Advice for switching into a career outside my college major while under job stress

It makes complete sense that you feel stretched thin right now. Changing fields while your current job is draining you is a heavy combination, and the emotional toll is a real signal that something needs attention—not a sign that you are failing at either side of the problem. Many people build solid careers outside their college major; your degree does not lock you into one path, and your transferable skills, work habits, and genuine interest in the new field matter more than the label on your diploma.

A practical way forward is to treat this as two tracks that support each other rather than one all-or-nothing leap. First, protect enough capacity to think clearly. Name what is driving the stress—workload, unclear expectations, a difficult environment, or something else—and take small, concrete steps where you can: clarify priorities with your manager, set firmer boundaries on after-hours work if that is realistic, use any leave or wellness resources available, and lean on people you trust outside work so the pressure is not yours alone. If the stress feels unmanageable or is affecting your health, consider talking with a licensed mental health professional; that is not a detour from a career change, it is often what makes a careful change possible.

On the career-change side, map the target field in plain terms: which roles fit your strengths, what skills those roles usually require, and where your current experience already overlaps (communication, project ownership, tools, industry knowledge). Then close gaps with focused, low-drama actions—short courses or projects you can finish while still employed, informational conversations with people already doing the work, and a resume and LinkedIn profile rewritten around outcomes and transferable strengths rather than major. Apply selectively to roles that match what you can honestly do or learn quickly, and keep notes on what interviews and job descriptions teach you about fit.

You do not need to quit tomorrow or wait until you feel fully calm to start. Aim for steady progress: reduce day-to-day strain enough to function, build evidence for the new direction in small steps, and only make a move when you have a clearer picture of options, timing, and how the next role would improve both your work and your well-being. The right pace is the one you can sustain without burning out—and that still moves you closer to work that fits who you are becoming.