Anonymous
02/24/2026 17:00
Subject: Huge existential crisis - quit 'good' job?
I'm working only for the health insurance bc dh's job offers it but for three times the cost. I don't even make much at all and I'm so over it.
Anonymous
02/24/2026 16:52
Subject: Huge existential crisis - quit 'good' job?
It's just a question of how much you have saved and how much you spend. I am in a similar situation and will keep working for 5 more years or until I am made redundant by AI, whichever comes first. I feel like AI is going to cause some massive shifts in the economy and workforce, and I want to have a big cushion for when that happens. I would quit now if I had 35x annual expenses in investable assets.
Anonymous
02/24/2026 16:49
Subject: Huge existential crisis - quit 'good' job?
I bet you have enough saved never to work again. Or you should. Quit and don't look back. Life is not about working.
Anonymous
02/24/2026 16:49
Subject: Huge existential crisis - quit 'good' job?
Anonymous wrote:I have been grinding away like crazy for now 26 years. I'm so freaking tired. my kids are 10 and 12 and i am missing their childhood. My neck is getting wrinkly so I look in the mirror every day and am viscerally reminded that life is finite. I have an insanely intense job that pays well that is making me miserable and I feel trapped and tempted to just quit. Anyone else btdt? I have major decision paralysis
you would not be quitting you just become a SAHM which is a ton of work
Anonymous
02/24/2026 16:39
Subject: Huge existential crisis - quit 'good' job?
Anonymous wrote:I’ve been a little bit in the same box. There aren’t easy answers. You should also think about retirement so you’re not ultimately a burden on them.
One thing to think about is that your kids are right on the cusp of not wanting to hang out with you. So don’t think you’re going to quit and have lots of good hangs with them. For the majority of kids, they hit teens years and don’t care whether you’re home or not. They want to do some combo of hanging out with their friends, homework, online games or social media, and practice/competition for their extracurriculars. Parents get small amounts of leftover time. Then they go to college and don’t come home for summers because they want some internships or research spot in another city.
The ideal job is one where you have flexibility in hours so you can take time off when they suddenly have an hour to spend with you or want you to drive them to X for a competition or visiting a clllege or whatever.
Yeah, my 13 year old literally does a happy dance when we tell him we're going out without him!
Anonymous
02/24/2026 16:37
Subject: Huge existential crisis - quit 'good' job?
That should be “quiet quit”
Anonymous
02/24/2026 16:36
Subject: Huge existential crisis - quit 'good' job?
I would evaluate some softer options first, before quitting.
Can you take a few self care days of PTO?
Can you take FMLA for a family member?
Can you quite quit, and dial back your performance at work so it is less stressful?
All the while taking the time to evaluate what you really want.
Do you have a partner who is working? Are they hearing that you’re struggling right now?
Can you take a few self care days of PTO?
Can you take FMLA for a family member?
Can you quite quit, and dial back your performance at work so it is less stressful?
All the while taking the time to evaluate what you really want.
Do you have a partner who is working? Are they hearing that you’re struggling right now?
Anonymous
02/24/2026 16:30
Subject: Huge existential crisis - quit 'good' job?
As someone who is unemployed and wrinkly, I don’t know that this is going to be the fix you’re hoping for.
If you’re 35 I’d say go for it and quit, but if you’re the tiniest bit over 40 you’re likely not going to get another job like that ever again.
If you’re 35 I’d say go for it and quit, but if you’re the tiniest bit over 40 you’re likely not going to get another job like that ever again.
Anonymous
02/24/2026 16:28
Subject: Huge existential crisis - quit 'good' job?
Quit. Don't hoard a job that someone needs and makes you miserable
Anonymous
02/24/2026 12:26
Subject: Huge existential crisis - quit 'good' job?
I’ve been a little bit in the same box. There aren’t easy answers. You should also think about retirement so you’re not ultimately a burden on them.
One thing to think about is that your kids are right on the cusp of not wanting to hang out with you. So don’t think you’re going to quit and have lots of good hangs with them. For the majority of kids, they hit teens years and don’t care whether you’re home or not. They want to do some combo of hanging out with their friends, homework, online games or social media, and practice/competition for their extracurriculars. Parents get small amounts of leftover time. Then they go to college and don’t come home for summers because they want some internships or research spot in another city.
The ideal job is one where you have flexibility in hours so you can take time off when they suddenly have an hour to spend with you or want you to drive them to X for a competition or visiting a clllege or whatever.
One thing to think about is that your kids are right on the cusp of not wanting to hang out with you. So don’t think you’re going to quit and have lots of good hangs with them. For the majority of kids, they hit teens years and don’t care whether you’re home or not. They want to do some combo of hanging out with their friends, homework, online games or social media, and practice/competition for their extracurriculars. Parents get small amounts of leftover time. Then they go to college and don’t come home for summers because they want some internships or research spot in another city.
The ideal job is one where you have flexibility in hours so you can take time off when they suddenly have an hour to spend with you or want you to drive them to X for a competition or visiting a clllege or whatever.
Anonymous
02/24/2026 11:56
Subject: Huge existential crisis - quit 'good' job?
Look at the situation holistically and understand that you may - likely- not be able to re-enter the workforce at your level and rate of pay if you choose to leave now. That really should be at the forefront of your mind.
Retirement? 529s? Other investment accounts? Are you carrying debt? What’s your husband’s salary?
Is there any way you could downscale - go PT or take a lower pressure, lower pay job?
Retirement? 529s? Other investment accounts? Are you carrying debt? What’s your husband’s salary?
Is there any way you could downscale - go PT or take a lower pressure, lower pay job?
Anonymous
02/24/2026 09:36
Subject: Huge existential crisis - quit 'good' job?
WWYD if you quit your job? How would your finances look?
Anonymous
02/24/2026 09:30
Subject: Huge existential crisis - quit 'good' job?
How much have you saved? An intense job hopefully comes with a high income and the ability to save. If you haven’t saved yet, can you start now to look ahead towards stepping back into a lower intensity job or even early retirement?
Anonymous
02/24/2026 09:28
Subject: Huge existential crisis - quit 'good' job?
What is your HHI and marital situation?
Anonymous
02/24/2026 09:27
Subject: Huge existential crisis - quit 'good' job?
I have been grinding away like crazy for now 26 years. I'm so freaking tired. my kids are 10 and 12 and i am missing their childhood. My neck is getting wrinkly so I look in the mirror every day and am viscerally reminded that life is finite. I have an insanely intense job that pays well that is making me miserable and I feel trapped and tempted to just quit. Anyone else btdt? I have major decision paralysis