looking forward to the next steps of my life......

Good luck to all of you who are also considering a massive life change but i think you have to just go for it...... i am!

I did.

I was a mental health nurse. I had a breakdown, resigned, retrained doing a medical secretary diploma.

I have now decided to take my pension early from my med sec post (which I have held for 30 years) as the stress is so bad I don't sleep for the night before work and on work nights, and my heart pounds and palpitates when the phone rings. I go in on Sundays to do work, unpaid.

Shiney the NHS will kill us... lets get out

I used to work in investment banking. Took big pay cut and went back to retail banking after having my child and it was bloody horrendous. Every time I finished a shift I'd be shaking with adrenaline after dealing with arse holes all day.
Took an even bigger pay cut and now work part time in admin.
Best thing I ever did. Great bunch of people. And have worked my hours up so I'm now earning a bit more.

I always think that life shouldn't be an endurance test. If you can make a change that will make you happier and save your mental health, then do.

Ideally, it needs to be someone who gets the pressures but has some distance from them.
Maybe someone who worked in the same field but is now retired?
Or if you have any connections with church/ faith someone who works in that field might get the pressures without being too close to the situation.

Yes, just over a year ago. Have never been happier. Adjusted our finances, and altered a few things. Our family life is calmer, less stressful. My husband still has his stressful job, but he is less stress because the household/parenting stuff can largely fall to me now.

I changed out of necessity, I broke my back and couldn't continue with my previous role but it is without doubt the best change we have ever made

thank you for listening.

I moved from a job that was totally suitable to my level of education, it challenged me, I got to use skills I acquired in my degree and I worked with nice people. It wasn't the best paying job in the world (in my area it was as good as it was going to get without further courses etc which the company didn't offer etc) but it was enough and I liked it.

A new manager was hired and proceeded to throw her weight around, took an instant dislike to me (genuinely no clue why) and made life extremely difficult for me after I had some time off for surgery for an ectopic pregnancy. She threatened me with disciplinary action, wasn't available to take calls and then tried to punish me because she hadn't been available for me to contact, so I left messages with reception, and apparently that was unacceptable.

All my other managers were incredibly supportive and understanding but she was just awful about it, I was hugely stressed and couldn't cope any more as she was my direct boss so I handed in my resignation and served my notice under sick leave for stress because I couldn't handle the thought of another day near her. She clearly was trying to force me out, and if I hadn't gone this way I'm sure she would have found a way to make them let me go. I made sure the resignation letter to the general manager contained details of all her unprofessional behaviour but in a calm rational manner, not an insane rant like this lol.

Since leaving I've heard from other employees that this behaviour has continued towards others so I'm sad for them, but glad I wasn't just me and it wasn't all in my head because I know stress can amplify those feelings.

I've started working for a new company, it's more physical and less mentally taxing and I'm hugely overqualified for it but the physical labour helps me forget about my loss, (I've also had a miscarriage as well as the ectopic in this time) as I'm too busy and tired to spend much time dwelling on it which is helping massively. The pay is about the same, but the company are really good and they help you progress if you are capable. They were great about my miscarriage, I didn't take any time off except the day I was in hospital having it and they were really understanding that I had a few physical limitations on returning to work (the job is a bit of a mans world, I'm the only female employee, lady stuff doesn't always go over too well!!).

I'm so much happier, it isn't for everyone, luckily I have a supportive husband who understood my need to get out of a toxic environment for my own sanity and happiness. We are both happier now despite everything, as I'm coping with it much better now I don't have that pressure from work.
It's true when they say money can't buy happiness, we have money stresses like most people but at least I left and made that choice rather than stayed and faced misery for that paycheque not knowing if she might fire me anyway and we would be without it and without a reference I could use. They gave me a shitty reference anyway, apparently needing surgery qualifies as having 'attendance issues' even with a valid doctors note.

Good luck. Be happy.

I knew you'd be a teacher :( I've left teaching but haven't found the alternative yet. I worry for my kids /children in the system as it is.

Different field but sensing some similar themes to other poster's.
Mental health nurse- trained for 16 years. Last post was as a specialist Practioner on a band 7. The stress became too much, juggling an insense job, 2 small children, i caved.
I have just left my 'safe' nhs job and took up a job in the private sector - less money- I'll let you know how i get on!

Being a Headteacher is really not a good job at the moment. Economic pressures have never been higher. Parents have never been more demanding or litigious. I'm not suprised you're at breaking point. I think those who manage best are able to totally compartmentalise things. I can't do that - I mull over things and worry.

I've wondered if a move to teacher training might be nice... could this be a way forward for you? Or perhaps working for an educational publisher?

DH had a breakdown and only took 1week off work. 12 months on and he was stillborn struggling with MH and struggling at work with volume and quality. He chose to take a step back, and stay with same employer but go for a new role on less money. He didn't want to get the sack or go through disciplinary process etc but had no confidence he could turn it around himself.

6 months in the new role, less money and no pressure. No extra stress, working from home or month end pressure. He now feels ready to come off AD's and loves his new job. Do what you feel is right for you.

Not a teacher but a senior manager- after 18mths of simply hell I decided I was no longer willing to carry on like that anymore. I quit my job and now work part time in a school (non teaching role.) The pay is dreadful, but my team is great I have never ever in all my working life enjoyed a job as much, it can be stressful but I leave it at the door each day, have a term time contract and have so much more time, energy etc for my dds and DH. We actually sold our house, and downsized and we don't go on as many holidays but I don't feel like I need them the same and I think I spend less money as I feel less guilty.

I'm a teacher, I totally get what you mean OP.

Teachers have resigned at my school recently with no future employment secured. One actually resigned over Easter and didn't return for the new term.

If my circumstances were different I would apply for HLTA posts, but can't afford the drop in income.

If you can afford a lesser paid role, then do it. There's no shame in this, it's the pressure, the lack of funding and therefore the lack of support.