Should I Quit My Job and Find My Passion?

Working a full-time job comes with many perks, like financial stability, benefits, and the ability to work and thrive in an environment where the headache of calling the shots rests on someone else. For some, the daydream of quitting their job is almost too strong to deny. After all, your work is where you spend the most time at. These feelings are normal. But quitting your job to pursue your passion is a bold step that you should only take after weighing all the pros and cons. Mortgage payments, your partner, kids, food, and even amenities like healthcare are all necessary to consider before making any major life-altering decisions like quitting your job. 

Why Do You Want to Quit Your Job?

Quitting your job to pursue your passion is one of the many bold decisions we all wish we could make. But don’t just quit your job on a whim. Before you jeopardize something worth holding on to, take some time to figure out why you are quitting your job and why you want to leave. 

Maybe you don’t get along with your boss anymore, you’ve reached a point of career stagnation, or you’re experiencing too much work stress. These are all good reasons to want to take a step back and focus on something you love. After all, the unhappiness you experience at work can take a toll on your mental health. So, review all your work and create a list of reasons why it’s justifiable for you to leave.

Suppose you feel frustrated because you feel overlooked by your supervisor at that particular moment or got into an argument with a colleague. Bad days can make you feel like you want to make a sudden decision but think carefully about your plan. 

Sometimes, these feelings could be caused by a few strolls on social media where you feel your friends are living their best lives and you’re stuck in a job that doesn’t allow you to explore the world as they do. However, don’t make major life-altering decisions based on an emotional high or low. Instead, take the time to plan out and think about your next course of action wisely. 

While at it, think about what comes next after you’ve quit your job. You won’t have a salary or the benefits that come with your job, but bills still need to be paid. If you are quitting to pursue your passion, is that passion viable as a job? Building a business takes time, and you need to consider how you will live in the meantime. 

You don’t have to have it all figured out. However, you need a clear idea of what comes next after quitting your job. The phrase “follow your passion” sounds attractive, and we would all be doing it if it were that simple. However, everyone’s needs and what’s right for you and your loved ones are unique to your situation. 

6 Things to Do Before Quitting Your Job 

Quitting your job could be right for you, but ensure you do it correctly. While you may want to go out in a blaze of glory, don’t burn your existing bridges. Most importantly, ensure you have a clear plan of what comes next after walking out of that door.   

1. Have Buffer Savings 

Realistically, no matter how passionate you are about whatever made you quit your job in the first place, you likely have bills to pay. So have a financial cushion in the form of savings to make the transition easier. At the very least, have a buffer of savings to cover your expenses for the next six months. Of course, you may have to make a few scarifies, but it’s a small sacrifice to make for a lifetime of following your dreams. 

2. Evaluate Your Current Job 

It’s normal for emotions to crowd your judgment when thinking about quitting your job to pursue something you love, especially if you’ve been unhappy in your current job. However, take some time to evaluate your current job. Was it always miserable when you started? If not, what do you think went wrong along the way? If it’s something you can fix, then work on it. If it’s beyond fixing, it could be the right time for a change. 

3. Make a Strategic Plan 

It takes a lot of discipline to follow your passion. At the same time, it takes a lot of courage to call it quits and pursue something you love. So, before you resign, have a checklist of things you need to accomplish and prepare for before fully committing to a new job or hobby. At this point, consider the networks you’ve built and how they can come in handy as you launch your new journey. 

4. Learn Your Passion 

You don’t need to quit your full-time job to pursue a passion project. However, consistently committing and making it a habit to churn out “creative” work past your 9-5 will go a long way in helping you master your passion. Read books, register for online courses, start marketing your work on social media, look for partners, and so on. There is so much you can do to perfect your passion and turn it into a full-time job long before you write that resignation letter. 

5. Find a Support Group 

Deciding to quit your job is a major decision that can affect your mental health, especially when you don’t have anyone telling you if you’re doing the right thing. When these feelings start creeping in, find a support group to help you walk that journey. These could be friends or family who’ve gone through the same thing. They are the best people to guide you and even help you launch your passion project if it comes to that. 

6. Write Down What You Want 

Writing down what you want will go a long way in helping you make an informed decision. You want to have a clear path to follow once you walk out of that door and are on your own. While these don’t need to be precise steps, it’s a good idea to have some goals in mind for what you would like to achieve. 

How Thriving Center of Psych Can Help      

Sometimes, quitting your job to pursue what makes you happy might seem like the right thing for you – it’s often not that simple. That’s because the notion of following your passion makes it sound like you can only have one passion, but it’s okay to have more. You might have a deep satisfaction in your work and even develop a passion over time. Maybe it’s the environment and the work you do that makes you happy, but it’s not something you are not passionate about.

The truth is job satisfaction is multi-faceted. What may make you quit your job is enough reason for someone else to stay. Understanding your reasons for quitting and even creating a concrete plan can go a long way in helping you move forward and feel excited about the new adventure ahead. 

If the thought of making such an important decision, like quitting your job to pursue your passion, is weighing you down, speak to a Life Coach at Thriving Center of Psychology. Call our offices today in New York, California, Massachusetts, Illinois, Washington, Florida, Minnesota, New Jersey, and Oregon, or schedule an appointment online.