Let’s be real: Work is called “work” for a reason. It’s not a spa day, it’s not brunch with the girls, and it’s definitely not binge-watching your favorite show in pajamas. But there’s a fine line between “challenging but rewarding” and “slowly draining the life out of me.” If your job is starting to feel like the latter, it might be time to pack up your sanity and run.
Here are eight surefire signs it’s time to quit before your brain files for early retirement.
1. Sunday Scaries Start on Friday
Ah, the classic Sunday Scaries, except, plot twist, you start feeling them on Friday afternoon. If your weekend is overshadowed by the soul-crushing dread of another workweek, it’s a flashing neon sign that something isn’t right. Life is too short to spend half of it dreading the other half.
2. Your Boss Is a Walking Red Flag
Micromanaging, gaslighting, taking credit for your work, congratulations, your boss is the human embodiment of a red flag parade. If your mental health is constantly under siege because your superior thinks “leadership” means “tyranny,” it’s time to update that resume.
3. You’re Working 24/7, But Your Paycheck Is Stuck in 2015
If you’re expected to answer emails at midnight, work through vacations, and be “on call” without extra compensation, news flash: You’re in a one-sided relationship with your job. And like all toxic relationships, you deserve better.
4. Your Energy Levels Are Nonexistent
Remember when you had hobbies? Or energy after 6 PM? If you’re running on caffeine and sheer willpower, dragging yourself through each day like a sleep-deprived zombie, your job might be the villain here. No amount of coffee can fix burnout.
5. You Daydream About Dramatically Quitting
If you frequently fantasize about quitting via a viral mic-drop moment (or a well-crafted passive-aggressive email), your subconscious is trying to tell you something. You might not need to go full “I quit” in skywriting, but it’s worth exploring an exit plan.
6. Your Job Doesn’t Align With Your Goals (Or Soul)
If the work you do feels meaningless, or you’ve outgrown the role but there’s zero room for growth, it’s time to move on. You’re not a plant, you don’t have to stay rooted in one place forever.
7. Your Health Is Taking a Hit
Stress headaches, anxiety, back pain from the tension of merely existing at work, if your job is affecting your physical or mental health, it’s a non-negotiable sign to leave. No paycheck is worth sacrificing your well-being.
8. You Just Know It’s Time
Sometimes, the biggest sign is that deep-down gut feeling that you need to go. And you know what? Your intuition is probably right.
So, What Now?
If you nodded along to most of these, your job might be the problem, not you. And that means it’s time to start plotting your escape. Update your resume, network like a boss, and start envisioning a job that doesn’t make you question your life choices.
Your sanity is priceless, don’t let a paycheck hold it hostage.
Have you ever quit a job for your mental health? What was the final straw? Drop your stories in the comments!