Making the jump from high profile stressful job to simple job

[MrsLeavemealone]

I've done it! My current job is senior/high stress/no resource/complex and I think I have reached the point of burn out. I've been doing this job for years and years.

I went for job interview last week in an amazing company that prioritises work life balance. It's wfh as much/little as you want. It's a much lower grade and pace is MUCH slower. I am overqualified for it but its a job I could do with without any issue whatsoever.

They offered me the job and I have accepted! It's less money but my outgoing insurance have dropped recently so I can take the hit.

My skills are in huge demand in my current role and I know it's going to cause an issue that I am leaving but it's not sustainable for my own health.

Handing my notice in today!

Has anyone else done this? The only thing I am worried about is if I'll get bored but prepared to take that over being awake at night worrying about work!

Sounds amazing

Mental health and happiness over money. If you can still pay the bills then win/win

Yes I've done it. Life is so much sweeter now. I don't mind if it gets boring as I have more headspace to channel into my hobbies.

I did it, it was great for a few years, but now I'm back in a more pressured job. The simple one was too boring and I felt unfulfilled tbh. Not just because I had little to do, but no one else cared or engaged with what I was doing so it didn't particularly matter. But I went there after a horrendous job and think I actually just needed a few years to recover and mentally get my confidence back. So it filled the right purpose at the right time for me.

I'm still trying to strike the balance between enough but not too much. Hope yours works out for you, or at the minimum it gives you the break you need for now.

I’ve done it. Stepped down not only from leadership role but from 5 days to 4 as well. Has been a year so far but no regrets. Aim to step back up at some point when children are less needy.

Yes I did it a few years ago . If you can take the hit financially do it .
The only other thing to say is that when you downgrade you have to accept someone else is managing whether they make good decisions or bad decisions. Keep opinions in check .

Well done!

Yep, I had to do this a few years ago for health reasons. It's great at first but be prepared to be utterly exasperated at just how stupid some management decisions can be, especially in the wake of the battlefield promotions of so many very young and inexperienced people in the wake of COVID. (Particularly prevalent in healthcare.)

very true

Congratulations OP.

I am trying to do this at the minute so it's given me hope that I might get something I have applied for.

I did this. Ended up staying in the “simpler” job for three and a half years, but at the end I was finding the work rather monotonous and the slow pace could actually be a bit frustrating at times as matters tended to drag on. I was also worried about losing skills but it sounds like that might not be an issue for you?

That said, it was perfect opportunity to reset, so to speak, health-wise.

Eventually went back to the firm where I’d had the high pressure job but in a different role (team member not leader)!

Congratulations! Would be really good to hear how you get on when you move OP. It’s something I think about a lot, and interestingly my mum did move down to a lower grades job from management at the same age as I am before moving back up again for her last job. I am worried that I wouldn’t handle stupid decisions being made like PPs mention. I’m not great at keeping my mouth shut but at least I get a legitimate say as leadership at the moment.

I wish there were more job share opportunities at senior level. I would happily take the pay cut if I’d get half the week back and have had some very rewarding and productive job shares in my earlier career with amazing women.

Best decision I ever made.
Life is good. Life is how I never imagined it could be by doing that one single change.

It’s only now I realise how unwell I was and how unhealthy my lifestyle was trying to tread water and keep my head up relentlessly and with zero energy or reserves to do so.

Nowadays I log off at 5, sometimes 4.30 and that’s it.
Nothing.
No hand wringing, not able to sleep, worry and entering my 3rd unpaid hour past the end of my shift because I have to keep on top of it all. No more going in an hour early to catch up with the deluge of unsustainable crap sent my way urgently!!!

It really is bliss. BLISS!!

I've done it in as much as side stepping into a much easier role, although a promotion and much higher pay. It's not working for me, I'm realising boredom is my worst fear unlocked. But nothing is forever, I'm glad I've experienced it, and looking for a bigger challenge now. You just don't know if you don't try, and you can change if it doesn't work for you!

Contradicted myself with side step and promotion, it was a grade promotion, side step in terms of my technical expertise into a slightly different context.

Hi OP, I'm considering this. What is the new job you've found? I was looking for roles at the local council as guess that must be pretty slow paced.

I wont give too much info as it could be outing. My current job is a senior role in a resource strapped public service. My new job is a junior role in a company that has a grass wall in the office. The current project the team are running is something I would have given a trainee to do on their own. It's a very different world.....!

Do it. The only way to escape burn out is to stop burning!
It will take time to settle and allow that anxiety and pressure to melt away, and if you find it doesn’t suit you, it’s not forever, you can look again if you want/need to.

Yes I did this 5 years ago and never looked back. How exciting for you. My life and time are my own now. The job is easy and, yes, while I do occasionally get - not bored- but feel like I’m not totally using my brain to its full capacity sometimes! - I’ve found other intellectual outlets to satisfy that need. Which perhaps I wouldn’t have if I’d been in previous demanding role.
good luck and enjoy!

@TeachesOfPeaches i’m working in an LA at the moment. Definitely not slow paced round here (very under-resourced team, quite visible, very committed people) - people routinely reply to emails at 10pm, while telling each other not to…

Thanks, some useful tips here which I have made a note of. 😉

Sounds brilliant!

I'm in the process of trying to achieve this in the next few weeks.

I'm currently in a very stressful job which I was lied to about what it entails and having the goal posts moved constantly.

For this I earn around 64K and am hoping to take a backward step to a role internally that pays around 47K with zero stress. Do that for 2 maybe 3 years and then retire at 63. Won't make a huge difference to my pension as I can take my highest 3 consecutive years out of the last 10 to base my pension on, so it would obviously be the current and past 2 years.

Good luck to you!

I did this. I absolutely my job but my expectations of better work/life balance have not been matched at all. It's partly though my personality type though as it made me realise I'm actually quite ambitious and career driven so ended up being promoted / taking on much more responsibility (all for less money than my previous corporate job). That said, I had two lengthy (2/3 months) period off sick for mental health reasons in the last few years of my old job and haven't needed that at all in my current job.

Lovely to hear everyone responses! My resignation letter has been declined with meetings planned to reconfigure my role to encourage me to stay. I'm still planning on heading off though!

Yes, I've recently done this. I left my senior, stressful, long hours job that I'd had for years with severe burnout just before Christmas. I took two months off to recover, then started putting my toe in the water to see what was around. I picked up a temporary contract quite quickly but they've just offered me a permanent role. I can't quite believe it, really.

It's great as in better work/life balance. The pay is lower but I've no mortgage now so can cope with that... but three months in I haven't adjusted yet to the slower pace. I miss the adrenaline, the buzz, the deadlines, my colleagues...

The previous job almost broke me in the end and I need to accept that, but I have a real fear that I am going to get bored and frustrated in my new one. I suppose I'm still settling in, though, and still recovering from burnout. It's early days so I need to see where it takes me. I'm very grateful to have been given this new opportunity though.

The boredom thing is a concern to me (sorry nc mid thread). I'm a 100 miles an hour person and perhaps I'm my own worse enemy....

I just want a job to be just a job.