Crossroads - what to do?

[Halfadozenandnomore]

I'm currently on a career break due to burnout. 18 months so far, lucky that my partner's salary has covered our living expenses, etc. Partner has been supportive so far but would like to see me back at work to ease the pressure a little, which I totally understand.

During this time I've been using some money that I had saved whilst working to contribute to things where I can (Christmas, birthdays, occasional meal / day out) and I'm down to the last £1000.

Now at a crossroads, do I:

• try and go back into the profession in which I ended up in burnout (don't want to go into too much detail but it's an emotionally involved job) which I'm already skilled and experienced in, but can't guarantee I won't end up burnt out again?

• use my last bit of money to retrain in a profession that is 'safer' emotionally and that I would probably find employment in quite easily, but would likely find quite boring?

• use my last bit of money to pursue a current hobby as a career, I would probably have just enough to do a refresher course (it's an area that I studied when I was younger) and buy basic equipment for, but no guaranteed employment or income?

Any thoughts on which way to go would be appreciated. Thanks.

It sounds like the first option isn't very appealing to you. I would be tempted to do the second, boring one but only on the condition that, once settled in, I would put aside some money to start up the third option in my spare time, to see if it's viable.

What is the hobby?

Thank you for your considered response!

I think I feel totally deskilled since ending up so fraught with things and anxious about going back to my previous role in case I end up feeling the same way I did at the point of having to have a break.

But the combination of a 'safe' job and putting some of that money into trying to make my hobby work sounds good!

It's photography, very little in the way of paid roles (especially locally) so it would probably mean being self-employed, which I wouldn't mind but just doesn't guarantee an income.