I got a degree in computer science because I loved to code as a kid (this was in the 1980s) and actually liked my job for many years. It was my social life. It was fun to do, but as things went on and I got into my mid 30s and kids and life and everything, my job just seemed like an anchor around my neck. So, I quit and followed a hobby into the world of beer brewing of all things. Owned a micro brewery for 12 years until the great recession killed it off 10 years ago. With little kids and a mortgage, both my wife and I went back to work full time. She's at Microsoft make a lot of money and I am in IT at a large company. I hate my job now. Working from home was the best thing that ever happened to me. It exposed how little work gets done each day in the office. Really only 2-3 hours of real work. Now they want us all back in the office in a couple of months. I am dreading it. There is no way I can make up the money I make by side hustles and writing. Not even close so I will toil until retirement about 7-8 years from now.

Everything you describe about the office is almost 100% true in my case. I have been trying to push my children to follow low stress careers because being in an office for 30+ is simply hell. If I had to do it all over again, I would've been some type of artist or other creative. Who cares how much you make as long as you can save for retirement.