I agree, chop it!!

Just go shoulder length to start with and add some layers. That way you can go shorter if you want to and it won't be such a drastic change if you don't like it.

I have quite short hair these days and every time I try to grow it out I just end up cutting it again. It's more manageable when it's shorter and it makes me feel older having longer hair.

Although I have annoyingly soft, silky hair (I am not being vain here, I really do and it drives me nuts) which means that while most people with my length could still tie it back, I can't. It just slips straight out again. It's the one downside to having it short. But if my hair was coarser, it would stay back.