While it is hilarious to scroll through pictures like the one to the right, doesn’t it make you wonder how the quitter let things escalate to this point?
Whether you have a job you don’t like, a relationship that is going south, or something else in your life that is not worth continuing, it’s quite difficult to build up the courage to actually say, “I’m done.” What’s even more difficult is identifying the signs that you should make your exit rather than sticking it out for a while longer.
Before you find yourself recruiting Steve Harvey to help you make your own dramatic “I quit” Youtube video, have a look at the 8 biggest signs you should quit.
How to know when it's time to quit:
1. You’ve asked yourself more than once, “should I quit?”
It sounds obvious and kind of silly, but this is the reality. We’re always told to trust our guts when making the decision to do something, so why wouldn’t the same concept apply to quitting? If you find yourself wondering what it would be like to quit and how you would go about it, your gut is telling you it’s time.
2. You are missing a better opportunity by not quitting
This is not to say that you should be jumping from job to job or relationship to relationship - remember, the grass is always greener on the other side. If you are, however, in a situation where you’ve been presented an opportunity that is clearly more beneficial and could even be detrimental to not take, go for it!
3. Starting your day is a struggle
If you aren’t able to get out of bed because you know your current situation is awaiting you outside of the covers, it’s time to rethink where you’re at in life. Life should not be something we trudge through. Sure, sometimes we have to do things we don’t want to or have difficult periods, but these things should not be the crux of our existence. Instead, apply the 80-20 rule: your time should be made up of 80% of things that bring you joy and fulfillment, with the other 20% consisting of the things that have to be done, like paying bills or cleaning up your dog’s vomit off of the carpet.
4. The quality of your output is sh*t
When we lose interest in things, attention to detail and quality often go out the window. The same can be said for things that are causing us more distress than joy. There is a difference though between producing a poor product out of laziness and doing so because your passion is gone. If you always enjoyed designing and drawing things, but you’ve been creating subpar logos for clients at a job you dislike, that’s a good indication you’re not in the position that’s best for you.
5. You’ve stopped growing and improving
Life experiences are all about progress. How can you challenge and push yourself? What can you learn? How can you get better? Once you begin to stagnate, it’s likely time for a change. Start by trying to improve your current work environment or relationship with a little thing called communication. You could ask for a new project, try out a new team, introduce date night, or simply acknowledge your concerns at the next meeting. You owe the people around you and yourself an effort to repair things before taking off. Oftentimes, the issue of growth or improvement is in your control. If they don’t happen to be in your situation, or if you still feel the same way after making an effort to address your concerns, it may be your time to step away.
6. You feel unstable
Feeling out of control is possible one of the worst places to be mentally, emotionally, and physically. Instability can quickly spread, from the area of your life it’s terrorizing, into every other facet of your life. Stepping away can often return some control to you and give you a feeling of peace, especially if what you’re leaving has a toxic effect.
7. You’re being taken advantage of or abused
This seems obvious at face value, but is often one of the more difficult signs. We all deserve to be treated with respect, no matter what the setting may be. If the people you interact with in your job, relationship, club, etc. don’t show you that respect, it’s up to YOU to stand up for yourself. Standing up for yourself could mean literally standing up and speaking out about an issue. It could also mean respecting yourself enough to walk away.
8. You aren’t getting what you deserve
Knowing your worth is an important discovery we all need to make in life. This is only half the battle though. Once you have established how much money you believe you should be paid, the treatment you deserve in a relationship, or even the praise and recognition for things you accomplish, you have to demand it. If you aren’t receiving the treatment you’ve set as your minimum threshold, it’s time to reevaluate whether or not to continue. Don’t sacrifice your rights or happiness because you’re scared or don’t want to inconvenience others.
As a child, I was taught to never quit or give up. While this was a good lesson to learn, it was presented to me much more black and white than quitting really is. I learned that lesson in a big way when I decided to leave China. You should always work hard, try your best, and practice patience. If, however, you identify that one or more of the signs above continually pops up in your life, quitting might be the appropriate next step for you.
Originally posted at ALittleLessClueless.com.
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