Quitting your job is a major decision. It is probably going to turn your whole life upside down and could impact you for many years, whether positively or negatively. That said, I’m not here to make you change your mind. Actually, I’ve done an academized review of the subject, and I think everyone should quit their jobs eventually.

Being employed certainly has its perks. You have financial security, for starters. You have a definite salary that comes in every month. You have a fixed schedule you can follow every day, which means most of the planning for your day, your month, your year, and your career at large is taken care off. That takes the hassle off of you. All you have to do is show up and do your job, and you get paid at the end of the week, month, or year. In fact, it can be argued that you might not have to work at all. You can put 2 hours of actual work in your 8-hour work days, and you’ll still get paid.

Despite everything, I’ve said above, being employed still isn’t a good thing, at least not in the long run. You still need to quit your job if you can. Would you like to know why? Then read on.

    1. Most Jobs are being automated anyway

When computers came onto the scene, they were hailed as a way to automate the boring counting tasks that had been laboured at by humans for many ages. We could use them to crunch through large amounts of data and perform calculations for us, which made life a lot easier. However, computers evolved to do other things as well. They manufactured our products, assembled our vehicles, eventually began to learn about our preferences and made recommendations on what to watch or eat. They gave us money when we wanted to withdraw it from the bank; with the rise of the internet they became teaching tools; they helped us catalogue our thoughts. Now they even perform customer service duties.

At each of these stages, computers have slowly become really good at performing tasks that were previously the preserve of human beings. They have allowed things to be automated and continue to get better and better with the AI development race currently going.

The idea is that eventually, though no one knows exactly when, AI will reach the level of Artificial General Intelligence or AGI. At that level, a computer will be capable of such uniquely human activities as natural language processing and image recognition. Some might argue that we are already making great leaps with these two. At any rate, even before we get there, computers are increasingly becoming better and better at specialized tasks, also known as Artificial Narrow Intelligence.

Whatever job you’re doing, even if you’re working for a thesis writing service, don’t get too comfortable. It is only a matter of time before you’re replaced by a computer, which is cheaper to maintain than you and doesn’t get tired or take days off.

The best way out is to become an owner of capital, rather than a labourer who works for a wage. Find a business idea and run with it. Use the increasing power of computers to your advantage, rather than become a victim to it.

    2. You might need to go back to School

Knowledge and information are becoming more and more important as we progress deeper into the 21st century. We need to know more and learn more in order to add value to the world around us. As industries grow in complexity, they demand more of those that work in them. That is why you always need to increase your knowledge.

If you’re working a 9-5, then you might find yourself hard put to find time to study, especially if what you want to do is full time. A full-time course will need you to dedicate yourself fully to it, which means you might have to quit your job.

It is a difficult decision to make because you might not have a soft landing. However, if you are going to do a course that will make you more useful to your employer they might support you. If not, then the course might still be good for you because it might give you better employment prospects. Whatever you do, however, make sure you save enough money to cover your fees and living expenses for the duration of the course and job hunting afterwards before you actually quit your job.

    3. The Schedule isn’t working for you

In case you have a child or children and would like to spend more time with them, especially as a mother, you might have a difficult time adjusting to this. It makes a lot of sense to leave the job because of scheduling issues. You can look for a better job that takes into account your role as a parent and even as a spouse. In fact, the most progressive places of employment take into account work-life balance when considering their employees and try to make the two mesh as seamlessly as possible. I personally found the perfect schedule for me when I started working for a company offering affordable proofreading services. I could finally work the hours I wanted.

    4. You want to change your Career

 Sometimes you feel like your job is a dead end. You feel like it is draining you of energy and your spirit. Perhaps it isn’t the career you would have liked to venture into in the first place. Your heart yearns for something else, and you feel like time is running out for you to chase your dreams. If that is the case, then you should go out there and chase your dreams by all means. Sometimes it may be something else, such as the stress that comes with working in a particular industry. Some careers just demand too much from you, requiring you to work long hours and travel a lot and sacrifice your sleep. If that is the case, then you might want a career change.

    5. The Work Environment isn’t good

There is nothing as soul-sucking as working in an environment that simply isn’t conducive for you. It could be that you have co-workers who are constantly negative, thereby infecting you with their pessimism. Or you might have the boss from hell. Or it could be that the very environment you work in is dangerous and inherently unhealthy if you work in it for a long period. Whatever the case, you cannot be productive if you work in the wrong environment. You might be better off quitting and looking for a job elsewhere.

    6. You want to be your own Boss

Some of us have always had the entrepreneurial spirit within us. We love the thrill that comes with being our own bosses and the challenges we face as we stand at the helm of our own ships, guiding ourselves through the different paths in life. If you can feel that fire burning in you, then you’re probably best off starting your own business and growing it. Don’t be in too much of a hurry. Start with a side hustle and try to grow it to the point where it earns you more money than your 9 – 5. When you reach the point where you earn at least twice as much from your side business as from your day job, then you can quit your day job.

    7. You got a Better Offer

The truth is that your employer can replace you in a heartbeat. Most of us have a hard time coming to terms with the truth, but our employers do not value us beyond the value we generate for them. No matter how much your employer seems to care at the moment, they will replace you when you get sick or when a better employee comes along, or when they can replace you with a piece of software running on a computer.

That’s why you should also focus on having options, just like your employer. Always be on the lookout for jobs that treat you better and pay you more. And if you do get a better offer, do not hesitate to leave.

    8. You feel that your Reputation is at Risk

Have you been having too many arguments with your boss lately? Have you been exceedingly tardy or too apathetic about your workplace and your job? It is easy to see a reputation that you have built over many years come crumbling down in a matter of months, weeks, or days. Don’t risk it; find a job elsewhere and grant yourself a fresh start.

    9. You’re not satisfied

This is one of those self-explanatory points. We all want to be content, and it is one of the most important sources of happiness. If you’re not happy or satisfied where you are, then quitting may be a good idea.

    10. The Job does not align with your Values

We all have moral and ethical principles and values by which we stand. If our line of work is not in line with them, the cognitive dissonance can be overwhelming. Don’t sweat it; find a job that makes you feel like you’re living your true purpose.

Conclusion

You only get one life. You should, therefore, do all you can to make sure you’re living your best life. If your job is not part of that life, do not hesitate to drop it.

Bio

Joe McLean works as a writer for Nerdywriters and Easy Essay and has 10 years of experience in the writing field. He focuses on the topics of work-life balance, self-development, and career advancement. When he’s not working, he’s hanging out with his friends and with a warm cup of coffee.