How can you determine when it's time to leave your current job?

When you reach the point of being unhappy at work most of the time, an interesting thing can happen: you might "accept your fate." When I did this, it became difficult to tell just HOW unhappy I really was, because the unhappiness was my new normal. As a result, this dissatisfaction began to feel more neutral than negative. I'd accepted it. That's just the way it was. As that "normal" stress began to seep into other areas of my life, I realized that it might be time to reevaluate. But venting and panicking wasn't going to help me make a change. Instead, I had to spend some focused, dedicated time assessing my job dissatisfaction and figuring out what it would take to create a different path. Thanks to my business coach, I did just that.

The starting point here is to get clear on what you want. I highly suggest taking dedicated time — like a full afternoon, not your commute — to assess this. Do you see yourself happily staying with your current company if some things — your job title, your compensation, your department — could change? If so, get clear on your goals and have a sit-down meeting with your manager. Worst case, you realize that your current company can't provide what you need; best case, you and your manager set a path to hit your goals within the org. But if you realize that your company or even your entire industry is the wrong fit for you, congratulations — you're entering into the unknown and have a chance to reinvent yourself! Now it's time to think big.

If you've decided to change companies or industries, it can be easy to lose momentum. Big changes like that can be daunting; you may worry there are too many steps, you're too busy, or that there's no point in pursuing your dreams — it's just a job, after all. But don't stop here! It took you months or even years to reach this revelation, and if you back off now, it could be months or years until you find the courage to make the change — if ever. A trusted friend, mentor, or coach can be a BIG help at this stage. You may not know what's holding you back. You may not feel confident in setting goals and staying accountable. You may feel stuck and just not know what to do next. And this is the time when talking it out is going to help most.

Dreaming big is all well and good, but what about the reality of getting there? Well, it's true — you can't ignore the real, concrete details. Whether you're changing employers or changing industries, it takes time, money, and effort to make a big change. But the biggest barriers you'll face are the ones you don't know about. So get prepared! What WILL it take to break into that new role or new industry? How will it affect your budget? Are certifications or credentials required? And how do these factors affect your timeline? I can't lie; there IS a lot of planning involved. And that, again, is another good reason to tap into your support system. A coach can help you sort through the details, identify barriers, and get your plan in order.

If your intuition says that it's just not the right time, explore why you feel that way. For example, are you scared about whether you can pull it off, worried about what your colleagues will think, or nervous to take the first step? Those are mindset challenges, which a coach can support you to overcome. But if life outside of your career is turbulent, there may be real barriers. Maybe you're struggling with your health or the health of a family member. Maybe you're relocating. Maybe your top priorities don't align with a career change right now. If so, that's ok! Just do one thing for now: set a date to revisit your career change in the future. That way, you'll remember to come back to it at a time when it makes more sense.

Since you've been highly intentional about this decision, don't stop now. When and how will you leave? Do you need to have another job lined up before leaving, or can you take some time off? What does your employment agreement require of you in terms of notice, noncompetes, etc.? Sort out the details and be mindful. And even if you plan to change industries completely, don't discount your existing skills and current connections. Although I left a corporate digital marketing agency to pursue career coaching, I took up freelance writing (part of my old job) as a financial bridge ... and several of my clients have been sent my way by former bosses and colleagues!

If you're feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, and unhappy in general, take the time needed to be sure that your career — your job, employer, or industry —is really the root cause of your unhappiness. At various times in my life, I've considered a major change... only to realize that the thing I was thinking about changing WASN'T the biggest cause of my unhappiness. So I highly recommend you take the time to examine all areas of your life — your mental health, relationships, family life — to uncover the true issue. Because if you initiate a big change in any of those areas, only to discover that wasn't your biggest issue... you may have created even more work for yourself.