In my experience, the pay was independent of how difficult the work was. The hardest job I ever had (technically) was the lowest paying one.

However, the stress has consistently gone up with any increase in pay and/or responsibility. Being a startup CTO (which I was before going back to contracting) was a total barrel of monkeys for example.

By the grace of exercise, diet, sleep, and vitamin D supplements do I keep my sanity intact.

Edit: I just noticed you're one of the Goodsense people. Could you elucidate your question a bit better so I can answer more completely? Do you want to email me instead?

Your answer was perfect. I would be interested in learning more about how you manage to sustain your sanity. Where can I email you? Or you can just use my contact form - http://blog.goodsense.io/contact

I sent my info in with a mention of who I am.