5 Signs You Should Quit Your Job Immediately (If You Can)

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSign 1: Lack of Growth OpportunitiesSign 2: Ethical ComplicationsSign 3: Mental and Emotional Well-BeingSign 4: Lack of Interest and MotivationSign 5: Toxic Work EnvironmentFinancial Considerations

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Sign 1: Lack of Growth Opportunities

Sign 2: Ethical Complications

Sign 3: Mental and Emotional Well-Being

Sign 4: Lack of Interest and Motivation

Sign 5: Toxic Work Environment

Financial Considerations

Close

If you’re not happy with your job, it can bleed over into other areas of your life. Job dissatisfaction isstressful, particularly considering that you’ll likely spend about a third of your life working. If you are grappling with feelings of unhappiness or unfulfillment with your job, you might be contemplating whether it’s time to call it quits and move on.

The good news is that you don’t have to wait for that final straw that makes you finally call it quits. Paying attention to some of these five signs that you should leave your job immediately—if you can— will help you feel better prepared to make that choice.

“Most of us spend many hours a day at our job and oftenfind a sense of purposefrom our professions,” notes Kristin Papa, LCSW, a psychotherapist and founder ofLiving Openhearted Therapy and Wellness. “Feeling stuck in a job without room to grow can leave us feeling stagnant and questioning our purpose, which can negatively impact our well-being and can lead to lack of motivation, apathy, or resignation.”

If your current job doesn’t offer a chance to learn more, hone your skills, and move up the career ladder, it’s not surprising that you might feel more than a little bit dissatisfied.

If your job seems like a dead end that won’t lead to better opportunities or personal growth, it’s a good indicator that you might want to consider leaving. A role that never changes, doesn’t let you branch out, and doesn’t challenge you is a surefire path to stagnation and dissatisfaction.

Stagnation is a particular problem for middle-age adults, notesRenée Zavislak, MS, MA, LMFT, an integrative therapist. “The psychosocial stage we reach in middle adulthood is called ‘Generativity vs. Stagnation.’

The primary developmental task for adults in this stage is to develop a sense of purpose, the sense that we are leaving something behind,” she explains. “Without this, we feel stagnant. Intellectual atrophy is definitely the enemy of generativity, so those jobs that offer no growth possibilities are developmentally dangerous.”

So, how can you tell if your job isn’t helping you grow? Key signs include not developing new skills, never taking on new challenges, and never being given opportunities to advance within the company.

It is important to note that growth doesn’t necessarily mean upward mobility. It’s helpful to define what professional growth means for us personally, since growth opportunities can also be learning a new skill, creating a new program, or opportunities to connect with other colleagues.—KRISTIN PAPA, LCSW

It is important to note that growth doesn’t necessarily mean upward mobility. It’s helpful to define what professional growth means for us personally, since growth opportunities can also be learning a new skill, creating a new program, or opportunities to connect with other colleagues.

—KRISTIN PAPA, LCSW

Over time, a lack of growth opportunities hampers your professional development and leaves you feeling undervalued, unfulfilled, and disengaged.

It’s time to walk away if your employer asks you to compromise your personal values or engage in unethical behavior.

“Ethical complications can be a huge contributor to job dissatisfaction in the workplace. If you are witnessing unethical practices at the job, feeling like you are not in alignment with the ethical beliefs of the employer, or even notice unethical practices among co-workers,” saysJenny Flora Wells, MSW, LSW, ACSW, a holistic therapist based in California. “These experiences lead to an increase in stress and anxiety that are difficult to manage on top of daily job-related duties.”

In some cases, you might be able toset clear boundariesthat make it clear that you won’t compromise your professional standards and risk your reputation—but oftentimes, you may find that it just isn’t worth working for a boss, manager, or company that expects you to do their dirty work for them.

Examples of ethical complications you might encounter in the workplace include:

Zavislak notes that ethical complications in the workplace can pose problems in the spiritual quadrant of a person’s life. She has seen such dilemmas create serious issues in her clients' lives, with some experiencing complications such as depression, insomnia, gastrointestinal problems, and other physical symptoms.

It’s important to remember that ethical complications can have long-lasting repercussions. Leaving now can protect your future employment prospects.

Everyone faces their own mental and emotional challenges, but if your job is taking a serious toll on your psychological well-being, then it’s a strong indicator that it’s time to move on.Prolonged stress, anxiety, and unhappiness at work can have serious consequences, including an increased risk for health problems andburnout.

Some jobs can be admittedly stressful for various reasons.Feeling constantly on edge, being filled with dread before heading to work, and coming home utterly exhausted each night are not just ‘part of the job.’ It’s a sign that something needs to change.

