[onli]

In Germany? Things to keep in mind:

1. There is no time limit when doing a PhD. I know several colleagues who did a PhD in Germany who took more than 10 years. Those were not pathological cases.

2. It's definitely useful to have the title when getting a job and it helps to get some specific positions. And it opens the doors for interviews in this country. Though, even in Germany: Compared to just starting to work and getting experience that way you are likely to lose money, even in the long run.

Doing a PhD is a job, one that is not very well paid. It can be pretty great if you are okay with the money you earn and if you can enjoy the time. A good PhD program: Not too much work (I recently passed by the university at 14:30 on a Friday, there was one single soul), interesting work, something specific you get in the end. But for that to work positively it has to be something you enjoy doing. If you'd see it as lost time, it will be lost time. It has to be in a city and a country you like where you can be with people you like and work on stuff you enjoy. OP, it sounds as nothing of that would be true for you - and if not, a PhD is the best way to reach a burnout or a clinical depression. Don't do it.