I am a hospital consultant in a cancer-related speciality. I am writing because I am suffering from complete career burnout and don’t know what to do next.
I am in my mid-40s and, to my sadness, I have lost interest in the job that has always been stressful but rewarding over the 20 years or so since I left medical school. It has been a long hard road starting as a busy junior doctor, coping with multiple exams and failures, but eventually making it as a consultant 10 years ago.
Even then, the job continued to be exceptionally busy and challenging work-wise and emotionally, and I now feel that I missed so many important things, particularly a significant part of my boys’ childhood.
I feel listless and tired all the time, and find it difficult to get enthusiastic about professional development and milestones.
What other career options do I have apart from medicine that would pay equally well? I still have to get three children through school and university.
Do you need advice on a work issue? For Jeremy’s and readers’ help, send a brief email to dear.jeremy@theguardian.com. Please note that he is unable to answer questions of a legal nature or to reply personally.
