Trust yourself: it’s time to quit your job

It took me three years to leave a job once. My health, mood, and creativity tanked, but quitting meant giving up financial security and starting over in a pandemic. I was really disrespecting myself by staying. Here’s how I finally knew it was time to take a risk.

Searching for articles titled “Is it time to quit my job?" Welcome! You’re in good company here. I honestly think this is the most telltale sign. I felt like I was overreacting to a bad day for YEARS, I needed someone to spell it out for me. Multiple times.

Feeling more concerned about quantity than quality. The pressure of grind culture, the hustle, being a girlboss - whatever name you'd like to assign to it, cheapening output by chasing burnout. I was tired of feeling like a shifting goalpost instead of a person.

Aiming to please customers and leadership over everything else. There's no feeling of personal accomplishment while seeking approval from everyone but yourself. I wasn’t proud of my work because it was entirely defined by someone else’s standards. I had little to no control.

Dreading every workday - and not just in a, "what a glorious morning" kind of way. Mental health days are valid and needed, but I wanted to hide from my 9-5 to avoid daily conflict and stress. My heart sank when my phone rang. It’s not healthy to live in that headspace every day.

A lack of focus and motivation. I never dream of labor, but I used to have drive and an eagerness to learn. Over time, I felt too overwhelmed to even know where to start. I was bitter over the idea of having to chase promotions eternally because that’s just what you do.

Big, explosive emotions. I started to mirror the toxic behavior around me, quick to pop off at the slightest inconvenience. I felt ungrounded and deregulated all the time. I honestly didn’t recognize myself.

Work stress spilling over into all parts of life. Home wasn’t a safe haven anymore. I caught myself checking emails at all hours even if I couldn’t do any of the work needed. I’m still apologizing to the friends who had to listen to me only talk about work for years.

Not having a voice. Conversations with leadership never felt collaborative. If I did speak up, I felt like I was talking out of turn. I had no hand in my future at a company where I spent most of my time. I felt disconnected from my team and undervalued by key managers.

I hope this level of vulnerability resonates with someone, just enough to feel seen. It’s not worth it to feel crushed all the time. Find better. P.S. I haven’t felt a shred of regret since.