Hate my job, love my colleagues! Leave?

[Whosaidthattt]

My job is very stressful and I dread going in every day to open emails, knowing that the demands that will be stressful and never ending. I am not management level, mid- level in my organisation, so my pay is ok but not amazing.
My colleagues, however, are fab and we have a great laugh during breaks and go out at weekends because we want to, rather than forced fun!
Would you put up with a decent job you hate, because of colleagues, or leave to find a job you enjoy?
With the best will in the world, I don't think we would stay in touch if I left, as we are all at different stages in life and probably only have work in common!
I am torn! I am 48!

It's a tough one. It is hard to find a good group of colleagues so you are very lucky. I have friends who have stayed in less than fulfilling jobs purely because they get on so well with their colleagues. It's a great thing but also a bad thing as it makes you more attached to work than you should be.

And yes you are right that once you leave the job, no matter how many sad goodbyes there are, the reality is that you most likely will not speak to any of them ever again.

I don't know the ins out outs of your job and what you do but if it were me, I'd first find out if there was any room to get more support in my job or maybe move into a different department and take on a new role.

Good workplaces/colleagues are hard to find (and it also takes time to settle in and get to know people) and I think you'd regret it if you left without exploring ways to make it work at your current place first.