Why No Job Is Worth Sacrificing Your Health And Happiness

Over the past few days I’ve had so many conversations with friends, clients, and fellow therapists that have all circled around the same theme: being stuck in jobs that make us miserable, stressed, or even unwell. Some of the people I’ve spoken with are still in those environments, some have already made the leap to something new, and others are midway through the process of getting out.

What struck me is how similar the stories sound. The constant dread, the physical toll, the way it chips away at your energy...and equally, the sheer relief that comes when you finally step away.

I know this because I’ve lived it.

My own turning point

A few years back I was in a corporate HR role that, to put it plainly, was making me ill. I'd been in HR for 16 years, I chased salary increases, promotions and I made it to some senior roles in what appeared to be a flourishing career. Did I ever really enjoy it? I'm not so sure. Certainly in the later years I became more and more unfulfilled and frustrated with corporate cultures and commercial decisions that damaged the emotional wellbeing of the very people that worked everyday to keep it alive. My stress levels were through the roof. I’d wake up with a tight chest, I felt constantly drained, and I wasn’t really “me” anymore.

One week, I took time off and went to Wales with my amazing husband and young daughter. It was the first time in months that I could really breathe properly. You know those deep, properly fill your lungs kind of breaths. Until then, I hadn't even realised that I wasn't breathing properly! Out there, with space to think, my husband and I talked a lot and I asked myself the hard questions: What makes me happy? What am I good at? And what kind of life do I actually want? What changes can we make as a family to facilitate such a big transition?

The answers came quickly. I’d always been great at massage. I loved how it made people feel and I knew in my gut that doing this full time, for myself, would bring me the happiness and balance I craved.

So we made a plan.

I retrained, studying in the evenings after work. I started seeing clients on weekends, building things up slowly while still in my HR role. The more I learned and the more I treated clients, the better I felt. Even though I was still in that full-time role that brought me such unhappiness, I had a light at the end of the tunnel. A plan. A future. The cloud above me slowly evaporated the closer I got to that light.

When the time came, I handed in my notice and stepped into life as a full-time massage and beauty therapist.

What changed

I’ll be honest. I earn less than half of what I did in HR. But I’ve gained so much more. I am more present (physically and emotionally) for my family, my health is better, my energy is higher and I am HAPPY! Of course, I still have stresses but my stress is different now. These are my stresses...and crucially, I’m the one in control of them. If something isn’t working in my business, I can change it.

One of my clients recently told me that my story inspired them to finally make the change themselves. During their treatment that evening I could feel the difference. They were lighter, more relaxed, and the positive energy coming from them was almost tangible.

That’s what stepping out of the wrong job can do.

The science backs it up

Research shows that chronic workplace stress isn’t just unpleasant, it’s dangerous. Studies from the American Psychological Association have linked toxic workplaces to higher risks of anxiety, depression, heart problems, and even weakened immunity. The World Health Organisation has also recognised burnout as an occupational phenomenon that can have serious health consequences.

No salary or benefits package can outweigh that.

You don’t need to do it overnight

If you’re reading this and you feel stuck, please know that you don’t need to quit tomorrow. What you need is a plan. Break it down into manageable steps. That might mean retraining, saving money, or building something on the side while you still work.

Most importantly, don’t bottle it up. Talk to your loved ones. Share how you feel with people you trust. Sometimes just saying it out loud can ease the weight you’ve been carrying. You’ll often find that those closest to you want nothing more than to support you.

You are not trapped

Your job is not your identity, and it’s certainly not your life sentence. Whether you're 25 or 55, you can choose a healthier, happier path. I’m living proof of that.

And you’re not alone. The data shows that success often comes even later in life:

• The average age of successful business founders hovers around 42 to 45 years old, with many of the most high-growth ventures launched by founders in their middle age.

• The ones who build the fastest-growing companies—those in the top 0.1 %—found them around age 45.

• A 50-year-old founder is 2 to 2.8 times more likely to achieve major success compared to someone in their mid-20s, and a 60-year-old can be 3 times as likely to launch a thriving startup.

• In the world of small business ownership, roughly 60 % of entrepreneurs are aged 40 to 60, and the average small business owner tends to fall between 45 and 54 years old.

  
  

That means your age brings something powerful: more clarity, resilience, life and work experience, and often a tighter-knit network. All of that makes you more likely to succeed—not less.

Me living happier days

You can choose differently

Your job is not the sum of who you are. You can walk away, design a new chapter, and build a career and life that actually feel good. Whether that means starting a wellbeing business, changing industries, or simply stepping into something that gives you back your energy, it is possible.

I’m not saying it’s easy. But it is worth it.

If you’re considering a move into massage, beauty, or wellbeing, I’d love to share what I’ve learned on my own journey. But even if that’s not your route, my message is the same: your health and happiness are worth far more than any job title or payslip and if you have any questions about what worked for me, drop me a message HERE.

Start small. Make a plan. Reach out for support. And give yourself permission to imagine a life where you feel lighter, calmer, and in control.

Because no job and no amount of money is worth making you unwell.

References

• American Psychological Association, Stress in America

• World Health Organisation, Burnout an occupational phenomenon

• Harvard Business Review, “Research: The Average Age of a Successful Startup Founder Is 45”

• MIT Sloan, “Age and High-Growth Entrepreneurship”

• LeadStaff, “A Study of 2.7 Million Startups Found the Ideal Age to Start a Business”

• Clifford-Lewis, “Most Successful Entrepreneurs Are Older Than You Think”

• Apollo Technical, “Entrepreneur Statistics”

• Digital Web Solutions, “Average Age of Small Business Owners”