Zavislak suggests that people consider how their job affects them in four key developmental quadrants: physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual. If one or more of these areas are being adversely affected, it may be time to move on.

She also notes that being able to consider leaving a job is, in and of itself, an immense privilege.

“For many people, financial hardship renders this matter moot, no matter how unsatisfying the job,” she says. “So if you are lucky enough to have the option to change your gig, consider first how your current employment affects your four developmental quadrants.”

Factors that can lead to emotional and mental health problems include excessive workloads, poorwork-life balance, unrealistic expectations, and a toxic workplace. All of this can take a toll on your ability to function well when you’re on the job.

You might feel less engaged, and your self-esteem may suffer. Over time, it can even start to negatively impact your physical health, leading to problems like poor sleep, headaches, digestive problems, and a weakened immune system.

A healthy work environment should support your mental well-being, not deplete it. Prioritize your own well-being and be willing to walk away from a job that is asking for more than you should be willing to give.

You don’t always need some big, compelling reason to quit your job. Sometimes, it can be as simple as a lack of interest andmotivation. The reality is that if you are finding it harder and harder to muster up even a single ounce of interest in your job, it’s a good sign that you need to take a serious look at why you’re still holding on.

If your job bores you to tears, that’s a perfectly good reason to consider leaving it for something more interesting, challenging, and motivating.

“While boredom and lack of motivation can be signs of burnout and, in that case, maybe a call for a vacation rather than a resignation, chronic feelings of boredom and emptiness are absolutely valid reasons for leaving a job,” Zavislak says.

Remember when you first started your job, and you had that initial spark of excitement and interest? It’s normal for your interest and passion to ebb and occasionally wane. But it’s a major red flag if each day feels like an endless, monotonous grind.

While it might not seem like a huge deal, losing interest in your work can affect your attitude, morale, and productivity. You might find yourself putting in less effort, or you might even start looking for reasons to avoid work tasks that don’t interest you.

Over time, this loss of interest can leave you drained, disengaged, and stuck in a rut. It can also have a ripple effect on other areas of your life. You might start to feel aimless, unfulfilled, and without a sense of purpose. It can even have a negative impact on your health, lowering life satisfaction and contributing to symptoms of depression and anxiety.

We spend more waking hours at our jobs than we do elsewhere; to spend these hours bored is tragic, frankly.—RENÉE ZAVISLAK, MS, MA, LMFT

We spend more waking hours at our jobs than we do elsewhere; to spend these hours bored is tragic, frankly.

—RENÉE ZAVISLAK, MS, MA, LMFT

While there might be ways to bring back that spark (such as switching up your routine, asking for a promotion, or taking on more challenging projects), sometimes the best solution is to move on to something different that helps you grow both personally and professionally.

A toxic work environment is also a perfectly good reason to say, “I quit.” If heading to the office has started to feel like heading into battle, that’s a good sign that there are some seriously dysfunctional dynamics going on in your workplace.

“Employees who feel undervalued and unsupported or encounter behaviors like bullying or discrimination can have negative impacts on their well-being and job satisfaction,” Walker explains. He also points to research on some of the factors that contribute to a toxic work environment, which include high stress levels, dissatisfaction with compensation, burnout, and lack of opportunities for advancement.

Some other signs of a toxic workplace include:Dreading going into the office because of the constant negativityWorrying about backstabbing colleagues or aboss who tears you downevery chance they getUnrealistic demands that don’t give you the time and space you need to take care of your own needsLack of trustand respect to the point that it seems like you’re always looking over your shoulder to be on the lookout for gossip or outright sabotage

Some other signs of a toxic workplace include:

Zavislak suggests that so many of us are bored, stressed out, and drained from our jobs, we tend to accept this as normal. That makes it hard to know exactly where to draw the line.

She suggests asking yourself if your job is interfering with your ability to function in three key areas: your relationships, your physical health, and your emotional health.

“If your job has a negative impact on your relationships, your emotional health, and your physical health, it is definitely time to quit.”

If your workplace feels more like the setting for a reality tv series than a professional, supportive environment, it’s OK to walk away. Your health and happiness are vital, and you deserve to be in a place where you can do a lot more than just survive the next battle.

Quitting your job can be liberating, especially when you’ve been dealing with some of the issues we’ve discussed. But let’s face it—money is often the deciding factor. Ideally, you’ll have enough in your savings that you’ll feel comfortable walking away from your job without having to worry about the immediate future.

Try to have at least three to six months of living expenses saved. This can give you the cushion you need to feel okay about leaving your job without having to stress out about bills piling up while you search for a new job.

