A year ago, I finally quit the job I hated beyond measure because I had been hired as a nanny somewhere else. I wasn't sure how I was going to make out financially, but I decided just to do it, as I was completely miserable, working almost 40 hours a week and a totally bizarre schedule with no routine. Best thing I ever did.
Jumping ship and becoming a nanny opened a huge door for me--now I am more or less self-employed. I now have "clients". I make as much money as I made at my horrible job, but I now have control over my routine and schedule, plus I get to do a job I truly enjoy, and still have time for school. I work enough to pay my bills and have some left over. Just enough
I'm not interested in working myself to the bone, or working at a job I hate. It tore me up, and wasn't worth it. I worked at a drug and alcohol rehab, yet I found myself compelled to drink when I came home because my work situation was so horrible and stressful (horrible coworkers, horrible supervisors). This is much better.
My dad used to be a workaholic (high school principal) when I was younger, but I think it was mostly because his best friends were also his work buddies. As he's gotten older and moved on to different jobs, he started spending a lot more time at home and a lot less time volunteering to work ball games or be on committees. And good luck trying to get ahold of him in July if you want to talk about something work-related; unless it's an emergency, he is indisposed. He's a pretty good example of how to juggle work and home life; if it's an emergency, he'll respond, but he does not check his email at home and he only occasionally does work outside of his office. Of course, by now he's earned it, haha.