system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
Complicated feelings around leaving academia

I'm doing a post-doc in a STEM field that has pretty good industry options. For a while, I entertained the possibility of staying in academia but it's becoming clearer to me that I need better work-life balance and that I enjoy working in teams more than being a PI. I've been slowly applying for industry jobs and I'm generating a decent number of follow up interviews.

But the truth is that I feel ... strange ... about this idea of leaving academia. I did have an industry job for 4 years before starting grad school and I also was always lukewarm about the idea of getting in academia as a career (as opposed to getting a Ph.D. for cooler jobs in my area).

I feel sad and like I'm grieving, even though I'm sure I don't want to stay in academia any more. I guess I'm also worried about telling my PI that I'm leaving. I have my own grant, and he hasn't been super helpful or supportive either along the way, so I don't know why I'm feeling this guilt.

My Ph.D. advisor is quite supportive of whichever direction I choose. But I just feel weird about this. I just don't want to make my entire life about some scientific endeavor that isn't even earth-shattering. Why do I feel guilt for not doing that?
gpt
Change is always difficult. Particularly difficult when you are changing from an environment where you have been successful...

That said, from the perspective of this retired university professor, nothing indicates that the academic environment is going to improve anytime soon... Number of traditional age college age students declining, competition for money increasing, as well as student debt levels increasing.

Absolutely normal to have some trepidation when contemplating a change.

Do your research about where in industry you want to work... Make a plan. Work you plan. 

Best of luck!