“At 28, John Doyle was an overworked New York investment banker on the fast track. By most measures, he was a success. But he was also miserable. So during a semiannual review 2 1/2 years into the job, he simply quit. ‘Almost immediately I lost 35 pounds,’ says Doyle. For four months, he did little more than relax, rollerblade through Central Park, and read books. ‘Honestly, it was one of the happiest times in my life,’ he says.”

— Ways to fix your life: Quit your job