Quitting your job is not a decision you should take lightly, as it will significantly impact the direction of your life, not to mention your finances.
Many thoughts are probably swirling around in your head. Should you quit, or would you be admitting failure?
Is it worth leaving your job when you need the money? What will happen in the future – will you be able to sort yourself out and find another job, especially in this economy?
If you’re afraid to take that step and hand in your resignation notice, you’re not alone. Here are some clear signs that it’s the right choice to make.
Signs You Should Quit Your Job Immediately
1. You Dread Waking up and Going to Work
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Do you dread waking up every day? Is getting out of bed a gigantic task you must push yourself to do?
If you can’t find the motivation to get out of bed, start your day, and head to work, is it really worth it? You’re obviously unhappy with your life and your job, and it doesn’t give you any joy whatsoever.
You should be looking forward to something every day. It’s the only way to live a fulfilled life and be happy, and if your job offers nothing to look forward to, it’s time to look for a new one.
2. Your Boss Micromanages You
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Your boss should be supportive and give you space to grow. While they should provide guidance and critical feedback when necessary, they shouldn’t micromanage you.
If your boss constantly micromanages you or criticizes everything you do, they don’t care about your personal success and growth. Start looking for another job that gives you more room to be yourself.
3. There Is Endless Office Drama
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Is there constant drama in the workplace? Your teammates should be professional and respectful, not constantly gossiping about each other behind each other’s backs or reporting you to higher-ups whenever you make a small mistake.
Office drama can play out in several ways. There could be an unhealthy pattern of people dating around or hooking up with others in the workplace, or people might be playing “boss’s favorite.”
4. Your Managers or Coworkers Are Abusive
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Abuse in the workplace can come in many forms, and it doesn’t always come from higher-ups. It can be hard to spot abuse, but here are some forms of abuse to watch out for:
- Verbal abuse, including yelling, calling people names, or putting people down in front of others
- Physical abuse, which is not limited to hitting but can include blocking the door to prevent someone from leaving a room
- Sexual abuse, which can include higher-ups taking advantage of their positions and engaging in sexual relationships with people they are in charge of
5. There Is a Toxic Workplace Culture
A toxic workplace culture can also play out in different ways, and it doesn’t always involve people yelling at each other. If your coworkers stab you in the back or a higher-up always passes you over for promotions because you refused to go out with them or for some other reason, that’s toxic.
A sexist, misogynistic, racist, or xenophobic work environment is also grounds for quitting.
6. You Are Always Burnt Out
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Do you find yourself burnt out every day? If you go home only to collapse on the couch, with no energy to even cook, broom the floor, call your friends, or just get up from the sofa, you’re probably burnt out.
It’s important to find a job with a good work-life balance. You need time to rest and get your mind off work, whether you enjoy having an occasional drink out with friends or simply having a lovely evening to yourself.
A good employer will know the importance of rest and relaxation and ensure their employees have enough time for that. If your job requires you to stay late or work overtime, or if you find yourself dealing with work-related calls and emails late at night, with no time to breathe, it’s a red flag.
7. You Find Yourself Drinking Endless Cups of Coffee or Energy Drinks
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If you have to rely on caffeine to stay alert and have the energy to go through the day, it’s a bad sign. You might not be getting enough sleep, or you may be so burnt out and have no motivation at all that caffeine is the only way to keep yourself going.
Whether you’re drinking one cup of coffee after another or guzzling endless cans of Monster energy drinks, start thinking about when you started this habit.
Four cups of coffee a day is generally safe, according to the Mayo Clinic. Coffee can even provide some health benefits.
However, too much coffee can lead to various issues, such as jitters, anxiety, irritability, a lack of sleep, and a temporary increase in blood pressure. Energy drinks, in particular, often have high levels of caffeine and unhealthy amounts of sugar.
8. Your Career Is Dead, and There Are No Growth Opportunities
Have you been doing the same exact thing for years on end, getting the same salary? A good job will offer career advancement opportunities.
If you feel like your career is going nowhere, and you are stuck in the same position for as long as you remain with your current firm, consider quitting. As humans, we need growth to keep us alive; a job with no growth opportunities is stifling.
Besides, there should at least be promotions or salary raises to look forward to.
9. There Are Signs You May Lose Your Job
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If there are signs of job insecurity, you should consider looking for a new job before you are forced to. Here are some signs that may indicate you will be laid off in the future:
- There is talk of a merger or acquisition, which usually comes with layoffs due to job redundancy.
- There have been whispers of financial difficulties.
