David Sparks, of MacSparky, on changing your career:

So, if you’re in your forties—or even earlier—and wondering if you should start preparing for a possible change, the answer is yes. That doesn’t mean you need to quit your job or make a drastic move.

It just means placing small bets on things that interest you. Explore different skills, build relationships in other fields, and don’t be afraid to try something that might not work out. Even if you never need to pull the ripcord, it’s good to have options.

I’m in my mid-forties (it feels weird just saying that) and I feel like I’m in the prime of my career. I’ve found my niche in the HVAC world and I can confidently say, I’m pretty good at what I do.

I also have interests outside of work that I bring into my work life: Apple products, social media, and YouTube. I have no idea if these things will lead into anything similar to David’s path, but I know that these skills are skills that not many in my industry have and it could potentially lead to something else.

Rachel Sugar in The Atlantic:

A quiet monologue runs through my head at all times. It is this: dinner dinner dinner dinner. The thing about dinner is that you have to deal with it every single night. Figuring out what to eat is a pleasure until it becomes a constant low-grade grind. It’s not just the cooking that wears me down, but the meal planning and the grocery shopping and the soon-to-be-rotting produce sitting in my fridge. It is the time it sucks up during the week. It is the endless mental energy.

I love cooking, but the weeknight dinner is one of the most stressful things in my day to day.