Some financial considerations to think about before you quit your job:

Quitting your job can be a big (and sometimes scary) decision, but being prepared for the change can help make the change easier and less stressful.

Takeaways

Quitting your job is rarely an easy decision, but sometimes it’s the right choice if you are in a situation that is triggering red flags that threaten your health, growth, well-being, and future. Common signs indicating it’s time to take the leap include a lack of growth opportunities, a toxic work environment, dwindling interest, or ethical problems. Of course, you always need to consider the financial implications of leaving your job, so it pays to be prepared and plan ahead if you think it’s a step you’ll need to take.

We spend so much of our lives at work, so it’s important to remember that your job should be a source of satisfaction and not dread. If your current job isn’t a positive force in your life or creates significant stress, it’s important to trust your gut and know when to move on.

If this seems too difficult or challenging to handle on your own, you may consider speaking to a mental health professional or career coach to assist you in the process. They can help you decide what next steps make the most sense for you, and how best to work toward them.

People Are ‘Quiet Quitting’ And It Could Be Great For Mental Health

6 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Psychological Association.2023 Work in America Survey.Gartner.Lack of career development drives employee attrition.Marković S, Kostić O, Terzić-Supic Z, et al.Exposure to stress and burnout syndrome in healthcare workers, expert workers, professional associates, and associates in social service institutions.Medicina (Kaunas). 2024;60(3):499. doi:10.3390/medicina60030499American Psychological Association.Stress effects on the body.(Li J, Kaltiainen J, Hakanen JJ.Job boredom as an antecedent of four states of mental health: life satisfaction, positive functioning, anxiety, and depression symptoms among young employees – a latent change score approach.BMC Public Health. 2024;24(1):907. doi:10.1186/s12889-024-18430-zBatiste H.Management in times of crisis: a qualitative exploration of the great resignation from a social exchange perspective.Compensation & Benefits Review. 2024;56(3):138-160. doi:10.1177/08863687231221854

6 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Psychological Association.2023 Work in America Survey.Gartner.Lack of career development drives employee attrition.Marković S, Kostić O, Terzić-Supic Z, et al.Exposure to stress and burnout syndrome in healthcare workers, expert workers, professional associates, and associates in social service institutions.Medicina (Kaunas). 2024;60(3):499. doi:10.3390/medicina60030499American Psychological Association.Stress effects on the body.(Li J, Kaltiainen J, Hakanen JJ.Job boredom as an antecedent of four states of mental health: life satisfaction, positive functioning, anxiety, and depression symptoms among young employees – a latent change score approach.BMC Public Health. 2024;24(1):907. doi:10.1186/s12889-024-18430-zBatiste H.Management in times of crisis: a qualitative exploration of the great resignation from a social exchange perspective.Compensation & Benefits Review. 2024;56(3):138-160. doi:10.1177/08863687231221854

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

American Psychological Association.2023 Work in America Survey.Gartner.Lack of career development drives employee attrition.Marković S, Kostić O, Terzić-Supic Z, et al.Exposure to stress and burnout syndrome in healthcare workers, expert workers, professional associates, and associates in social service institutions.Medicina (Kaunas). 2024;60(3):499. doi:10.3390/medicina60030499American Psychological Association.Stress effects on the body.(Li J, Kaltiainen J, Hakanen JJ.Job boredom as an antecedent of four states of mental health: life satisfaction, positive functioning, anxiety, and depression symptoms among young employees – a latent change score approach.BMC Public Health. 2024;24(1):907. doi:10.1186/s12889-024-18430-zBatiste H.Management in times of crisis: a qualitative exploration of the great resignation from a social exchange perspective.Compensation & Benefits Review. 2024;56(3):138-160. doi:10.1177/08863687231221854

American Psychological Association.2023 Work in America Survey.

Gartner.Lack of career development drives employee attrition.

Marković S, Kostić O, Terzić-Supic Z, et al.Exposure to stress and burnout syndrome in healthcare workers, expert workers, professional associates, and associates in social service institutions.Medicina (Kaunas). 2024;60(3):499. doi:10.3390/medicina60030499

American Psychological Association.Stress effects on the body.

(Li J, Kaltiainen J, Hakanen JJ.Job boredom as an antecedent of four states of mental health: life satisfaction, positive functioning, anxiety, and depression symptoms among young employees – a latent change score approach.BMC Public Health. 2024;24(1):907. doi:10.1186/s12889-024-18430-z

Batiste H.Management in times of crisis: a qualitative exploration of the great resignation from a social exchange perspective.Compensation & Benefits Review. 2024;56(3):138-160. doi:10.1177/08863687231221854

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