8 Clear Signs It’s Time to Quit Your Job

 

A racing heart. Lost sleep. An overwhelming feeling of dread.

 

These are just a few of the symptoms I regularly experienced when I was working a job I despised.

 

Every weekday morning, I would wake up feeling demoralized, miserable, and distraught before my day even really started. All because I was working a job I hated.

 

Trust me, I know from first-hand experience.

 

Below are eight sure-fire signs it’s time to quit your job.

 

 

 

8 Undisputed Ways to Tell It’s Time to Quit Your Job 

 

 

 

1. The Sunday Scaries Are *Terrifying*

Whether you’re new to work or a seasoned pro, experiencing some form of the Sunday scaries is understandable and (unfortunately) expected.

 

After all, who wants to end their weekend and start again on Monday?

 

However, if you find yourself experiencing crippling fear, stress, anxiety, loathing, etc., when the weekend ends, it’s likely a sign of something bigger than the typical Sunday scaries.

 

Your body and mind may be not-so-subtly signaling that it’s time to find new employment.

 

Butterflies about an impending Monday and wistfulness about the weekend, well, ending, is normal.

 

Dreaming of selling everything and living in a Costa Rican shack? That’s your nervous system yelling, “Get me out of here – now.”

 

Instead, picture walking out on your last day, with a fresh job offer in hand and your shoulders finally relaxed.

 

If Sunday dread is taking over your entire weekend, these simple strategies to ease the Sunday Scaries might help until you’re in a better role.

 

 

 

2. Your Irritability is Through the Roof

If people who you previously liked (or at least tolerated) in the past are getting on your last nerve, it could be a sign that it’s time to go! 

 

Symptoms like high irritability and irritation are often signals that your body is on edge, you’re uncomfortable, and you may have anxiety or stress relating to work. 

 

Hair-trigger irritation isn’t something that people who are happy with their jobs experience. 

 

Recognize this sign for what it is and consider leaving an unhappy workplace.

 

 

 

3. The Toxicity is Palpable

People regularly cut their eyes at you and give you dirty looks. Your co-workers snicker and whisper as you pass by their desks. 

 

Instead of helpful responses, email replies are snippy, and greetings are missing entirely. 

 

If these things sound remotely familiar, there’s a high probability that you’re working a toxic job. 

 

If you’re like most people, you may find yourself explaining the toxicity you’re encountering away as people having a “bad day” or “not meaning it that way. “

 

However, oftentimes, more than not, people’s negative behavior is a symptom of a greater problem and can be a huge sign that your workplace is not good for you mentally (or physically).

 

 

 

4. Your Job is (Negatively) Affecting Other Areas of Your Life

Here are a few quick questions for you:

• Do you regularly find your mind drifting back to things you need to do at work? 
• Are you replaying unpleasant work encounters in your mind, many long hours past, leaving for the day? 
• Do you dream about your job in a negative way?

These are just a few of the many ways that a job can negatively affect your life, and if you answered yes to any of these questions, you may be experiencing this unfortunate phenomenon.

 

Work should be a.) a pleasant experience that allows you to utilize your skills, abilities, and/or education to make a difference (and money) or b.) a means to an end, aka a “good enough” job.

 

Work should not be something that carries over into unrelated areas of your life in a detrimental or harmful way.

 

Experiencing this? It’s a huge sign that the job you have may not be for you. 

 

If work stress is bleeding into your personal life, these quick mindset shifts can help you protect your peace in the meantime.

 

 

 

5. There Are No Job Growth Prospects

There’s not much worse than a dead-end job and feeling like you’re spinning your wheels at a company with no real prospects for growth.

 

Whether you want to grow with the company or not is, believe it or not, not really important. 

 

The fact that you couldn’t grow if you wanted to is the issue, as it may make it harder for you to grow in your career and find other employment down the line.

 

If your job won’t help you grow, building new habits outside of work can be a quiet form of rebellion and future prep.

 

Take it from me, someone stuck in the same position for seven (yes, seven) years with no growth prospects in sight. 

 

Finding a new job was brutal, and it didn’t do me any favors to stick around that long.

 

 

 

6. Your Finances Are Rough

A few more quick questions for you:

• Are you struggling to make ends meet?
• Do you find yourself living paycheck to paycheck? 
• Are you kept up at night worrying about your finances, or do you avoid dealing with money at all due to anxiety?

If paying your bills is a question mark and the money you’re making at a job isn’t cutting it, that can add undue stress to your life overall. 

 

Reality check: Your job should pay your bills without you waking up in terror in the middle of the night about affording your necessities and expenses.

 

Not able to comfortably pay to live? It’s likely time for new employment.

 

That said, when finances feel like an added stressor, a gentle weekly planning routine can help you regain a little clarity and control.

 

 

 

7. Your Mental or Physical Health is Directly Affected

Long nights spent working (or worrying). Neglecting your own health by skipping meals and workouts. 

 

Feeling down (or downright depressed) a lot of the time. 

 

Not feeling your physical best because of work stress.

 

All of these things are, unfortunately, common mental and physical ways that a poor job match can manifest in your life.

 

In case you’re unaware, I’m here to tell you that a job should not negatively affect your physical and mental health whatsoever.

 

At minimum, your job shouldn’t erode your health, even if it doesn’t improve it.

 

If your mental health is taking a hit, these self-soothing strategies for tough days might help ground you.

 

 

 

8. Your Company Takes You for Granted

Are projects always getting piled onto your (proverbial) desk? 

 

Do people just assume you’ll “help out” with projects and tasks? 

 

Do you get sent emails to resolve, despite it having nothing to do with you/?

 

If your job is making unreasonable demands (I’m looking at *you* mandatory return-to-office), that’s a surefire sign that your job may be taking you for granted.

 

If any of this sounds familiar, it’s likely a sign your job doesn’t see your value.

 

Your job should recognize you for the value you bring to the company, and that not being the case is a signal to make your exit.

 

 

 

 

The Takeaway

There’s not a whole lot worse than working a job that you shouldn’t be.

 

Reality check: Work shouldn’t be miserable.

 

Feeling more than the typical boredom may mean that you need to get real about your professional life.

 

If you’ve been undecided about whether it’s time to leave your job, taking a good, hard look at different aspects of the position is a great place to start.

 

So, the real question is, what is the real reason you’re staying at a job that is a bad fit?

 

Whether it’s fear, apathy, money, or something else, it can be a major help to get real about the reasons you’re staying where you are.

 

Additionally, it’s key to remember that you have experience, talent, and work ethic that plenty of companies would be more than happy to benefit from.

 

And if you’re not quite ready to leave yet, these strategies for surviving a job you hate can help you get through the in-between.

 

Though if you’re wondering if it’s time to leave, chances are, you already know the answer to that question.