You would be hard-pressed to find someone who is 100% happy with their job every day. Even people who claim to love their job have “off” days and don’t always enjoy everything about it.
But, there’s a difference between having a bad day at work and truly being stuck in a dead-end job.
If you constantly find yourself wondering if your current job is actually worth it, you may want to consider looking elsewhere for employment. But, that doesn’t mean you should jump the gun on quitting before you’re ready.
Are you on the fence about whether or not to stay at your current job? Let’s look at four signs that are good indicators it’s time to leave.
1. You’re Bringing Your Attitude Home
It’s one thing to be stressed at work. In fact, 83% of workers in the U.S. alone deal with stress in the workplace. But, if that stress leads to a negative attitude and you find that you’re bringing that attitude home, it’s a sign of a bigger problem.
If you cannot leave work at work, it’s obviously affecting your mental health, and may even start to impact you physically. Your family or roommates don’t deserve that kind of attitude, and you don’t deserve to be “stuck” with it when you’re trying to relax at home.
2. You Don’t Feel Challenged
While working at a job that is “easy” might sound like a dream, it would get boring after a while. People naturally want to be challenged, so they can work toward something and gain a sense of accomplishment.
If your job is no longer challenging you or stimulating you, you might want to consider something totally different. Look at the Construction industry if you want to work with your hands, or consider becoming a teacher if you want to inspire young minds. Think of the jobs that would be challenging and fulfilling all at once, and how they compare to what you’re feeling now.
3. You Hate Going to Work
If you don’t want to walk out the door each day to actually go to work, you probably shouldn’t be going to work.
Again, that doesn’t mean you need to love your job every day. But, if the thought of going to work in the morning leaves you with dread, worry, or sadness, it’s time to make a change. No one deserves to live that way because of a job.
4. There Is No Room for Growth
Again, people like to be challenged. And, in the working world, many of those challenges allow you to “move up” once you’ve accomplished them. But, if you’re working in an environment that doesn’t offer room for growth or is willing to give you promotions, it likely isn’t worth your time.
No one wants to remain stagnant in the exact same position for the rest of their lives. If you aren’t able to flourish in your current job, you deserve to work somewhere that will allow you to grow and succeed.
It’s never an easy decision to leave your job, especially if you’re the sole income-provider in your home. But, if it’s doing damage to your mental health or you just can’t stand the thought of going back there again, it’s likely time to move on and try a different career path.