When is it ok to quit? Here’s three scenarios.

A debate has been simmering over on my TikTok Channel - check it out here 

Is it ever ok to quit a job? And if so, when?

For many quitting a job is a sign of failure. For others, it’s what they need to do to survive.

Whatever side of the fence you sit on, there is one thing I do believe: 

If you stay in a toxic job for a year, you will not be the same person at the end of that year.

Toxic jobs break us down - emotionally, physically, mentally. And leave scars that can often take years to heal.

The question is, when should you quit?

Here’s three scenarios in which I think it’s ok to quit:

1. When the cost to your health is more if you stay then if you leave

Not everyone has the financial ability to just quit a job - even if it is totally toxic. Being unemployed and struggling to pay bills may cause more harm than the toxic job you are leaving.

So you have to weigh up the two - which one will cause you more stress? Being unemployed or being in a toxic job?

If it is the latter, then it might make sense to quit.

2. When you know you are staying just because it is comfortable

Not all jobs that people quit are toxic. In fact, the average job is not toxic. It is just…. Average.

So many people find themselves stuck in a comfort zone, losing their confidence and losing their spark. 

It’s not that people are bullying them. It’s just that they are stuck in their role and can’t get out. There is no incentive to leave. 

If you quit a job like this, it puts a rocket under you. All of a sudden you have an incentive to job hunt HARD, and this can be a good thing for your motivation. 

If this is the case for you, it would make sense to quit.

3. When you need the space for growth and development

Often people get stuck in jobs that are so busy they have no space to work out what to do next. They are on a treadmill, running at a million miles an hour - working hard for the company they serve.

But they never make time for themselves. 

Planning the next phase of your career takes time and headspace. It is almost impossible to do if you are in a job that gives you no spare time.

In this scenario, it can often be better to quit. This gives you the time back to allow the growth and development you need to strategically plan the next step in your career.