Worked in finance for 10 years now and starting to feel like I’m losing my mind. I have about $350K of cash/investments saved up and relatively low living costs, no kids, but I’m just too afraid to take the leap…
Have you ever done it? Was it worth it?
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If you have the money I’d do it. I’m 39, don’t have the money and wish I could.
Mental health is really important
I don’t think age (especially just 35) is too much of a factor. It’s really a question of what you want to do after the break and how long it might take to land the job (assuming you go back to a W2). If you’re at your wits end, I’d say go for it. No job is worth jeopardizing your health, physically or mentally.
Personally, barring being laid off or something health related, I wouldn’t want to risk the hit to momentum. I work in tech, so it’s everchanging and context/experience matters a lot. Stepping away from my current stability on my own for a year or 2 could be detrimental and I’m not willing to add that degree of risk (or put aspects of that burden on my wife or kids).
Sold our house took our two kids to my wife’s home island and became substitute teachers for a year. Lived on the family farms, went to the beach ate good and drank beer. We also lived rather poor on purpose to teach our children that you have to work hard in life. If you want nice shit, you have to work your ass off for it. The world doesn’t owe you a damn thing. It was amazing. A great reset for my wife and I. Also an amazing experience for our children. If you can make it work I say go for it. Saving until you’re in your 60-70’s and not being able to enjoy it is crazy. How many jungle hikes are you gonna be able to do in your 70’s?
Nah hell naw lol.
Im literally in your seat with more of my savings in my place . I hate my career but have decided to push through because I think any job I’d hate at this point.
I’m not sure I what I’d would do not working either.
I hope you find the path that makes you the most happy. Perhaps buy a Porsche
I just quit my toxic corpo job with nothing lined up at 34 with not even a third of your savings. Mental health above all these days.
Maybe a career edit. Or try something else for a short time and keep your doors open. Try a 45 day sabbatical and see how you feel. Don’t burn any bridges but at the same time let some doors open. Metaphorically speaking of course.
Same age, pointless job.and still stuck in the middle of my divorce but already started to apply for my country’s armed forces.
It’s not too late at 35
Do it, don’t hesitate.
There will be precious few opportunities in life like this one. It will be something you never regret.
Yes
Well I did and I had no money. I would have been much better in your situation, lol. Oh well
If I had the money I’d take a little time off
So back 2016 I was laid off from my IT job in the finance industry after 12 years. Happened at the end of the breakdown of what turned into a very toxic relationship and only a year or two after my father passed from cancer. I was 34 or 35 at the time. I ended up taking 2 or 3 years off just processing everything that happened, dealing with it, and learning how to be normal me again. Honestly don’t know where I’d be now without that time. Be warned though, it is difficult to get a new job when you’ve been out of the game for more than a year. I actually had to invent a fictitious job at my buddy’s company just so other employers would be interested in me.
Yes, but with a much bigger buffer than you. Was absolutely worth it. Can’t imagine myself ever going back to the corporate grind.
I haven’t read any of the comments, so it’s likely others have said what I am about to say.
But if not.
No. It isn’t too late. Do you. Take a risk. You don’t have kids, now is the time.
You can always go back to it if it doesn’t work out.
But it will work out. Bet on yourself. You’ll find what matters to you and crush it.
I did last year at 41. Do what’s going to make you tick mate
I’m taking one right now at 38.
When I was 35 my girlfriend (future wife) and I were both dissatisfied with our jobs/careers and decided we needed to take a break. I was a software engineer and she was in marketing. She was with a very small company and had to quit, while I was able to get a one year leave of absence.
We spent 7 months traveling around Europe and then came back to the states for a few months. At some point I decided I wanted to go back to my company although I did change jobs. She decided she really wanted to be a chef and went to cooking school in France for three months.
It was a great way to get a perspective on what we wanted and get revitalized.
If you can afford it and have the desire do it. Don’t burn all your bridges as you might decide you feel like returning to your previous life.
I took a backpacking trip in Southeast Asia when i was 27… so glad I did because at 35 I couldn’t do half the stuff I did then.
