Ask HN: Any experience switching from a Senior Manager role to IC?

Hi! Background: I have a Senior Manager role in a large non-tech company, where I lead a team of ~100. The team is a mix of Engineers, Product/Project Managers, and industry experts. Up until recently my team was only half its size, but then got merged with another one doubling its size. More challenging, the other team was known for its bad track record and high attrition levels

I was reasonably happy prior to the merger and believe I am a decent manager, but it always felt like I did the job not out of passion but out of a sense of duty / obligation towards the team. Bringing the new half of the team to a good level sucks a huge amount of energy and really is just a chore that will likely continue for the next 1-2 years

I know it would be possible to switch to a part-time IC role in my company without much trouble, which sounds extremely tempting at the moment. But then: the grass looks always greener on the other side… But is it really?

Hence: any experiences from anyone here doing such a step? Did anything surprise you?