Key signs you need to quit your job and it's not just back-to-work blues
After stuffing yourself silly and relaxing over the Christmas period, returning to work can be quite a shock to the system - but an expert has shared signs to tell whether you need to quit your job and look for pastures new.
Heading back to the office can leave us with a feeling of dread. But how do you know whether those feelings at the start of the year are just similar to the Sunday Scaries, or a much wider issue?
Laura Kingston, director of Leap Career Coaching, has shared the questions you can ask yourself to see whether you need to switch jobs, or just need to re-motivate yourself for 2024 in your current role.
Laura suggests asking yourself 'Do you enjoy parts of your job?', and if you still do, it may just be a simple case of the back-to-work blues. "No job is 100% enjoyable, even dream jobs have their downsides", she tells the Mirror. "Weigh up the percentage, if you enjoy 70%, are you happy to live with the 30% you don't enjoy? If the answer is no, perhaps it's time to move on, life is short and we spend on average 90,000 hours of our lives at work so it's important to be happy there!"
Laura also recommends sitting down and working out whether "your values are aligned with the organisations' values", because if they're not, it may be time to freshen up your CV. She said: "This is a big one because if your values are compromised, either morally or in what brings you joy, it may be time to look for a new job. Many of my clients are unhappy at work because their core values are not being met.
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"For example, a value could be creativity or freedom and they are restricted within their role or by their manager. If you aren't living in line with your core values, you can feel dissatisfied, something is either annoying you, or it doesn't feel right, or something is missing. Write down your key four values - the things that you must have in your work life to feel satisfied. Are these being met in your current role? If not, perhaps you can make some suggestions to bring more of them in, you don't necessarily have to leave your job."
Your team, colleagues, and leaders could also be having a huge impact on how you view a job, as they're an "important part of a role and can make or break whether a job is right for you or not." Culture within a role and wider team is "so important to our health, wellbeing, and productivity. Cultures are often deeply embedded and unlikely to change quickly, so really consider this when moving to a new role too."
She also says it's important to consider whether it's the "company or the job itself you're not happy with", so you know which jobs to apply for moving forward. Laura said that "clarity is key" when it comes to decisions like this, and it's important to "write down specifically what you do and don't like" so you can understand it better. And while you're writing things down, she recommends listing your "top five non-negotiables you look for in a job", suggesting that you consider how many the one you're doing currently ticks, and what is it that's missing.
Finally, Laura recommends asking yourself: 'If I am still here in this job in five years, will I be happy?' She says that imagining yourself in the future can help you to make a decision, as "time flies, and it's easy to wait around rather than take action", so picturing yourself five years along can help give you some clarity.
Similarly, Mike Laauwe, founder of Positive Thinking Mind, tells the Mirror: "First, consider if your feelings could stem from normal post-holiday blues or a typical seasonal slump. Many people feel drained re-adjusting to work routines after time off. Before making any big moves, see if small mood boosts like more self-care, socialising, or scheduling something fun to look forward to makes a difference.
"However, if motivation issues persist for months, dig deeper. Are you bored with the actual work tasks? Do you feel aligned with the company's vision and values? Do relationships need mending? Identifying the root causes can determine whether overall job dissatisfaction may be fixable through things like new challenges or improved communication. But when core elements are misaligned with your skills, passions, and priorities, it likely signals a need for change. No amount of positivity can overcome a long-term values mismatch or skills gap. Pay attention if enthusiasm continues waning despite your best efforts.
"Approach big transitions cautiously and calmly. But also tune into when your inner wisdom says it truly is time to grow in a new direction. With self-awareness and patience, you'll gain clarity on whether you're feeling temporarily unmotivated or fundamentally misplaced. Trust that you'll make the choice that's right for your long-term well-being and fulfillment."
Lou Campbell, psychotherapist and director at Wellbeing Partners, also shared tips to try and motivate yourself to think positively about the role you're currently in, if you're just in a slump. She says that mindset is everything, and it's important to try and re-frame the way you're thinking. "Stop trash-talking this time of year or you will struggle to feel anything positive about it! Words matter when it comes to how we relate to January and February in particular," the pro explains.
She also says that you should "go outside for a short walk, no matter the weather. Humans are like plants - we flourish in daylight! When we expose our eyes to outside daylight, a chemical messenger called serotonin, which communicates feelings of calm, contentment, and connectedness, makes its way from our gut where we make it, to the brain where it makes us feel more emotionally well. A brisk 30-minute walk gets the serotonin buzzing between the nerve cells in our body and brain and boosts our mood even further.
"I recommend putting a recurring calendar notification in your phone that says 'go for a walk' and just prioritise it, no matter the weather outside. You'll notice your mood is lifted as soon as you get back indoors. Waterproof shoes or boots will definitely make the walk more pleasant."
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