Everyone telling me don’t get into a particular career it’s gonna be stressful…then I might as well don’t do anything then!
Does anyone else around them tell them to not get into a particular career because it’s gonna be stressful.
Well that’s been happening to me a lot in life.
People around me telling don’t become a teacher (my therapist told me this as she was a teacher for 10-15 years).
People telling me don’t become an art teacher, model, social media content creator, lash tech, nail, tattoo artist/piercer, makeup artist, hairstylist…it doesn’t make money or not realistic
Don’t get into social work or be a mental health counselor it’s gonna be stressful and pay is bad .
I’m an already anxious, indecisive and confused person ….I don’t know what to do in life .
Im just tired of the people around me …people I know and strangers to always have a negative thing to say on things I’m considering to pursue or find interesting….why do people do this
And I think I’m a people pleaser and I feed into it and listen to them …after Graduating with a bachelors 5 years ago I’ve been working dead end jobs ….teacher assistant and warehouses ….been hesitant to pursue anything in life because of fear that they might be right ….I’ll end up miserable, depressed or stressed out or poor if I pick either of the fields I mentioned.
I’m just tired living life like this and just want to say with the hell with it and just make a move and just do something ….anything ….I’m 26 and living ticking and about to hit 30.
Any advice and does anyone relate ??
Jobadvisor
It is incredibly draining when every spark of interest you have is met with a wet blanket. You are experiencing a specific kind of "advice paralysis," and it’s making you stay in jobs you already hate (warehouses and TA roles) to avoid jobs you might find stressful later.
The irony? You are already stressed, anxious, and unhappy. The "safe" path of not choosing is currently causing you the very burnout you’re trying to avoid.
1. Why do people do this?
It usually isn't malice; it’s Projected Trauma.
The Teacher: Your therapist isn't talking about you; she’s talking about her own burnout from 15 years ago.
The "Realistic" Advice: People who tell you the arts don't make money are often people who were too afraid to try it themselves, or they value security above all else.
The "Stress" Warning: Every high-impact job (Social Work, Counseling) has a high burnout rate, but it also has a high fulfillment rate. They are warning you about the "cost" without mentioning the "reward."
2. The "Stress" Fallacy
Here is the truth: Everything is stressful.
Working a dead-end warehouse job you hate is a "low-prestige, high-physical" stress.
Being a tattoo artist is a "high-pressure, creative" stress.
Being a counselor is an "emotional, heavy-load" stress.
Since you have to choose a "flavor" of stress anyway, you might as well choose the one that comes with a sense of purpose or a creative outlet.
3. Comparing the "No" list vs. The Reality
You’ve listed two very different paths. Let’s look at them objectively:
| The "Creative/Service" Path | The "Clinical/Help" Path |
| Roles: Nail tech, Tattoo artist, MUA, Content Creator. | Roles: Social Work, Counseling, Teaching. |
| The Stress: Inconsistent income early on, physical toll (back/neck), difficult clients. | The Stress: Emotional labor, bureaucracy, lower pay relative to the degree. |
| The Upside: You are your own boss, immediate creative satisfaction, flexible schedule. | The Upside: Stability, benefits, profound impact on lives, clear career ladder. |
4. How to break the People-Pleasing cycle
Because you identify as a people-pleaser, you are treating everyone else’s "No" as a stop sign. You need to start treating them as data points, not commands.
The 30-Year-Old Deadline: You mentioned hitting 30 soon. Use that as fuel. If you spend the next 4 years "playing it safe," you will be 30 and still in the warehouse. If you spend the next 4 years failing at being a tattoo artist, you’ll be 30 with a hell of a story and a skill set.
Stop Asking for Permission: Stop telling people what you are "considering." People can't shoot down a target they can't see. Start doing the thing in secret. Take the lash tech course or volunteer at a crisis line without announcing it.
5. A Practical Next Step: "Low-Stakes Testing"
You don't have to quit your job and jump into the deep end tomorrow. Pick one thing from each of your lists and do a "Micro-Trial":
Creative: Buy a beginner tattoo kit (for practice skin) or a high-end makeup set. Spend your weekends doing it. Do you actually like the work, or just the idea of it?
Clinical: Look into a 36-hour "Peer Support" certification or volunteer for a text-based crisis line. See if you can handle the emotional weight.
Lost, which path to take?
Hi all, going to try not to ramble as much but long story short I’ve felt lost for years. I am one of those people who didn’t know what to study, indecisive and wasted time, even though I went straight to college after high school. ( Took me years to earn an associates)
I maintained a remote data entry job and raised my two kids from home which is a blessing but even though I’ve done data entry for over 15 years, I feel like I haven’t grown, or I should be earning more or have some certification/license. Wish I had a niche.
Now, at my second data entry job going on five years in a medical records department, while it has good benefits and its flexible for someone like me that has two little ones in school, the pay is quite low and I just feel like by now at 35 years old I should be doing more.
I have an associates degree in human services, and all these years in data entry and no idea how to make use of it if I were to start searching for something else.
I thought maybe now that I have my foot in the door in healthcare I can look into HIM/admin jobs but what? Then thought med coding but keep reading thats hard to get a job.. sigh just lost.
Any advice would be appreciated,
Thank you!
Jobadvisor
It is completely understandable why you feel this way. Balancing a 15-year career while raising two children is a massive achievement, but it’s common for "stable and flexible" roles to eventually feel like a cage when you realize your income and professional growth have plateaued.
At 35, you aren't "behind"—you are actually in a prime position to pivot because you have two things many career-changers lack: deep industry context (healthcare/medical records) and proven reliability.
