5 Signs
It's Time to Quit
Are you moping around the office this week, shaking sand out of
your purse from Labor Day weekend? After a holiday, a vacation or a long summer
of fun and adventure, it's not unusual to feel a little reluctant to buckle
down and kick back into gear at your job.
But what if that feeling doesn't go away? What if you've
outgrown the job, or reached a tipping point on workplace stresses, or you
simply changed your mind about what you want to do for a living?
What if it's time to quit your job?
Most people don't come to this realization overnight, but let it
build up until something forces them into action -- be it a sudden opportunity
or a slow burn out. It's hard to pin down the pain point of a job you don't
like when you're rationalizing the paycheck, the time commitment, the passion,
the relationships, the investment ...
It's a big decision! If you're feeling stuck, but not clear on
the next steps consider weighing your current work situation against the
following variables. If you can relate to any or all of them, it's time to plot
out your exit strategy and move on to your next big thing.
1. YOU HATE GOING
It's more than just a bad case of the Mondays. If you dread
going there every day, check what's going on with your inner dialogue on your
commute to work. Proceed with caution. The competing voices in your head can
make a very convincing argument about why the job stinks and how none of it is
your fault. If you have attempted changes and you're still weighed down by a
laundry list of general grievances (a toxic boss, an unrealistic commute, etc.)
consider if it's worth 47 hours per week being that unhappy about issues beyond
your control.
2. IT'S TAKING IT'S TOLL
Work isn't everything. A well-balanced life includes equal
attention to all areas from family and community to learning, adventure, and
relationship to self. As the CEO of your own personal affairs, it's your utmost
responsibility to be allocate your time and energy across the spectrum in ways
that are consistent with your dreams, not just your paycheck. If you are
allowing your health, marriage, relationships, personal space or emotional
well-being to suffer in the background while you toil away at work, it's time
to quit and do better for yourself.
3. YOU'RE NOT GROWING
Personal growth doesn't come from places of comfort and ease. It
happens when you accept challenges that push you out of your comfort zone. Even
if you have a decent job, a great workplace or office friends, if you're and
stagnating, it's time to move on. You may have outgrown your position and found
that there is no opportunity for advancement, or you may just be ready for
change. Whatever the reason, don't let inertia stop you from moving in a
forward direction.
4. THE DREAM IS GONE
The why is everything. People who feel passionate about the
purpose of their work can sustain more productivity and ultimately more
fulfilling careers than those who are motivated by money or circumstance alone.
Do you not believe in the company? Does your work feel purposeless? Perhaps the
initial appeal of the job has worn off and you are no longer connected to the
bigger picture; maybe your dream has simply changed. You might be able to
rationalize sticking it out at a well paying position but if your heart isn't
in it, the weight of golden handcuffs will soon become a burden.
5. A BETTER DREAM IS CALLING
The biggest reason people stay at jobs they don't like can be
boiled down to fear. What's your flavor of fear? Fear of the unknown, fear of
making the wrong decision, fear of trying and failing? This is especially true
for those who already know what they wish they were doing but haven't taken the
necessary next steps. Reinvention is scary! Understand that fear is the driving
cause of your discontent, at work or anywhere. Understand that fear doesn't go
away until you deal with it. Dealing with it means summoning the courage and
integrity to forge a path that is true to you.
Though these scenarios are fairly straightforward indicators
that your job isn't working out, only you can determine whether to hang in
there or call it quits. Stay true to yourself and how you want to be at your
job, even if you wish you were somewhere else. How you feel about yourself will
factor greatly in whatever decision you make, whether you burn out and get
fired or leave as the office star.
Lauren Zander
HUFFINGTON
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