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!

sweetluck snap. I'm surrounded by people who are stressed due to their workload though.

I work in IT but I decided to take a less senior role that didn't involve people managing and a lot less stress. But for quite a considerable step down in money. And it was great! When I walked out of the office I forgot about work, no phone calls in the evenings or weekend, no sleepless nights worrying about work and when I was at home, I was presant 😊 The money didn't bother me tbh, there's a lot to be said for being happy with less disposable cash.

That was almost 10 years ago, I've now been in a senior position for the last year after making the decision to go back into it and because I have a diffetent outlook on work, I'm actually really enjoying it and it's no longer stressing me out, and I simply refuse to work out of hours. I've learnt you can work yourself into the ground and people will let you, but they also don't mind you having a decent work life balance if you are willing to put your foot down.

I'm now counting down to my early retirement (2 weeks today). I feel better already. A few temping jobs here and there should keep my finances about the same but with only 10% of the stress of the NHS.

Yes I've just done it and it's bliss . Payday can be slightly disappointing but I wouldnt go back. I'm much happier as a result.

Interestly op the job I just left was on the grounds of child protection cases not being picked up by statutory authorities regardless of the amount of jumping up and down, information sharing and number/level of disclosure. This is a persistent problem and as such was making me unwell so I left. I now do an office job.

I was a manager of a walk in centre and are now a foster carer have never looked back I miss getting dressed up for work but that's about it. I love my job now are doing something that is genuinely changing lives and whilst it is challenging it is very rewarding.

I really want to do this too op. Teaching 18 yrs and am stuck in it because of pay. Just want a way out but mortgage has to be paid.