America is famous for its grit.
"When the going gets tough, the tough get going," seems to be the slogan of the century.
This saying is attributed to both John F. Kennedy and coach K., signaling just how deeply it has been embedded in this country's psyche, but there are times when you should quit.
There are times when your emotional and physical health are more important than that job, and staying would lead to becoming sick.
No one wants a job to chip away at their self-confidence every day if they don't enjoy being around their coworkers and are weighed down by the emotional toll it takes on them every time they exit those doors and head home.
Sometimes, you might love your work environment. Other times, you could hate it, so how do you know when it's okay to give yourself permission to quit?
1. YOU HATE YOUR JOB
If you hate your job, your coworkers can tell, and you're going to be miserable if you keep going. Instead of sulking about it, think about the career you would love to have, then save up your money and invest it so you have a safety net before resigning and actually spending your time doing something you would like to do!
2. YOU ARE BEING ABUSED AT WORK
Abuse is not always physical. If you are being harassed and emotionally abused at work, it's time to leave as soon as humanly possible: Doing so will be so much better for your mental health, and you'll be able to find another job where you can work for yourself or be around people who are kinder to you.
You deserve respect.
3. YOUR MENTAL AND/OR PHYSICAL HEALTH IS POOR
If you are working yourself to the bone to the point where you can barely think straight, you can't be present with your family and/or friends, and you feel completely burnt out every day of the week, you're allowed to leave your job!
In fact, you should leave your job: You'll be healthier, saner, and more productive in the long run!
Your mental health always comes first.
4. BALANCE DOESN'T EXIST, AND YOU WANT IT TO
Balance looks different for different people: If you love your job and you're just starting your own business, you may not mind working every hour of every day, particularly if you're single!
On the other hand, doing the same thing could be incredibly taxing if you have three kids at home and have been putting in a ridiculous amount of hours for years on end!
I'm not saying everything is going to be a picture of bliss all the time when it comes to work/life balance—we all have to provide for ourselves and sometimes a family, which requires an enormous amount of cash!—but if you find yourself feeling like you're hanging on by a thread and your children are resenting you or your friends are saying they never see you anymore, it might be time to rethink your hours and maybe even resign from your job so that you can have a life outside of work!
5. YOUR COMMUTE IS EXHAUSTING YOU
If you have to drive to and from work and you are constantly burnt out as a result, then it might be a good idea to either inquire about doing your job remotely at least a few days per week or quitting and finding something closer to home.
So many Americans work incredibly hard, and sometimes it seems like nothing pays off enough to justify the long hours or the toxic work environment.
Right now, I love every job I have and the atmosphere is incredible, but that wasn't always the case!
If you are experiencing any of the above, it might be time to rethink your career and change course so that you're actually content with your job.
Trust me: It makes a world of difference.
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