I took a pay cut so I could live a calmer life. It was worth it, but affording city life became more difficult.

The author (not pictured) struggled to live in London after taking a pay cut. Karl Hendon/Getty Images My life was becoming all about work, and I struggled to keep up, so I took a pay cut. I got my life back instantly, but I struggled to afford London and had to make tough decisions. The tradeoffs were difficult, but I would definitely do it again. For most of my career, I was very good at earning money and very bad at enjoying it. I spent years in high-pressure roles: mergers and acquisiti...