I’m 38
Took a break at 35 for three heads
Got married, travelled a lot, lived – ate way too much good food and not as much exercise as I initially planned – but in better shape and corrected some health issues (liver, cholesterol)
Back at work now, in the best mind frame for it it
Edit: take a first couple of months slow as recovery – but make sure to have a plan of what you’d want to do or achieve. It can become easy to fall into a trap of “burning time” and this can equally bad for mental health.
I took a break last year and hiked the entire Appalachian Trail. So worth it!!! Makes me want to be a permanent vagabond. Sadly I’m back in my chosen career. But it’s not all bad. I’m a Chef and I just started at a new place. I’m making more now than I was before I went adventuring. (Even with inflation).
Jump in the deep end. You’ll soon work out if your current savings and what not will cover your expenses when you take a break. Or you will find other new ways/avenues in those moments to stay afloat.
I took a break at age 33 while thinking I’ll be in big trouble regarding paying bills and living a life without working a fulltime job. It’s been 3 years now since I jumped in the deep end. First year or two was a mind fuck as it didn’t feel comfortable but since then have adapted to the change and have learnt our minds or thoughts can over exaggerated as we’ve not experienced some situations previously.
Like yourself I had accumulated funds and small investments but at that time I thought it’s not enough to live a life not working fulltime.
Definitely worth it.
Have since realised we must make new goals or something to work towards when not working fulltime as for me anyways I’ve noticed my body has become weaker or I’ve been less motivated to do things like I used to. Previously I was working physically in a construction environment.
The stress of everyday life has disappeared as I used to start having anxiety and panic attacks on some days towards the end of taking the leap.
James?
I changed my entire career, dead end, labor intensive jobs. I decided at 40 to get a bachelor’s degree. Now after going to school I have an amazing job, it pays less than others I’ve had. But it’s fulfilling, and personally rewarding.
Naaa go for it.
Maybe it will be the catalyst to change.
I did it for about 5 years around age 38.. I met my wife during my time off, and started a new career at 43. It worked out fine. I’m definitely poorer in retirement because of it, but there’s no guarantee that anything will last, either. I’d be cautious not to burn bridges, just in case. It can be difficult to get back into the workforce after leaving for a while, but it’s much easier at 40 than 60.
Yeah dude absolutely. You have a nice nest egg. Go get your mind right and figure out your next move. You’re in a luxury position that not many ppl have.
I got laid off like many many other people. I took off six months and now I’m job hunting.
It fixed some stuff in my sleep/stress/neck muscles/fitness/diet.
But I’m so broke ($) it may become hazardous (I live in America). But… I’ve also been poorer before. 🤷♀️
All we can do is deal with our circumstances. Maybe it was the worst decision ever: but it was nice getting to hang out with my dog and sleep in for a while. Something worthwhile to keep working for.
https://preview.redd.it/o3jwwr6wx5ff1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4c1c251021992f18c54d3b726c07651960d537d0
I did it at 40 with less cash than you but have property to fall back on.
was the hardest decision to make but ended up being the best decision of my life.
Same boat. No wife no kids. Been working for almost 10 years and have all my money tied up in retirement and real estate. I want to leave my job and fuck off for a year so badly but also afraid. I’m thinking about selling one of my rental properties and pulling the trigger. Just got out of a heart breaking relationship too. Maybe it’s the time to do it
I’m 62. 2 years ago my father passed away. There was small inheritance and I took a year off. Do it.
No one has ever gotten to the end of their lives and said “get, I wish I worked more”
I did it. Channeled my energy into getting physically and mentally better – had more bandwidth and space to make decisions and chose a refreshed path and look some of my career decisions with a rested eye. Lasted 14 months.
Took a couple of years to hit my stride in the career again. But from a longevity term perspective was the best thing ever.
I was thinking the same thing, similar age. Like I want to abandon the stress of a salary man and just go turn a wrench or something for a while.
I just took the leap myself without a partner and with less savings than you lol.
You just got to be entirely honest with yourself about the risk you’re taking, and also remember you only have one life to live.
