We've all had that moment — the one where you take off your glasses, sit at your desk, and rub your temples while contemplating quitting your job. This feeling crops up for everyone from time to time. But for others, the idea of quitting becomes pervasive to the point where enjoying the work week seems like a total impossibility.
And yet so many of us stay in jobs we hate for years, and sometimes even our entire lives. Maybe it's because the money's good, and pursuing your passion wouldn't pay as well. Maybe you doubt you'd find anything else, so you stick with what you already have. Or maybe you're just stuck in a rut, and don't even know what else you'd like to do.
Whatever your reason, trudging to work day after day to a job you hate is simply not the way to live. Because, in my opinion, work should not just be "work" if you can help it. Sure, we all have to pay bills, and sometimes that means sticking around in a less than ideal situation. But if you have the chance to wriggle free and pursue a job you love, I say go for it. Here are some signs that it might be time to do just that.
1. The Start Of The Week Fills You With Dread
A lot of people get that faint Sunday evening depression. The kind when you realize your beloved free-time is winding down, and soon the work week will start again. This is totally normal. What's not normal? Falling into a pit of despair at the idea of Monday morning. Because if you truly liked your job, you'd feel twinges of excitement for what the week might bring.
But if that's not the case, you should try to figure out what's really getting you down. As Krissy Brady noted on Lifehack.org, "Getting specific about your dread will help you figure out what to do – whether it be discussing new opportunities with your boss, or deciding to leave your job entirely for opportunities elsewhere."
2. You No Longer Take Work Seriously
People who like their jobs show up on time, follow the rules, and do their best on every project. People who hate their jobs no longer feel a need to impress anyone, because secretly they've already checked out. So if you're strolling in an hour late with a half lit cigarette and a sassy attitude, think about heading home and updating your resume.
3. You Hate All Of Your Coworkers
You spend more time with your coworkers than you do with pretty much anyone else, so it's important that ya'll get along. I'm not saying you need to fling BFF necklaces across the office Mardi Gras style. But you should at the very least be on good speaking terms with everyone, including your boss. When you're not, it can make for an uncomfortable week, filled with daydreams of a better work environment.
As Jacquelyn Smith noted on Forbes, "You can try to work out the problems you’re having with colleagues or your manager—but know that sometimes they’re not fixable." When that turns out to be the case, the best course of action may be to move on.
4. Watching The Clock Is Your Favorite Pastime
You know the game — peruse the internet and then totally forget how to minimize windows as the boss approaches? Yea, we've all been there. And it's OK to zone out like this from time to time. It's not OK, however, when you're so bored it feels like time is going in reverse. You check the clock and it's 1:05, and then you check it again what feels like an hour later and it's only 1:07. Oh, the agony! I say save yourself years of agony, and get out of that boring place ASAP.
5. There's Nowhere For You To Move Up In The Company
Sometimes it's possible to like your job, but not have anywhere to move within the company. As Harper Spero noted on Today.com, once you spend enough time at a job, you can come to a conclusion whether or not there is room for growth — whether that's advancing in your department, or the company as a whole. It'll also become evident whether or not you'll ever get a raise.
If none of that is happening (despite you asking and working hard), then you've essentially found yourself at a dead-end. If you have lofty career goals, or want a larger salary, then this fact will pretty much force you to move on to a job that can offer room for improvement.
6. It's All You Ever Complain About
Find me a person who hasn't vented about their job, and I'll give you a million dollars. It's honestly that common for people to moan about work, that it's hardly something to worry about. But there is a huge difference between venting after a stressful day, and full-on complaining about how much you hate your life at work. If it's all you can ever talk about, then clearly something needs to change.
When you're bored at work, miserable with your coworkers, or stuck in a dead-end career, then it may be time to move onto a new, more fulfilling job.
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