Being without a job can be very stressful, this is because we need money in order to take care of ourselves, our families and just to survive. Having a job secures you financially and makes life easier and manageable.
The luxury of being employed however, sometimes comes with a lot of emotional, physical and psychological strain as some environments are toxic to a point of needing professional help.
Here’s a list of red flags to look out for when deciding to quit your job from Harvard Business Review:
Your workplace has become unhealthy
Workspaces with colleagues who scream at or personally insult you, for example, or where you are worked to the point of physical collapse should, of course, inspire you to seek something new (if not pursue more serious action).
You regularly approach work with exhaustion, burnout, or dread
If you regularly feel dread at approaching your work, it’s time to seriously consider changing it or leaving it behind. This may not even be about the company or the people, you might have outgrown your job. Your life is short and precious, and your work should enrich it.
You actively look for ways to avoid your job
Sometimes, you need to power through something to develop a positive habit (all of us should exercise, for example, but it can be hard to get started); but other times it’s necessary to take a temporary or permanent break. A profession should be something we approach with curiosity and anticipation, not avoidance.
It’s no longer encouraging your growth
Leaving a job is a big decision, so it is advisable for people to first see if there are ways to make changes within their current professional environment before moving on. Often, reinvigorating your work can be as simple as seeing it differently and modifying it in small ways, something often referred to as “job crafting.” But if you’ve exhausted that path and can no longer grow in your profession, it might be time to move on.
It’s causing you to develop bad habits
When something you look to for purpose begins pulling you further from it and from your values, you need to let it go. Never let a professional environment change you for the worse particularly on matters of character.
Also see: How to know if you are being gaslighted at work
