There is little reason to stay in a job that makes you miserable, especially with the number and variety of career paths available. The most challenging part of finding a new career is picking one from all the possibilities. Narrowing down your choices involves two main factors: first, figuring out what interests and inspires you, and second, determining the standard of living and career options available to you within that field. Ultimately, going on a new job search is an exercise in self-exploration: you need to know yourself in order to know the career that's best for you. Once you have picked your goal, the next step is to get the degrees or credentials you need to succeed.
Ideally, your career would be something you would do for pleasure, even if you weren't paid. Some people know what this special activity is, but many do not. If you are in the latter category, you'll need to spend time exploring your own aptitudes and attitudes. Do you like working alone or with people? Do you like physical, social or intellectual activities? Questions such as these can help you figure out what you really want to do with your life. Career counselors can give you tests and quizzes that can determine your "personality type" and the careers that would most suit your interests.
Once you've narrowed down the field, you need to determine the important "real life" needs and limitations that may affect your goals. Do you have a family to take care of, or do you desire a certain lifestyle? Does your future potential career satisfy these requirements? Is there even a viable career option for your interests? Luckily, in most cases, the answers to these questions are positive, but sometimes it just takes some creative thinking to figure out how to turn a passion into a career.
Once you've ironed out the details, you then need to find a school that offers degrees that will help you meet your goals, if necessary. Online and offline colleges offer degree programs to adult students that can fit with nearly any schedule.