Make a list of the pros and cons on either life decision. A physical list. Look at them next to each other, and then see how you feel
Ive done it at 25, 28, 34, I did switch jobs and had a 6-7months break in between the last time (non compete clausule). It really is the best for mental and also for physical health if you do it right. If possible Id do it every 5 years. Enjoy life while young and reasses life direction.
Do what you want man. Weigh the pros and cons and if it’s what you want then go for it. Life’s scary, full of risk, and short. Go get it.
My wife and I both quit our dead end around that age. We sold our house for a much cheaper one in a state that was low cost of living at that time. We started a business where I learned software development for 3 years, doing my own projects as well as freelance work. It didn’t pay the bills so after a year she got a job for about a year. It was mainly for health insurance. But I was starting to make money by the time she quit. We did have many rough months and I had many tough breaks. I then started getting full-time work in a field where I actually made use of my more intellectual skills. That was about 14 years ago. A long and sometimes painful journey. Life is filled with challenges and joys. We’re now doing amazing. We live in a nicer house, we travel internally once per year and domestically a few times per year. We don’t have kids which makes this less complicated. I’m now 47 and have such a good life that I’m now paranoid about loss. But that motivates me to enjoy life as much as I can because I’ve no clue what’ll change tomorrow. I just know that life keeps moving and I do the best I can with each day.
Good luck brother. Whatever you choose.
At 33 I quit my job, sold my stuff and got on a plane to India for what was supposed to be six months.
I ended up bouncing around Asia for a few years before settling in Shanghai for a couple of years.
It was a bit tricky coming back and getting back into work etc but 10/10, no regrets, would recommend
I did it at 37 and was in a similar position. I started my own company and just work part time now.
Never too late. I am 42 and taking one (or just leaving all together) in 2026
Do it if you have the means
Take an extended vacation. Go sit on the beach or something
I would do it.
Jump! Jump! Jump!
Quit my job of 10 years as an engineer at age 34 with similar investments to hike the Appalachian Trail. Worth it 💯
I was just discussing with somebody thar one of my regrets I have was spending so much of my 20s and 30s at work. I’m only in my mid-40s now and at 40 I became self employed and while I could be making a lot more money by grinding like I used to, I make more money than I did working for other people and I work a hell of a lot less hours. Over the past 5 years I’ve been enjoying my life and the people in my life. It’s given me a lot of perspective about how much I missed by constantly being at work. Take the time and reevaluate your life. You can always make more money but you cannot get this time back.
Hey man congrats on the savings. I haven’t done it but if you feel that you need it then go for it. With that kind of money you could also try out doing your own thing and be your own boss.
I did that at 33 with a helluva lot less money saved up and it was the best thing I could’ve done. When you’re burnt out, you’re burnt out, so it’s never too late to change things up.
Nope, it’s not.
Lmao, I did it with no savings and a bunch of kids. You got this man.
Do you see a therapist? If you’re dealing with mental health issues like depression or burnout and it’s been documented over some time you may be able to get a 6-12 week FMLA sign off. Depending on the circumstances and your therapist you may be able to get short term disability approved on top of that.
The FMLA is easier, but unpaid. There are even websites (Google them) that will direct you to doctors who would sign off after an examine.I would pursue this route first, take the time to rest and reflect. Your job is protected for the length off. If you still want to quit later, you can.
You’re at 35 with $350k saved and no kids that’s a significantly stronger position than many!
I did it at 45 with two kids, with a much more scaled-back lifestyle, one car, and a very small house. We watched every cent carefully. At 59, I can tell you the choice worked out, but it was a challenge. I love a good challenge, so it depends on your risk tolerance and personal situation. There’s no playbook, just confidence in yourself.
Given your savings and low costs, you have a solid foundation to explore this. Good luck!
I ‘semi-retired’ at 34 and returned to work at 37. If I can do it, you can too. You have much more savings than I did also. We all get ~80 years then we’re in the ground.
> but I’m just too afraid to take the leap
You can go back to work in a few months(after job search) after said leap, no?
You can always go back. Take a break, find yourself. Figure out what you want from life.