I feel the same way, though I'm a few years younger. I like my job. Sometimes I really love it. But I'm tired of having to spend my days indoors. And commuting to work 5 days a week. I don't make as much money as you (high 100s). It definitely would be risky for me to retire now, but I've been considering ways to get there earlier. That would definitely involve moving to a lower COL area, where I could buy a house without a mortgage. And I'd have to get a job that paid by day to day bills, plus had or could cover the cost of health insurance. The key would be that it would be a "fun" job. Still thinking it through, while I sock away as much as possible for retirement and college.

I could have written your post (except the two years at $1 million part). I am 53 and am just tired of coming to work, even though I have it pretty easy and make about $250,000 in a normal year.

I have started trying to take advantage of the flexibility I have a little more - e.g. coming in late two mornings a week so I can go to a fitness class I like, leaving at 3 on Fridays to get the weekend started early, etc. These small changes have given me a (slightly) better attitude. I also plan to reduce to 3 days a week in a few more years - I think that might help.

I'm 49 and, like you, experiencing career burnout. But I'm not in a high-paying job and cannot even think about retiring yet. I'm simply taking more time off ... intermittent mental health days, the occasional short, "leaving early" day. I'm planning on a longer vacation soon. I feel like I really need a 3-4 month sabbatical, but that's not an option.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You need a hobby. Work is just a means to an end -- quit expecting it to bring you joy.

OP here. I have hobbies, lots. But they do not happen in the 6-9 hours a day I work. It is fine work doesn't bring joy working but I never hated it before. Is this something that happens to a lot of people at 50? Is it just burn out? And maybe that is fine and I should consider myself lucky that I just have to put up with it for 13 years instead of my whole working life,

No, I am over 50 and looking for a job like yours. There are many of us who would love to be in your situation. Can you take a sabbatical or ask for a new exciting project at work? Or retire if you can afford it - but please, there's enough age discrimination out there - don't ask if all 50-year-olds are like this. Because we're not.

Take a sabbatical go somewhere new even if it's for a week. Go alone or with a friend to get perspective. Then decide when you return.

I'm your same age OP and single/one kid. My HHI is 95k. No way can I retire or really even cut back. I wish I could. I wish I'd known how I would feel at 50 when I was 20. I would've started putting away much more money. Hopefully you had that foresight.

Anonymous wrote:So a career in which one makes between $200-$300K for the better part of 15 years, with the exception of two years making 1 million dollars is just "pretty good?"

The first question that must be answered, before anything else is considered is: Can you afford to make less money or none at all?

If the answer to that question is "no", then you'll have to keep working at this job or at something similar in your areas of expertise.

If the answer to that question is "yes," then you can move on to brainstorming what you would like to do instead.

exactly. hopefully you saved a lot those years you made $1 M.

So a career in which one makes between $200-$300K for the better part of 15 years, with the exception of two years making 1 million dollars is just "pretty good?"

The first question that must be answered, before anything else is considered is: Can you afford to make less money or none at all?

If the answer to that question is "no", then you'll have to keep working at this job or at something similar in your areas of expertise.

If the answer to that question is "yes," then you can move on to brainstorming what you would like to do instead.

how's your retirement account looking? retire!

Both my parents retired before 50. Never looked back.

OP, can you take up a non work challenge? Are you eating well and exercising frequently and hard? How is your spiritual life? Do you volunteer and give back to others?

Anonymous wrote:You need a hobby. Work is just a means to an end -- quit expecting it to bring you joy.

OP here. I have hobbies, lots. But they do not happen in the 6-9 hours a day I work. It is fine work doesn't bring joy working but I never hated it before. Is this something that happens to a lot of people at 50? Is it just burn out? And maybe that is fine and I should consider myself lucky that I just have to put up with it for 13 years instead of my whole working life,

Here are some things you could try that aren't quitting your job:

1) Therapy
2) Bloodwork/a physical
3) Meet with a financial advisor to see how/when you could afford to stake a step back.
4) Plan some things, big and small, that bring you joy.
5) Take a couple "mental health" days just for you, to rest and do what you wish.

You need a hobby. Work is just a means to an end -- quit expecting it to bring you joy.

49 -- I have had a pretty good career and basically have made between $200-$300K for the better part of 15 years with two great years of $1m. Now my situation is wonderful that I can sometimes work from home, rarely have to work over 40 hours and can make it to DD's high school games every time I want. But I am just so burnt out. Everyone at my job is nice and I have it so good but it is a huge struggle to get to work everyday. I am not depressed, my family life is really good. I just do not want to work anymore. I have saved for college for DCs but still, I cannot quit working at 49, especially when I have it so good, right? But I hate being at work, the feeling has lasted 6 months. How do I get out of this funk? I have been doing similar type work my whole career, if I made a change I think I would take a huge pay cut, right? Plus I do not think the grass is greener at a new job - I am pretty certain it is me not the job. DH works but makes significantly less than me, which is fine. I am not asking for him to pick up the load. Who else at 50 feels like this and what did you do?