Should you quit your job if it makes you unhappy?

We’ve often heard of the phrase ‘do what makes you happy’. But is it as simple as that? What if your job is making you unhappy? Should you quit it without a thought? Before we get to those aspects, let’s understand that a lot of people work for money — that is to sustain themselves. You might dread the long commute or sitting before a screen for 8-10 hours, and yet you do it. That’s because you need the money coming in to maintain your lifestyle. 

There could be several reasons why you may want to quit your job. It could be a bad boss, severe stress or perhaps you just don’t enjoy the work you do. For a lot of people, work life has become even more miserable during the pandemic, especially with personal and professional boundaries getting so blurred. 

Once you’ve established the reasons for being unhappy with your job, it’s essential to know if you should take the plunge or not. 

Also read: Unhappy at work? Here are 5 things that might improve your job satisfaction

Plan before you quit

There have been several instances when we’ve wanted to quit on an impulse. But it’s better to make an informed decision, so that you don’t repent later. And with that, it’s essential to accept that moving on from a higher-paying job to a lower-paying one is not easy. Sure, it might get you more peace, but the money won’t be there and you must accept that. If happiness is more important for you than money, go for it. But be prepared before you take this big step. 

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First of all, try and assess if you will be able to live with less money. Because face it or not, there need to be some lifestyle changes, and that also means a change in your spending habits. 

Can you change your money mindset?

Another thing to keep in mind is that when you earn a lot of money, you want to spend it too. When you look around you, if you feel that the overpriced things in your house matter more to you than your mental peace, then it’s maybe time to give yourself some pep talk. At the end of the day, you won’t even be able to enjoy these possessions, if you are perpetually stressed or unhappy. 

And remember, if you want to still keep these things in your life, try and change your spending habits. Try and review your monthly expenses to understand better. 

Also read: Been stressed at work? Here are 4 ways to actively destress

Live your future life

When you gain acceptance, it’s time to move on to the next step. Practice living on a smaller salary much before you quit your job. You could make small changes such as not eating out for a while, and make your own meals. It will help you cut down on costs. You could also stop shopping mindlessly, so that there aren’t unnecessary expenses. 

Next, you could move on to the bigger stuff, like downsizing your house and car. Try to have some savings before you quit your job. If you don’t, you will have a hard time. 

The last word

There’s nothing in life that should come before mental peace. Yes, there’s no denying that money is important to sustain ourselves, but make the distinction between necessities and luxuries, and you’ll be happier.