Woman takes 40% pay cut to become receptionist, would ‘rather live a modest life’ than ‘suffer’ in a job she dislikes (exclusive)

“[I] would rather live a modest life than be suffering with more money,” Grace McClelland tells PEOPLE

NEED TO KNOW

• Grace McClelland took a 40% pay cut when she left her retail management career in Sydney, Australia, to become a receptionist
• The lower-stress job gave her the time and energy to invest in hobbies and build a successful social media side income
• The 34-year-old now tells PEOPLE that switching jobs, although financially “scary,” has made her happier in the long run

At the peak of her career, Grace McClelland had everything many people strive for: a nice salary, a coveted leadership position and years spent climbing the ranks of one of the world’s biggest fashion retailers.

But behind the promotions and professional success, the 34-year-old from Sydney, Australia, was quietly battling burnout, anxiety and a life consumed by work. 

After trying one more high-paying management role and realizing the problem wasn’t just the company she worked for, McClelland decided to walk away from the career she had spent years building. Today, she tells PEOPLE she earns about 40% less as a receptionist, but says the trade-off has been worth every dollar.

“Overall, I just feel like a completely different person coming home from work,” McClelland says. “I used to come home grumpy, drained, tired, emotional. Now I’m usually in a positive mood and full of energy.”

McClelland spent nearly five years at her retail job, starting as a sales associate before steadily working her way up to managing one of the retailer’s flagship stores. But stepping into the position came with enormous pressure, and the confidence she projected at work didn’t always match how she felt internally.

“When I landed my store manager role with [the brand], it was a huge step up for me, and I was really motivated to make my mark on the company,” McClelland explains. “However, I felt like I had imposter syndrome and that I had to prove myself and to the company.”

The demanding schedule quickly became just as difficult as the responsibilities themselves.

Rotating between early morning openings and late-night closings made it nearly impossible to establish any routine outside of work, while stressful commutes and constant operational pressures steadily took their toll.

“I was proud of myself, but at the same time I was suffering,” McClelland admits, adding that as the workload intensified, the emotional strain became impossible to ignore. “My anxiety was at an all-time high, and I would often find myself on my commute to work having physical symptoms of anxiety.”

As time went on, the retail environment rarely offered a chance to slow down. Between staffing issues, executive visits, sales targets and difficult customer interactions, the pressure never seemed to let up.

“My work was so draining, I had no energy to do anything outside of work,” McClelland shares.

Years later, McClelland says some of those experiences still linger. “I still to this day suffer from a mild form of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from dealing with aggressive customers,” she reveals.

Eventually, McClelland resigned without another job lined up and accepted her first office position. That role lasted only four months, however, because the company culture wasn’t the right fit.

Yet, when a luxury retail brand approached her with a higher salary, bonuses, overseas travel and generous incentives, she decided to return to management.

“I decided to give it another go, thinking it may be different working in luxury,” McClelland recalls, adding that she “had nothing to lose.”

While there, she was earning around $100,000 AU — which equates to roughly $70,000 USD — plus superannuation, the mandatory Australian retirement savings system in which employers are required to contribute a percentage of an employee’s earnings into a fund, which is accessible at age 60 upon retirement.

Although the second management role rewarded her financially and she continued to perform well, she realized the work itself no longer fulfilled her.

“Whilst I was well compensated and performing well, ultimately, I felt so detached from my day-to-day work and like I was just going through the motions, faking enthusiasm, and couldn’t truly be myself,” McClelland reveals.

And while the “financial change” of leaving the industry for a second time “was scary,” especially after investing years building her reputation and career, McClelland knew she needed a different pace. 

After taking about a month off, McClelland began applying for junior administrative jobs close to home and eventually landed a receptionist and office manager role at a retail head office in July 2024.

Today, she supports the office with administrative work, assists the wider team with day-to-day tasks and helps keep operations running smoothly while earning about 40% less than she did at her highest salary.

Still, rather than chasing another demanding leadership role, McClelland intentionally sought something that would allow her to recover.

“I had no clue what I wanted to do long term, so I was thinking of this next job as being a ‘circuit-breaker’ where I could reset my nervous system while earning an income and think about my next move,” she admits.

The slower pace, however, ended up giving her far more than a break from stress. It also changed how she viewed success.

“When people ask me what I do for work, I don’t try to dance around being a receptionist, and it’s never met with judgement,” McClelland shares. “I think truly a lot of people envy that I have such a relaxed job.”

With more energy outside the office, she began investing time into creative hobbies like crocheting and consistently posting on social media, eventually creating another stream of income.

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Nevertheless, McClelland is quick to acknowledge that making such a dramatic career change isn’t an option for everyone.

“I am very aware that I am privileged to have been able to take a step back, and it’s worth noting that my partner and I are dual-income with no kids,” she says, stressing that anyone considering a similar transition should plan ahead financially by saving where possible and living below their means before taking the leap.

Looking back, McClelland also believes the biggest lesson wasn’t about changing careers — it was about redefining what success meant to her and choosing a life that aligned with her priorities rather than her paycheck.

“My advice would be to remember that you are more than your job title and not to worry about what anyone thinks,” McClelland tells PEOPLE. “Think about what you really value above all else. I value my health and my peace and would rather live a modest life than be suffering with more money.”

Read the original article on People