How to Approach the Idea of Quitting a Job You Hate
The hard truth about following your passion.
If you’re like a lot of people out there, you could probably list a long file of things you hate about your current job. Maybe the career you always dreamed would make you happy, doesn’t.
Perhaps every day you open your eyes, you wish you were doing something actually worth your time.
These are common scenarios going through the minds of millions of workers. People feel this way all the time. There are many more stressful topics, but this gets talked about most often these days.
So what do you do about it? Just quit and start your new adventure now?
Do you drop everything in an instant because things aren’t going the way you thought they would?
As hard as it may be, you should consider a few things before making a quick decision. In the end, you’ll thank yourself no matter which side you choose.
First, Take a Deep Breath
Sometimes we make situations a lot worse in our minds than they are in reality. We exaggerate the difficulty of what’s going on because there’s nothing there to replace it immediately.
In a personal way, you have to figure out what’s harming your health (mentally and physically) by sticking around, as well as what’s helping you grow.
It may possibly turn out just fine. You never know.
But too often, we conclude too soon. And our ability to fight through adversity weakens. That can take a toll on other areas of your life, too, if you aren’t careful.
As a millennial, I have to confess that I’m more inclined to give up on demanding work when it doesn’t suit me well. Most of my friends are in the same sphere of life as I am. So they can agree with what I mean by that.
What I hear now more than ever are stories of people taking extreme risks in pursuit of their “passion.”
I don’t mean to undermine that word or a person’s honesty about what they seek. But I do want to address the potentially harmful consequences of living this way.
Developing a habit of quitting makes it harder to stick with something else for long periods of time.
Being conditioned to switch my commitment on and off, it’s easier for me to quit a job because I think something else would be better, more comfortable for me.
Nevermind the fact that there are bills to pay and perhaps other mouths to feed, the risky sensation of living on the edge seems like more of a productive option among the fireballs of our day.
We see photographers taking epic photos while traveling and dream about doing it full-time. We see writers lounging around, drinking coffee or tea, seemingly working with no stress at all. And suddenly that world becomes the goal.
I have to say, though, that sometimes doing what you need to do in life makes those dreams possible. Even more so than rashly ending the means by which you could see that dream become your reality.
Yes, you may have to work an odd job to pay the rent, buy groceries, and keep the old car in good shape. But that’s not a bad thing.
When we started looking around at what other people were doing, when we started fixing our eyes on what they said was the “ideal” version of success, we lost sight of the beauty in our simple lives.
The Hard Part
Think about it this way. You’re on a timeline. If you really believe at some point you’re going to be able to do what brings you joy and helps other people, then you have to realize it won’t happen overnight.
Just like everything else, it’s a process. The process isn’t necessarily easy. In fact, it can get pretty insane.
Giving up where you are right now, though, won’t get you there any faster, especially without giving it a little thought.
I know what they say. I hear the stories of how so many people dropped what they were doing to pursue something else. The thing is, their story is not the same as everyone else.
Other people have done the same thing and found out they weren’t ready. They were just doing it because of someone they saw living the kind of life they wanted to live.
I can sit here all day and write about how I want you to make that huge leap. To quit your job and start working on your dream project right now, without hesitation.
But does that really seem like something someone who cares about you would say?
I don’t think so.
Instead, I would encourage you to spend some free time smoothing out the edges of exactly what it is that would bring you joy.
Be specific.
Even though this is a popular reaction to difficulty, you need some sort of plan before you take that bold step.
Beware of the Danger
As I’ve mentioned in an earlier story, my twin brother and I started a photography business a few years ago. We thought it best to explore our wild imaginations and see where it would take us.
We had skill.
We had charisma.
But we didn’t have any clients, combined with an extremely broad plan. And we’d already quit our jobs in pursuit of doing this full-time. We assumed people would flock our way, begging for a chance to get a picture from us.
That didn’t happen.
Instead, we spent close to 5 months trying to put ourselves out there for the world to see. There was a small amount of cash saved up so things wouldn’t get too crazy. But that didn’t stop craziness from happening.
Within that time frame, we had to pick up other jobs to keep up with the bills. From that time on, though, it has been a lot easier for us to do what we love without worrying about missing another payment.
This is why I recommend honing in on your craft without getting too bold. As catchy as it seems, being “risky” and adventurous is exactly what leads people into stressful, debt-filled situations they come to regret.
That’s not to say there aren’t times when being adventurous is okay, or when quitting your job is never a good thing. But it’s a lot better when you have a plan. Something you can see with your eyes.
Now Make Your Move
With all that said, it’s really up to you to determine what that looks like in your own life. I’m no career advisor or life coach. But I do recommend asking yourself these questions before venturing out on your own journey.
Are my goals specific?
Is my target clear?
Why do I want to do this?
Answering questions like these will clarify your ambitions and set a realistic approach to the all-too-common “passion” pursuit. It puts your heart in the right place and reduces the possibility of setting yourself up for failure.
If in fact your job is driving you crazy and you’re physically (and mentally) suffering from your experiences, make your move.
You don’t need to have all of your ducks in a row to do this. But they should all be accounted for, at least.
Life is too short to suffer unnecessarily, especially when you have the ability to do something else. Don’t let your fire burn out as you stand next to a freezer.
My only concern is that you be smart about it.
Once your objective is clear, your mind is free, and you recognize the long-term ramifications of your decision, quitting isn’t so bad after all. It actually becomes a good thing.
Kevin Horton is a photographer, student, modest book-worm, and wanna-be web developer with a new-found love for writing. He writes helpful words about creativity, productivity, and the enjoyably simple life.
’Til next time. Thanks for reading!
