Burnout makes it feel nearly impossible to make a change.
When you’re exhausted, everything feels heavier.
Updating your resume, reaching out to your network, interviewing…
It all feels like one more huge thing on an already full plate.
And then there’s the question in the back of your mind:
What if the next job isn’t any better?
So what do you do when you don’t know what to do?
How do you get out of burnout and move toward something better?
Sometimes, the answer isn’t leaving right away.
It’s making small changes where you are.
Yes, companies can create burnout.
But sometimes we contribute to it in ways we don’t realize:
– Holding ourselves to impossible standards
– Trying to prove ourselves at all times
– Saying yes when we want to say no
– Being available in ways that impact our personal life
So before you quit, it’s worth asking:
Is it the job… or is it how I’m working?
Because if it’s the second one,
you may be able to make meaningful changes right where you are.
Those changes don’t just improve your situation.
They give you something you don’t have when you’re burned out:
Energy.
Energy to think.
Energy to explore.
Energy to figure out what you actually want next.
You don’t need to change everything at once.
Start small:
– Delay a response that isn’t actually urgent
– Lower the bar on something that isn’t that important
– Stop worrying so much about whether they like you
– And start to practice having more direct conversations about what’s realistic.
Sometimes the first step isn’t leaving.
It’s creating enough space
to figure out where you want to go.
💥 A lot of this comes down to learning how to set boundaries and have those conversations in a way that maintains professionalism. It’s something we spend a lot of time on inside Own Your Career, our women’s course and community for growth-minded women. If you’re interested in learning more, feel free to reach out on LinkedIn.
Before you quit…