- Your boss has asked you to agree to a temporary furlough.
- Other people have lost their jobs.
- Your boss has indicated that they are unhappy with your performance.
- Your manager has put you on a performance improvement plan.
- You see people coming in for interviews.
- Your boss has passed over you for promotions or raises while giving them to almost everyone else.
- You have a gut feeling that something is off.
There is an important thing to note here, though. Quitting your job may cause you to lose out on potential compensation packages or unemployment insurance that you may qualify for when fired.
Therefore, instead of quitting immediately, start looking for other jobs. Once you find one, quit; in the meantime, wait until you get fired instead of quitting.
There are situations in which it would be advisable to quit instead of getting fired, though.
If you are sure that you will be fired, you may be able to negotiate a better severance package if you quit. Furthermore, your boss might be more likely to give you a positive recommendation that can help you find a new job.
10. You Want to Be Your Own Boss
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There might not be anything wrong with your job per se, but you might start feeling caged in. Some people just have entrepreneurial mindsets, and you might be dreaming of being your own boss, working from home, or setting your own hours.
In that case, consider taking the leap and quitting your job. However, it’s important to have a plan first.
What kind of business do you plan on starting? Is it an online business or a physical one?
Do you have the funds to invest, or can you secure a loan? Is the business profitable, and do you have the time and patience to ride it out until you are successful?
11. You Are Not Reaching Your Potential
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If you feel like you are not reaching your potential, start looking for a job that will help you achieve it. Perhaps you are overqualified for the position due to your experience and education, and you feel like you could do better.
Maybe the job is too menial for you, and you have the brains to do something better. You can also consider going back to college or taking an adult course to get new certifications and enter new fields.
12. You Disagree With the Company’s Ethical and Moral Values
There may be times when you simply no longer agree with the company’s ethical and moral values. Perhaps they have taken a particular stance on an issue that goes against everything you stand for, or maybe your views on certain matters have changed.
Depending on how strong your opinions are about the subject, you might want to consider quitting instead of working for a company that is ethically questionable.
13. The Stress Is Affecting Your Physical or Mental Health
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Jobs are stressful. There aren’t that many jobs that don’t involve some level of stress, work, and effort.
However, it’s important to realize when the stress is too much, and that’s when it starts affecting your health, either physically or emotionally.
Too much stress can lead to a wide range of health symptoms, including increased anxiety, breathing difficulties, chest pain, frequent migraines, muscle tension, increased blood pressure, and more. These symptoms might come and go, or you may experience them every day if you are under continuous stress.
It could also impact your sleeping and eating habits. Many people find it difficult to fall asleep when stressed, and others lose their appetite or binge on snacks, such as chocolate or potato chips, to ease their stress.
Stress and the habits it leads to (such as not sleeping enough or eating junk food) could all lead to a variety of health conditions in the long run, including heart issues and diabetes.
So far, we’ve talked about the physical side effects of stress, but it could also affect you emotionally. You might find yourself depressed, with no energy to do anything, or the stress might trigger your anxiety disorder, PTSD, OCD, or other problems.
If you are not doing okay, and you think your job is to blame, ask yourself if it is worth it. If your boss is not willing to be considerate and ease your workload or give you extra time off to recover, it might be better to start looking for something else.
14. A Better Opportunity Has Presented Itself
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There might not be anything wrong with your current job, but another opportunity might have presented itself that is much better than your current job. It might offer increased pay, more independence, better training, career advancement opportunities, etc.
Alternatively, it might be closer to where you live, helping you save on commuting costs, or even let you work from home. Maybe it gives you more vacation time or has a smaller team that you would enjoy working with better.
Regardless of what the case is, don’t be afraid to take that leap and take advantage of the new opportunity.
15. You Eagerly Await Time Off
Do you feel like you’re always counting down the days until the weekend or your next vacation? Is Monday the worst day of the week?
Do you constantly feel the urge to call in sick, even when you’re not? You might just be lazy, or it might be a sign that you hate your job and just can’t do it anymore.
16. You Find Yourself Controlling Yourself From Having Outbursts
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A sure sign of burnout and extreme levels of stress is irritability. If you’re constantly getting irritated or always feel frustrated, take a deep breath and a step back.
Are you always cursing whenever the slightest thing goes wrong, no matter how minor and inconsequential it really is?
Do you feel like screaming or yelling at your coworkers, supervisors, and managers when they tell you to do something or when they get something wrong? If you feel like you’re constantly on edge and on the brink of explosion, something is seriously wrong, especially if you’re not normally like that.
