You should probably leave IB

I began an exit process with my firm recently after working in banking for around 2 years. Today, after getting clarity about what it will look like to be free and getting off work at 5pm, it all hit me, and hit me hard. First, I entered banking because it was “prestigious” and earns you a ton of money. Very surface level perspective. At the time of entering the industry, I thought having a ton of money would make me live a dream lifestyle and didn’t care that I’d “sacrifice” my health, my wellbeing, my family, love life and hell, my HUMANITY, to do this job. Well, all those sacrifices are necessary to do this job long term, point blank. Nobody doing this job is fully experiencing humanity. It’s impossible with the lack of sleep and consistency it brings to your life. Anyways, I gave it a go and went for it. Not to get too in the weeds, but I fell out of love fast, and hit rock bottom over the past 2 months. I realized that life isn’t one dimensional, that I don’t want to be like those older bankers with crazy eye bags and so much money they never get to enjoy. I want to be human. I want to be happy. Everyone at the junior level at my firm / others I’ve spoken to has similar feelings and desires to quit, and I don’t even know one person who likes the job. I took the leap and don’t have an exact plan for what’s next, but I feel unbelievably happy and human for the first time in literally forever. Also, from a perspective of value add, banking, PE, trading, etc. don’t have anything on founders, creators, engineers, etc. I’ll be entering a more creative area and encourage everybody to at least question whether this job is making them fulfilled and look at things first principles with depth; don’t approach your life at a surface level. What do you really want? What are you going to do with your life? What do you truly value? Do you want to be free? If you’re looking for that inspiration, motivation or “permission” to make that jump, here it is. I know that taking this leap, no matter what comes to fruition, is the best decision I’ve ever made. I wrote this because I want people to realize there’s more to life and you can actually just do things. You really can. Good luck to everybody reading this and enjoy your life - you only get one on Earth.