5 Reasons You Should Quit Your Job

Counting down the minutes until 5:00 PM every day?

For most of my life, I've been an entrepreneur, juggling countless tasks on a daily basis. So much so that my late arrivals for dinner often disappoint my wife.

Yet, thinking back about the days when I was younger and employed by a corporation. Hindsight, it wasn't a suitable job for me, but it paid well. As an escape I would often take long bathroom breaks to kill time. Mind you, this was before the era of cell phones as distraction devices. Now that I am thinking about it I wonder if my co-workers thought I had some kind of digestive issues...

Thankfully, youth was on my side, and it wasn't long before I found a job that resonated with me.

Most of the people I work or connect with feel this sense of entrapment in their work. Many times that is why they are seeking coaching. They aspire to break free from their jobs, and it's not mundane, low-paying jobs. These individuals are in high-paying positions, often earning six or seven figures. Yet, they feel like their life is slipping through their fingers.

Here is a perfect example of how this plays out in the real world for one of my friends. Anxiety starts to mounts as they approach a vacation, knowing they’ll struggle to get all their work done before they leave for a couple of weeks. Then during the vacation, they are glued to their phones, scanning work emails and checking the texts coming in. All while stealing precious moments that should be spent with loved ones. Watching the kids jumping in the pool, swimming in the ocean. Their spouse glaring at them for using their phone. The return to work looms over them as they dread the piled-up workload awaiting them when they return.

Does this resonate with you? Today, I present five compelling reasons to consider quitting your job.

Health 

A health scare can jolt people into the realization of life’s fragility. One of the main reasons that people don't have time to live a health life is because the time commitment of their job. If you quit your job, you could reclaim much of your time to exercise, play pickle ball, maintain a journal, meditate, or prepare nutritious meals. Think about that for a moment if you were given months left to live would you spend it working?

Family 

As a father of three, it blows my mind me how friggin fast time goes by, especially when related to watching my kids growing up.

95% of the in person time spent with kids occurs between ages 0-18, the remaining 5% of the time is over the remaining of your lifetime.

Many people I work with cite family or missing out on family as the primary reason for wanting to quit their jobs. They too can see the years ticking by and realize that they may only have a few years left with their kids.

Regret

Bronnie Ware’s book, “The Top Five Regrets of the Dying,” sheds light on the common regrets among those facing life's end. Regret weighs heavier than failure. None of the individuals wished they had spent more time working. Instead, they wished they had pursued their dreams, spent time with friends, and embarked on the adventures of their dreams.

Happiness 

What's your source of happiness? If your job fills you with joy, consider yourself fortunate. In 2019 a study revealed that 66% of American workers were unhappy or unfulfilled in their jobs. I have a speculation that this number has surged post-pandemic. Remember, you are the captain of your ship, and have the power to steer it in the direction that brings you happiness. What do you do that brings you happiness?

Purpose 

When you move up Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs you get to a point when you question what is the purpose of life? Why am I here? This often happens after you get beyond the levels of survival and comforts. As those starting out in their career are figuring out how to just get their basic needs met. It is not until you get certain levels of success that allow you the time or space to think about purpose. Once you get to those higher levels of success a shocking amount of people become very depressed. How many wealthy people do you know that are unhappy? Well I can tell you one way I see people unlocking unlimited happiness is to use their God-given talents in the service of others. Often times a job can get in the way of you living your purpose.

This quote strikes me as very relevant

"A salary is the drug they give you to forget your dreams!" - Kevin O'Leary (Shark Tank)

In Conclusion

There’s a ton of reasons to continue working, but an equal, if not greater number of reasons to consider leaving. I’m not advocating for a dramatic exit from your job tomorrow.

But, I encourage you to reflect upon these reasons I have listed and imagine an alternate reality. One where you choose your own adventure and live life by your own rules.

This weekend, dedicate a few hours to introspection. Ask yourself, what would life look like without the constraints of your job?

Embrace the challenge and engage in this exercise of contemplation.

I encourage you to explore the Hero's journey towards living the life of your dreams.

- Jake