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Leaving Your 9-5

I Quit! 7 Signs Now Is The Time To Give The Middle Finger To Your Job

May 28, 20235 min read

“We spend most of our lives working. So why do few people have a good time doing it? ”

- Richard Branson -

If you are working a 9-5 and you're feeling stuck in a rut, chances are you're feeling the pull to do something completely different. And chances are, you feel if you don't make the changes now, you'll always regret it.

Whatever reason you started that job in the first place, there comes a point when you decide enough is enough - knowing you deserve better and life is for living.

8 Reasons

Here are 7 signs you need to make big changes TODAY!👊

1. You dread a Monday

 As in, you really dread a Monday morning - you feel physically sick when someone mentions the week ahead. It's a fairly normal state to love time off and the weekend feels, but if this is an intense feeling of anxiety and depression, as if there's nothing good to look forward to, then it could be a massive sign you need to re-consider your job choices.

"Jan" used to feel her anxiety building from a Sunday afternoon. She became so misaligned with her workplace, that the thought of the week ahead sent her into a spiral of depression and nerves.

2. You spend all week looking forward to the Friday

Now, this isn't the same as "I love spending time with the family and catching up with my friends" type idea but more "OH MY GOD, THIS IS THE SLOWEST WEEK EVER AND I'M GOING TO DIE IF I DON'T GET TO FRIDAY SOON" type idea. A bit like, every day you drag yourself out of bed, you feel the weight of the work day heavy on your shoulders, the stretch of the hours in front of you getting longer and longer - until, that is, it's a Friday and you suddenly have a spring in your step.

(Add an extra point here if your work colleagues have even started noticing how different you are on a Friday!! 😬)

3. You've lost the passion

You may have started in your job full of enthusiasm and now, where has that gone? Those moments that used to light you up and get you excited, perhaps a new project, new job title or promotion...are nowhere to be seen. Kaput! Vanished! You can't be bothered to do the easiest parts of the job and simply are going through the motions, feeling it's more of a pressure and burden than anything enjoyable.

 

"Amy" used to love her job. She was creative over weekends, coming up with new plans, new projects, ways to improve her team and their work together. Over the years, with frustrations and knocks to her performance and ideas, she became less inclined to come up with new ideas. It wasn't long before she stopped thinking up anything useful at work at all - and management didn't even notice! Once this passion had gone completely, she knew it was time to make a change.

4. You long for your holiday

This one has high relevance to me as I was teaching and just keeping my constant attention on the end of term. This was fine when we were in the final weeks and I was full of excitement to be getting closer to a break...but I knew I was on a downward spiral when being mid-way tough the term I'd feel physically sick as how far the holidays were away.

If you're constantly thinking about your next holiday and booking these in advance to 'get through' the work weeks, this could be a real danger sign that it's time to make a change.

5. Your work environment feels toxic

Working in a toxic environment is not as uncommon as you'd think! Whether there's been a change in management and leadership, or a new work colleague that is causing you grief - being in a toxic environment is not healthy and not worth putting up with. No matter how stuck you feel - you are always one decision away from changing your whole life.

6. You're only there for the money

Oooooooo money money money! If I had a dollar for every client who has used the "it pays well" as the main reason as to why they are staying at a miserable job...I'd be an extremely wealthy woman (how ironic, when we're in the money section!)

The safety net of money (or apparent safety net!) is a complete farce. When you're working and earning good money, the pull to stay in that job is strong. However, if there is nothing more than 'it pays well' when you describe the good points of the job, it may just be the time to reconsider your options.

Money Mindset Mastery is part of the High Performers course because money holds such a knot of anxiety for many of clients. Changing the story and the hold money has over you is liberating - and one main reason that many decide to start their own business after-all.

"Claire" had the biggest money blocks when we started working together. Working in her corporate job since her 20's, she was on a high salary, with savings and a hefty mortgage and nice car. The idea of starting her own coaching business terrified her. By changing the stories she has around money, Claire got clear on her strategy to leave her 9-5 and finally do what she loved.

7. You've increased your drinking habits

I am not a 'we all must stop drinking' kinda coach. I am a 'what are your reasons behind drinking' kinda one though. I talk from personal experience. I used to drown my sorrows daily with a wine...well, one, two, three, sometimes four glasses a night. Because I was stressed. Because I wanted to escape the memory of the day and the expectations of the following day. Unless it was a Friday night and I was celebrating it was a Friday! Woo hoo!!

What I do know, is that for many clients who are at breaking point and ready to make big changes in their life, the amount of alcohol consumption goes up. OR (and this is a big one) you start to feel a loss of control in the amount you're drinking, wondering perhaps if it's becoming a need or a must.

*clients names changed for confidentiality purposes

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With a degree in Psychology and now as an NLP Master Coach and Trainer, Pam is here to help clients quit their 9-5 and live the life they have always dreamed of.

Pam Reid

With a degree in Psychology and now as an NLP Master Coach and Trainer, Pam is here to help clients quit their 9-5 and live the life they have always dreamed of.

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