Here is a breakdown of how you can bridge the gap from data entry to a higher-paying "niche" without starting from zero.
1. Leverage Your "Medical Records" Context
Since you already work in a medical records department, you have "domain expertise." You understand HIPAA, patient privacy, and the structure of electronic health records (EHR). Instead of a total 180-degree turn, look at these Human Services + Healthcare hybrids:
Case Management Assistant / Care Coordinator: Your Human Services degree is a perfect fit here. These roles involve helping patients navigate the healthcare system, scheduling follow-ups, and managing records. It moves you from "inputting data" to "managing outcomes."
Health Information Management (HIM) Analyst: Since you mentioned HIM, look into becoming a Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT). It often requires an Associate degree (which you have), though you may need a few specific credits. It pays significantly more than data entry.
Patient Advocacy: This uses your Human Services background to help patients resolve billing issues or understand their rights within a hospital system.
2. The "Medical Coding" Reality Check
You’ve heard it’s hard to break into, and there is some truth to that—mostly because many people get the certification without having any hospital experience. You are the exception. Because you already work in a medical records department, you have a "backdoor" entry.
The Strategy: Don't just get a certificate and apply elsewhere. Talk to your current manager. Ask if the hospital has a tuition reimbursement program or if you could shadow a coder. Internal Hires are almost always preferred over external applicants for coding roles.
3. Tech-Adjacent Paths (The "Data" Route)
If you enjoy the quiet, focused nature of data entry but want more pay, consider moving from Data Entry to Data Analysis.
The Path: Learn advanced Excel (Pivot Tables, VLOOKUPs) and a basic data visualization tool like Tableau.
The Goal: Every healthcare system needs "Data Analysts" to track patient trends, departmental budgets, or insurance claim success rates. This takes your 15 years of typing data and turns it into interpreting data.
Comparison of Potential Paths
| Path | Difficulty to Pivot | Pay Increase | Best "Value" for You |
| HIM Coordinator | Low | Moderate | Uses your current experience immediately. |
| Care Coordinator | Medium | Moderate | Directly uses your Human Services degree. |
| Medical Coder | High (Requires Cert) | High | Best for long-term remote "niche" work. |
| Data Analyst | Medium (Skill-based) | High | Best if you want to leave healthcare eventually. |
Your Next Steps
Don’t try to solve the next 10 years today. Instead, try one of these "low-pressure" moves this week:
The Internal Search: Look at your current employer’s internal job board. Filter for "Human Services," "Coordinator," or "Analyst." See what requirements they ask for that you might already meet.
The "Coffee Chat": Identify one person at your current job who has a role you think sounds interesting. Ask them: "I've been in records for 5 years and love the company, but I'm looking to grow. How did you get into your role?"
Audit Your Degree: Look at your Associate's transcript. Many "Human Services" degrees are only a few classes away from being a "Healthcare Administration" or "Social Work" focus.
No budget for a raise, but we’d like to see more from you in 2026
Just got off a phone call with my manager. Despite hitting 100% of my targets this year and leading several important projects, unfortunately neither I or my colleagues, who worked just as hard, are getting a raise. They would, however, like to see me “take more ownership” of my work this year and “show more initiative.” Fuming.
Jobadvisor
That is an incredibly frustrating "slap in the face." Being told you've hit 100% of your targets—and led projects—only to be told there is no money, but please work harder, is a classic corporate move to squeeze more productivity out of high performers for free.
It is completely valid to be fuming. You have been a loyal, high-performing employee for five years, and they are essentially asking for a "promotion in responsibilities" without a "promotion in pay."
Since your current priority is balance for your two kids and the flexibility of your remote role, you have to be strategic. You don't want to burn the bridge, but you also shouldn't give away your labor for free.
How to Handle "The Ask" for More Initiative
When a manager asks for "more ownership" without more pay, they are usually using corporate buzzwords. Here is how to handle the next few months without burning yourself out:
Practice "Strategic Minimums": If they aren't paying for "above and beyond," stop going above and beyond. Hit your 100% targets—which you’ve proven you can do—but stop volunteering to lead the "important projects" that aren't in your job description.
Ask for Clarification (The "Reverse" Move): Since they want "initiative," ask for a written definition of what that looks like.
“I’m committed to the team’s success. Since there isn't a budget for a salary increase right now, can we define exactly what 'taking ownership' looks like so I can ensure I'm focusing on the right areas for when the budget reopens?"
Quietly Build Your "Exit Portfolio": Use the "ownership" they want you to take as a way to build your resume. If you take on a project, choose one that teaches you a skill (like a new software or a specific HIM process) that makes you more hireable elsewhere.
Use Your Frustration as Fuel
The reality is that your current employer has just told you their "ceiling." They value your stability, but they aren't willing to pay for your growth.
Update the Resume Now: You have 15 years of data entry and 5 years in Medical Records. You are a "Senior Medical Records Specialist" in everything but title.
Look for "Lateral" Moves: Sometimes the only way to get a raise is to move to a different hospital or healthcare group. Another organization will often pay a 10–20% premium to hire someone with your 5 years of specific medical records experience.
Protect Your Energy: You have two little ones. Don't give your "fuming" energy to a job that won't pay for it. Save that energy for your kids and for finding your next step.
A Question for You
Does your current company offer tuition reimbursement or certification coverage?
If they can't give you a raise in cash, they might be able to pay for a Certified Professional Coder (CPC) or RHIT exam. If they pay for the certificate, you can take that "initiative" and use it to get a higher-paying job elsewhere in six months.