I'm 38. Part of me wants to get promoted just because it's in my nature. The other part of me wants to retire and get a job for $16/hr.

I just turned 34 and was promoted a few months back to a director. I never want a promotion ever again in my life. I feel done and don’t know what to look forward to in my career.

If anyone wants to speak to me about this - I work with professionals who want to set up a “Portfolio Career”. This is basically where you plan out your career to have multiple revenue streams, work your own hours and have the flexibility to do what you want.

I walk them through the process and work with them on discovering what options they have. Most people don’t realize that they have hundreds of options to choose from!

So the conclusion is: no one actually likes working, everyone just wants a paycheck? (Read no judgement.)

I feel this so much. I just drove through a bunch of farmland and genuinely considered if I could be good at farming.

I feel you on so many levels. I’m 34 and fed up with the rat race as well. I sometimes think about taking on a fun low risk job elsewhere for less pay, but then I look at my bills and wipe the idea out of my head. I wish it didn’t need to be that way, I’m optimistic that one day it won’t be.

I feel this so much. I just turned 37. My job is honestly really awesome, I get to work on cool projects, I love the people I work with. I'm just so tired all the time. I'm running out of ways to keep my discipline up because my motivation is in very short supply. I'm so glad I came across this post. I've been beating myself up over it so much lately. Can't figure out what's wrong with me that I really have it pretty good but still feeling like I need to be figuring out my next career move and simultaneously wanting to quit, sell my hair, and be a nomad for the rest of my life.

I’m 48 and the low paying jobs caused me the most stress and burnout. I shouldn’t say low paying but when I worked as a Hospice CNA I was only making $17.50 an hour but the work was stressful especially going to the patients homes and not knowing what you are going to walk in to. CNA’s are the low dogs on the totem pole. After $70,000 in student loan debt, I am currently making 38,323.20 a year as a Medical Case Manager🙄. I am currently in the process of applying for better paying jobs within my Major. I’ve been offered more money with other agencies but the hiring process and onboarding is so long and stressful. I am just ready to put my two weeks notice in. The job is very laidback but the pay is terrible and I am drowning in debt. I would think twice before leaving a high paying job to work for Pennies. I am not married nor do I have anyone helping me, so financial stability is very important to me. I can barely survive making $38,323.00, I cannot imagine making less.

39 (almost 40) and think about this daily. in reading the responses here, i find it interesting so many in our demographic feeling this.

38, lead a team of 44 people and I’m so very over it all. I just wanna take my daughter to/from school and keep the house organized. I mean do that anyways but don’t want all the other stress on top of that.

What is it with us 38 year olds?? Same here. I somehow "climbed the ladder" and focused my life on work. Lead a team of 50 people npw and feel like I'm in way over my head. So, so exhausted. Objectively I'm doing fine, have good performance reviews and for an upcoming restructure, have been offered a promotion into general management which I've turned down. Now i need to search for a new role internally or externally for when the restructure happens and i just don't have the energy for it. Starting a new job fills me with dread. I just want to take time off. Sleep. Not be responsible for anything or anyone.

Same. Turning 40 this year. Work an average of 45 hours a week. Returned to school for my master’s last fall in hopes of landing a higher-paying position with a better work life balance but it doesn’t look like that will be possible. I wake up not wanting to go to work anymore.

I've had these same thoughts. Have you thought about taking mini retirements? With your skills and network that you've built from being a high performer, surely you can pick up where you are now even after taking a break for a few years by trying something different (whether working a lower stress/lower paying job or just by pursuing any other passions that you may have)

I’m in my early 50s…staring down at retirement but unsure “what I want to be when I grow up”. Do I retire at 55 - enjoy myself & find something that fits the schedule I want to work or do I continue to work my butt off till 60 then retire & not work.

I can also relate. I tell my husband all I want to do all day is study Spanish, read books, exercise.
But I can’t imagine making him be the only person bringing in money because he would work himself to the ground trying to provide the best for us and never taking breaks for himself.

I'm 53 and often seriously think about going back to the skilled trades or literally anything other than my current job.

I'm the sole breadwinner so unfortunately I can't.

Soooo me!!!
I have been declining offers, interviews and promotions ( they all pay better and have a higher status) just because my current job is sooo relaxing and i enjoy it
Not growing for sure, but resisting the change 😅

I’m currently working on this. I transitioned out of an industry I was in after 10 years and now I’m looking for a less stressful job where I can travel and be with my family more.

38 here and I feel the same, trying to save more n spend less so I can get out of this rat race soon.

I am a war refugee, before the war I was making my career in product management. After almost 10 months of searching, I work at a restaurant for €13/hour.

Omg, same here. There are so many of us with this feeling. I guess consulting wasn't all that. I am exhausted of life.

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I always told my kids, being a boss isn’t what it’s cracked up to be. It’s not about the “boss”. It’s always answering questions in regards to your employees(some employees you want to protect & some.. it doesn’t matter lol) the worst part IMO, you are constantly asked “why didn’t, how did this happen, why didn’t YOU prevent it” etc. you also have to train those who YOUR manager hires, knowing they will never be able to learn the job they were hired for. Me as a manager, I NEVER want to give up on someone. So.. here I am… here my super star employee is, trying to train someone who will just leave. And will leave… REALLY SOON!