If you’ve always been that way, though, it’s probably not due to your current job.
17. The Pay Is Not Enough to Support You
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If you find yourself struggling to juggle your expenses and pay your bills on time, what are your options?
One possible solution is creating a budget. Some people simply don’t track their expenditures and don’t realize how much they are spending on unnecessary items.
However, if that’s not the case, it could be that your job simply doesn’t pay you enough to support you in your city. Whether the cost of goods has gone up in your town, your landlord has increased your rent, or you recently welcomed a new member of the family, there could be many reasons why a salary that was once sufficient is no longer enough to live on.
Your first step should be talking with your boss to see if they can give you a raise. If they refuse, and you don’t have the time to work a second job, start looking for a job that pays better.
18. You Spend Too Much Time on the Toilet or at the Water Cooler
Do you hate being at your desk? Do you find yourself constantly looking for excuses to get up and get a drink at the coffee machine or water cooler?
Or, do you spend too much time sitting on the toilet on company time, even when you don’t need to? Your work is probably dull and unfulfilling, and you may hate being around your coworkers.
19. Nobody Respects You, and You Don’t Respect Them
Healthy relationships in the workplace are built on mutual respect. There should be an atmosphere of respect and consideration for one another in the workplace.
However, if nobody respects you or your authority, or if nobody seems to value you, it can be hard to communicate with your coworkers. You should also respect them, but if you don’t (whether due to their character or their prior actions), it might be better to look for a new team to work with.
20. You’re a Shell of Your Former Self
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Has anyone mentioned to you that you’re no longer the person you used to be? That you changed, and that they don’t know what has happened to your former self?
Perhaps you used to be bubbly, outgoing, and friendly, always looking at the bright side of things and enjoying life to its fullest. Now, though, you are bitter, depressed, anxious, pessimistic, and can’t seem to find joy in anything.
Maybe you no longer smile, or perhaps you don’t call your friends and family anymore.
There can be many reasons your personality or outlook on life has changed, and it’s not always due to your job. You may be suffering from depression, or you may have a hormonal problem, an overactive thyroid, low testosterone levels, or anything else.
That’s why it’s crucial to get yourself checked by a doctor. However, if there is nothing seemingly wrong with you, your job may be to blame.
21. You Find Yourself Abusing Alcohol or Substances
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For some people, the pain and stress might seem too much, at which point they turn to abusing substances to get rid of the pain and feel better. Some people drink alcohol, while others use marijuana or illegal drugs.
You may also find yourself abusing sleeping pills just to be able to get some sleep at night.
There could be some health benefits to supplements like melatonin, CBD, or herbal supplements. However, you should never turn to alcohol or any other drug to seek relief from depression or get a break from reality.
If you find yourself addicted to substances, seek help. Find a counselor who can guide you toward recovery.
At the same time, if you think your job was driving you towards taking that step, consider quitting it. It might be the right choice for your health in the long run.
If you just started using alcohol or drugs, and you can stop, stop immediately. Start considering other options to relieve stress, such as listening to music, working out, or meditating, as well as quitting your job.
22. You Found This Article on Google
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One of the biggest signs that you need to quit your job is that you found this article on Google. If you were googling “signs you need to quit your job immediately,” you probably need to quit your job immediately.
Whether it’s a specific event that shocked you, such as a sexual harassment incident, or just a gut feeling that you can’t do it anymore, you know what you need best.
You might simply be afraid of taking that step and are thus looking for affirmation from the internet that it’s okay to quit. That’s understandable – nobody enjoys going out of their comfort zone and into the unknown, and that’s exactly what you’re doing when you jump right back into the job market.
The longer you have been in your current position, the harder it will be to quit. You’re used to the comfort of an office you know, coworkers you are familiar with, and a consistent check every Friday.
It’s one of the reasons people stay in abusive relationships and marriages. The fear of the unknown is hard to face; while any fear is hard to face, the fear of the unknown is worse than known fears because you don’t know what to expect.
However, things will likely turn out for the better. Usually, it will only take a few months or less to find a new job, although it does depend on your qualifications, the area, and the industry you are working in.
Wrapping It Up
Leaving a comfortable paycheck behind and heading into unknown territory can be frightening. However, if any of the above things apply to you, you should quit your job as soon as possible.
Sometimes, staying at a job just isn’t worth it for your well-being, no matter how scared you are of being a jobseeker again.
Remember, too, that you may qualify for unemployment, even if you quit, if it was for a good cause (caring for a family member, abuse in the workplace, etc.).
