I think your appraisal is totally reasonable. I used to work as a software engineer. I really enjoy programming, but needed more variation in my day-to-day. I e

I think your appraisal is totally reasonable. I used to work as a software engineer. I really enjoy programming, but needed more variation in my day-to-day. I ended up deciding to get a PhD in computer science and am now doing a postdoc where I'm on the faculty of a math department, where I teach one course per semester. My time is split evenly between doing research (which is a mix of programming and working problems out with people on the board or on paper), teaching (which involves class prep, lecturing, grading, hosting office hours, etc.), and mentoring (advising undergrads and master's students on projects). I love that my day is more balanced now. I have way more energy for programming when I can choose to do it from between 0 and 8 hours a day. This isn't to say that you would enjoy the same career, only that moving from programming to something "programming adjacent" was absolutely the right move for me. I make much less money, but my philosophy has always been that it's better to find a job that I'll be happy with in the long run instead of feeling the constant need to FIRE or something else. One thing you should keep in mind is that as you advance in the industry, you shouldn't need to spend every day programming. You can move into management. But the job remains pretty sedentary. I always thought becoming a nurse or a physician's assistant (PA) seemed interesting. (Or a doctor if you can handle the long-term commitment.) Depending on the type of unit you find yourself in, the work can be physically demanding. People who do this kind of work appreciate people who are timely, reliable, and orderly. They also especially appreciate people who are physically strong. The work can be demanding and interesting and pays well. There is a decent amount of socializing, but it doesn't have to be all the time.