Hello Tribe,

I've come to ask for some advice. I've recently decided that I can't take desk jobs much more.

I have back problems which have been getting worse for the last year, despite me making an effort to stretch for about an hour before work and a short stretch after work.
Additionally, I have eye problems which results in a lot of pain and blurry vision when I spend prolonged periods on a computer. I've seen doctors about both, and been advised that it's not life threatening.

Both of these together have made me decide to now begin moving towards a career where I can ideally have a fair mix of computer/desk time and moving about to relieve stiffness in my back/joints. I've decided to supress my original urge to quit my current desk job ASAP and will keep it up for another year since it's only 3 days a week and I have a weekend job which affords me a good mix of computer work and breaks. However, since it's in a dusty environment which causes my eyes to swell up, I don't want to do it full time.

During the next year, I plan on paying off my debts (approx £15K) and gain extra A Levels to go back to University and get a 2nd degree. My 1st was in econometrics and I studied it part time over rather a long period.

Does anyone have advice about what field might suit my needs of:

1) A good 50:50 mix (or close enough) of PC/Desk work (recharge my introverted self) and moving about and/or interacting with people.
2) Fixed working hours so I can do my work, finish at 5/5,30pm, go home and switch that off and get on with my real passions/life.
3) A stable field ideally since I am prone to worry as it is and don't want to have to worry about been unemployed. Especially since I haven't been unemployed at all since I turned 16.
4) I'd like a good enough salary to help my family clear their mortgage. Not a huge amount. Knowing that after a few years I would be on the mid/high £30K's would be nice.

I've taken advice from the career change thread and noted that most of my books are about Science, Complementary Medicine/healthy living, Tai Chi and Classical Languages. I also care about the environment and have volunteered as a conservation officer. I've tried to turn this into career thoughts.

I was considering either Dietics or Complementary Health Sciences, both BSCs.
The former is more secure although I get the feeling it might require spending all day dealing with patients which would probably burn me out, despite the pleasure I get in helping other people and seeing them improve.
In terms of complementary health sciences, this is a bit harder since I wouldn't be eligible for any funding for the tuition and it isn't recognised by the NHS as such, so jobs a more reliant on me selling myself and being self employed which is very off putting (I come from a background of seeing self employed relatives going bankrupt and I enjoy working for a large organisation knowing that I can shut off at 5pm and can look forward to having time off from work, i.e. annual leave).

If it helps, I'm academically strong and have good potential. Also, I dislike the idea of being a Massage Therapist since it would cause me problems with my hands/shoulders. Just mentioned since most of the Complementary Health Therapies I see on offer seem to revolve around some form of massage, relexology etc. That or Reiki which I'm also reluctant to pursue.

Many thanks for any advice :)