16 Compelling Reasons You Should Leave Your 9 To 5 Job Today
Have you been considering leaving your regular job? That 9-to-5 routine just isn’t working for me anymore! Now might be the right moment for you to say goodbye to that limiting job and consider a new way to work. So many people are leaving the 9 to 5 work setup and finding new, flexible jobs that offer a better quality of life. Imagine being able to start work around noon or work from a beach chair in the Maldives. When you quit your 9 to 5 job, these all become real possibilities!
Mental Health
Every job has its pitfalls, but what happens when you start to notice the bad outweighing the good? In many cases, a job can be a major cause of mental health issues. If you have started to dread going to work, began to suffer from panic attacks, or suffer from addictions related to work, it is time to resign.
No paycheck is ever worth your mental health.
Toxic Environments
Many workplaces are not what they should be in terms of pay or environment. One in five workers experiences a toxic workplace environment that involves bullying, exclusion, or other negative behavior. By working in a bad workplace, you’re quietly supporting that business and its way of being run.
While you might not get a round of applause for quitting, the difference that quitting can make is massive to the way that business runs.
Better Paychecks
It’s no secret that many businesses seem to operate through exploitation. Wages have been fairly stagnant since the 1980s—a common fact mentioned regularly on the news. If you are being underpaid, you don’t have to stand for that. You can start applying for jobs so that you can find one that pays you what you’re truly worth.
Sometimes, this is the fastest way to get that raise you keep asking for.
Commuter Issues
It’s no secret that commuting can take years off your life. Despite this, many people have commutes that stretch an hour or more one way every day. Aren’t you tired of having to drive your way down highways just to get a paycheck? If your commute is eating into your check, it might be time to rethink your position.
Besides, that wear and tear on your car can’t be good for it.
Career Switch
Sometimes, the best reason to quit a 9 to 5 is realizing that you want a different type of job altogether. Many former office workers ended up realizing they wanted something a little different. If you’re looking to change career paths, you will have to eventually quit the job you’re currently at.
This is doubly true if you need to go to training for the job you want to obtain. You can’t train to be a trainer if you’re at your 9 to 5, can you?
New Business
What if you want to create your own business? If your side gig currently earns as much as your 9-to-5, you might want to rethink your job. There will be a point when your side business will need more of your time to grow into a full-scale business.
If you’ve reached the point of earning a full-time income from your small business, it’s time to say goodbye to your boss.
Personal Growth
It’s no secret that having a 9 to 5 can stifle certain aspects of your growth, especially when it comes to spiritual and physical healing. Have you been trying to align yourself with your life’s goal better? It might be time to take a year-long sabbatical if you have the time to do so.
Quitting a day job for personal growth can take many different forms. It’s just important that you do it for you, the way you want to.
Burnout
Be honest with yourself. Are you burnt out? Are you burnt out enough to be extra crispy? If the idea of going to work fills you with despair and you can barely function while you’re in the office, you need to leave your job. Stick a fork in it. Your time there is done, and you need to leave to figure out if you can still tolerate staying in your career of choice.
Family Matters
Most of us have moments where we realize that it’s time to pay attention to loved ones. If you are hoping to have kids, need to raise a couple of testy toddlers, or need to take care of an ailing parent, taking time away from work can be wise. In some cases, quitting your job might also be the best course of action for everyone involved.
We all have moments when we need to jump into the role of full-time caretaker. If you’re in that situation, you might as well be realistic about your job.
Dead End
It may not be the nicest thing to hear, but some jobs are not meant to be your “forever place” in terms of a career. For example, no one wants to be the person who is still flipping burgers at 40 years of age. Most of us know when a 9 to 5 has turned into a dead-end job.
You need to quit if your job doesn’t offer you growth or a way to earn a better living. It’s just that simple.
Ailing Companies
Sometimes, you can have the most amazing career ever, but you can see that the company is ailing. Even the best jobs can end up being with the wrong company or given to you at the wrong time. You are not a musician on the Titanic, are you? You don’t have to go down with a sinking ship. If your company is failing, it’s time to look for greener pastures.
Ethics Issues
There are some companies that have dubious or even outright scary ethics. Whether it’s the way they treat customers, abuse trust, or treat employees underneath you doesn’t matter. If you find yourself in a company that isn’t up to your ethical standards, you have every right to be a whistleblower. Sometimes, that’s not always an option. The next best option is to resign so that you don’t get caught in the crossfire once their dirty deeds are outed.
More Flexibility
One of the main reasons so many people quit their nine-to-five jobs is that these positions take up most of our time. Just think about it: how much time do you truly have for yourself? People who end their working day at 5 p.m. usually arrive home around 6 p.m., cook dinner, take care of a few duties such as house chores, and watch something on TV before heading to sleep. Time for yourself is almost non-existent.
Your Own Boss
There are so many positive aspects to being your boss. You can start and finish whenever you want, take all the necessary breaks, and choose whenever to take a day off. On top of this, you will be responsible for every choice and won’t have to consider any other opinion. While for some people, not having someone constantly telling them what to do may harm their productivity, it may be a massive relief for others.
Freedom To Travel
Most freelancers have the opportunity to travel to every country in the world as they don’t have an office where they need to be. This means visiting all sorts of charming places, from the picturesque towns in Europe to the sunny beaches of Latin America. But you don’t have to go that far. Quitting your nine-to-five job also means being able to work from your favorite café!
Develop New Skills
You probably have a very specific role in your current 9 to 5 job. You do your assigned tasks and don’t have the opportunity to branch out too much. There is no challenge or chance to develop new skills! When you start working as a freelancer, you will be able to try new things and develop new skills. You can try writing a book, look into improving your photography skills, or learn all about social media marketing. There is a whole world of new opportunities out there that you can learn and explore! It is much more exciting to expand your skills rather than sit at a desk all day long.
