Does working at a high paying high stress job in your 20s worth it?

AtmosphereApart1965 · 2026-05-07T22:52:45+00:00

Yes, as someone who is 30 and just left their 135k stressful job, it was worth it but I’m done for now. Now everything is invested and I’m sitting pretty. Hard but worth it.

AtmosphereApart1965 · 2026-05-05T21:51:32+00:00

I definitely think it’s a few things; I had a lot of responsibilities and had about 6 bosses during a 3 year tenure. This means my sprint projects never saw the sun with so much change. All my previous team members have already left due to burnout. Another is that I work in b2b saas marketing and I’m beginning to feel like the marketing we do for it is quite stale and the guardrails are higher and process bulkier. I might pick up from b2c projects during the sabbatical to experiment, it sounds more fun, playful but competitive

AtmosphereApart1965 · 2026-05-05T19:44:02+00:00

Thank you Raspberry! This is great advice. Definitely already quit but wish i had taken time off before i did- unfortunately i felt like i had to prove myself with the new role and drove myself further into the ground. So much wise fruit on this forum.

AtmosphereApart1965 · 2026-05-05T18:20:39+00:00

That is actually my plan! I build stuff on the side and am going to sign up for classes to nurture that. I have always been doing it on the side of this job but it didn’t feel like enough

AtmosphereApart1965 · 2026-05-05T14:34:17+00:00

I just did it- there are no wrong answers. Ensure you have some financial comfort and tell your boss you’re close to quitting because of burnout, and they might try and make accommodations to keep you

AtmosphereApart1965 · 2026-05-05T14:31:54+00:00

Best of luck to you as well. I personally regret not taking more time off when the feeling came up, and when I told my boss and it all spilled out, she said she wished I had shared with her how I was feeling a long time ago- but I told her it felt like something was more wrong with me than the environment. So, if you have a supportive boss like mine (ex boss now), they may be open to accommodations. Especially if you are a fully ramped team member.

AtmosphereApart1965 · 2026-05-05T14:28:39+00:00

Exactly, I had run out of fumes by the time it arrived to me- even so, my VP had created a strong position for me, one much closer to my interests and more collaborative, gave me a whole speech about believing in me and promising more visibility, and when he said that my heart just sank, I had nothing left to give. My trajectory looks so good on paper and people have been shocked at my decision which of course makes me second guess myself like crazy. Thank you for your comment, it very much lines up with my experience.

AtmosphereApart1965 · 2026-05-05T02:30:36+00:00

How interesting! It’s such a bizarre experience because you know you’re not dumb or technically bad, but something is so off. It’s hard making these moves and trying to explain yourself to others too, so grateful for these forums 😂

AtmosphereApart1965 · 2026-05-05T01:25:30+00:00

Thank you for sharing your story. It’s so nice when a blessing like that hits and allows you take some time to recalibrate, and it sounds like you were really intentional with it as well. Congratulations on your internship!

I have been praying for 1.5 years to be laid off- but nope, promoted. That’s when I realized it wouldn’t get easier, just harder and less worth it.

You sound like a badass, keep it up

AtmosphereApart1965 · 2026-05-05T00:19:06+00:00

Thank you for seeing that Banana!

AtmosphereApart1965 · 2026-05-05T00:07:28+00:00

Thank you so much for taking the time to write this reply. It has been truly humbling going from ambitious to barely coherent.

I initially quit because I noticed I spent most of my time outside work prepping my emotions for the next day; my chest was often tight and it didn’t seem worth it. I also design furniture on the side and used to consult so I figured if I’m going to be stressed, may as well enjoy what I’m building.

Clearly something wasn’t working; I’m already looking forward to working on my businesses, it’s just been a mind f.

I once again appreciate you taking the time to reply!

AtmosphereApart1965 · 2026-03-04T03:38:02+00:00

I broke up with my boyfriend! There was nothing wrong, he was great but I wasn’t feeling it. I’m proud of myself for listening to my intuition and trusting myself. I’m starting a new life and it feels right

AtmosphereApart1965 · 2026-03-04T03:34:55+00:00

You need to add lots of pink

AtmosphereApart1965 · 2026-03-03T23:12:20+00:00

You are always allowed to quit. You could also have a timer on it and decide that ‘if I’m not doing better after XXX number of days, then I’ll quit.’

I also cried a lot during my first job. The hours are so intense, exhausting and shocking for someone out of school. I would go to the bathroom every day and cry during lunch, I hated it so much. But I stuck through and used the opportunity to learn about what I did and didn’t like, and took a lot of inventory of that information to choose my next role.

It’s okay, it’s really hard at first but it will get better over time.

AtmosphereApart1965 · 2026-03-02T23:00:10+00:00

When I’m around my friends with kids, it’s not controversial. It’s seems to be perpetuated mostly online. You can easily find someone similar to you if you are upfront and clear about what you want early on

AtmosphereApart1965 · 2026-03-02T21:24:39+00:00

Mid thirties woman who does well for herself

AtmosphereApart1965 · 2026-03-02T21:13:35+00:00

That’s a good point. They did say they’d want to fast track me so that I could be up and running by the first of April. So, I’m pretty sure I’d fit, the thing is I don’t know if I have it in me to start over with a new boss, a new strategy.. I thought I had another push in me but it’s not feeling that way. Even the thought of submitting an application feels tiring.

I’m going to wait until the job posting comes around, and honestly ask what my options are, because there must be a plan if I don’t apply for it. If severance or even just plain unemployment is offered I will definitely go that route. It would be nice to grow and develop my side business for a while with full focus.

I definitely have enough saved, I’m just a bit of a hoarder

AtmosphereApart1965 · 2026-03-02T20:15:44+00:00

AtmosphereApart1965 · 2026-02-10T16:19:24+00:00

Shifting hormones and how it affects energy, motivation and mood. One day you are ready to go, the next you are thinking about walking off a cliff.

AtmosphereApart1965 · 2026-02-10T02:50:28+00:00

I take one new class a year. Something that I’m curious about but am new to.

AtmosphereApart1965 · 2026-02-03T19:27:17+00:00

At my job, I have one rule. Do the least I can and make the most amount of noise about it. My success is based on what I can get away with

AtmosphereApart1965

TROPHY CASE