When Do You Know It’s Time To Quit Your Job?

Here’s are some surprising statistics, while 65% of Americans are satisfied with their jobs, only 20% are passionate about what they do for a living. 26% of us want to change our jobs–that number jumps to more than half (51%) for people over 50. (Sources: Zippia, Career Vision) If you are like me and over 50 (you’re reading BetterLifeAfter50.com) and feel like it might be time to make a change in careers, there is good news. And here it is: you are not alone and it is not your fault. Who really foresaw Covid and the sheer speed and breadth of its resultant restrictions, supply chain issues, and a global economic downturn? Not me and not most of us.

The first three years of the 2020s have been challenging, to say the least. They have also made many people reassess personal and professional priorities, how they want to spend their time, and with whom, and where. Do I want to keep commuting an hour a day? Do I want to keep shoveling snow? The jazz singer Ernestine Anderson, in her tune Never Make Your Move Too Soon, said “the older you get the more you care about how you spend your time…it’s important to you.”

Many adults in our fifties find ourselves reevaluating our current work-a-day situations and considering whether or not we should look for something new. But how and when do you know it’s time to quit your job? Quitting a job can be a difficult decision to make, but it is important to know when it is time to move on. Knowing when it is time to quit your job can help you create more opportunities for yourself, and manage your stress.

So, how do you know when it’s time to do something different? Here are some signs:

• You don’t enjoy what you do. You often think to yourself, “How did I get here?” You’re missing deadlines and the quality of work is slipping, even though it may pass muster, you know you are mailing it in.
• You don’t feel like your work matters. You’re on autopilot and feel disconnected from what you’re doing. You’re discouraged because you don’t feel like your job plays to your strengths.
• Your job is the worst part of your week. You’re a weekend warrior, but by the time Sunday hits you’re filled with dread and remain that way until it’s Friday again.
• You don’t see a career path that excites you. You look at your boss and realize you don’t want their job, or any job in the company for that matter. In fact, you may not want a job at all; you want a career that excites you.
• The pay isn’t worth the effort. Are other people in similar roles being paid more? Does the amount of work required too much for what you’re being paid?
• The job is creeping into your personal life. Work stress can bleed into interpersonal relationships and this is a clear warning sign. It’s vital to find a balance between work and family. If you’re constantly unable to give your family as much time as you used to, you should evaluate your priorities.
• You constantly dream about a different career. You have other interests that you wish you could pursue and you find yourself daydreaming about those possibilities.

Ultimately, it’s an individual choice and only YOU can decide if or when it’s time to move on. But if more than one of these warning signals applies to your situation, it might be time to give change some serious consideration. You should consider all your options before you act, and it is rarely a good idea to leave a job before formulating a careful plan. (Sources: U.S. News & World Report, Indeed, PayScale)

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