BY MEANINGSPHERE STAFF
We’ve seen some alarming workplace trends in the past few years. First it was “quiet quitting,” then “quiet cracking.” A rush of loyal employees quitting without notice was dubbed “revenge quitting.” In 2023, “rage applying” entered the lexicon—that’s when you get so furious with your current employer that you fire off a lot of ill-considered applications for other roles. In 2026, we also got “doomjobbing:” idly browsing job postings with no real strategy or intention, just a vague sense that something better ought to be out there.
Bottom line? Lots of workers in the U.S. and elsewhere are unhappy in their jobs. Many of them are eyeing the door. Some are running for it. And not without good reason, either. In 2025, CBS reported that six in 10 Americans say their work falls short on several key aspects of quality job: fair pay, a consistent work schedule, and opportunities for growth.
There’s no denying that it’s tough out there. For many of us, quitting feels like the only lever we have to pull when work feels frustrating, draining, and simply meaningless. Unfortunately, quitting isn’t always practical—and leaping into a new job without asking ourselves what we’re really looking for can lead us into an equally unsatisfying situation.
So if you’re ready to throw in the towel at work, you’re not alone! But before you make an irreversible decision, it helps to unpack what it is you’re running from, and what you want to run to. To that end, here are seven questions to ask yourself if you’re considering a career transition. What you learn from your answers may surprise you.
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1. What exactly am I trying to leave?
Is it the job itself, or a particular manager, workload, team dynamic, lack of autonomy, schedule, or organizational culture? Getting specific about what’s not working can help you understand whether a few changes can fix it, or if leaving is truly the only option. (It can also help you know what to look out for when it’s time to pursue your next opportunity.!)
2. Could I change my work without changing jobs?
Before making an irreversible decision, ask: What is within my control? Could you renegotiate responsibilities, seek a different project, build a new relationship, request more flexibility, change how you structure your time, or reconnect with the people who make the work meaningful?
3. Am I moving toward something—or simply running away?
Leaving can absolutely be the right choice. But it helps to distinguish between escaping a painful situation and moving intentionally toward a worklife that better fits who you are.
4. Which parts of my current worklife actually feel meaningful?
When do you feel energized, useful, connected, or most like yourself? What people, projects, or activities bring that out? After all, meaning isn’t necessarily built into a job title; it can emerge from the everyday experience of the work.
If you struggle to find something “meaningful” in your current role, consider the other types of meaningful labor you do outside the 9-to-5. (Hint: These may be disguised as hobbies, whether it’s coaching a soccer team, playing in a rock band, planning events, woodworking, nature photography, or some other “labor of love.”)
5. Who would I be able to become in a different environment?
Does your current job give you opportunities to learn, grow, and use your strengths? Or are you continually shrinking yourself to fit the role? What would a new opportunity allow you to become?
6. What am I willing to trade?
Every job has trade–offs. More autonomy might mean less structure. More flexibility might mean less connection. A more “noble” purpose might mean less pay. More growth might mean less certainty.
Identifying the aspects of work that matter most to you—and even noting any non-negotiables—can help you determine what you’re willing to trade for a more fulfilling worklife. Our Worklife Fulfillment Indicator is a useful tool for identifying the intangible elements that make or break your experiences, such as appreciation, energy, and growth.
7. And perhaps the biggest question: “What do I want my worklife to make possible?”
Rather than asking only “What job should I get next?,” ask what kind of life you want your work to support, and what role work should play within that life. After all, your job is interconnected with the rest of your life. It’s not something that exists in a separate “work” box.
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The goal isn’t necessarily to convince yourself not to quit. Moving on is a natural part of any working life, and your career (and certainly your potential) is too big to be summed up in one static role. Staying in a role you’ve outgrown is hardly the point.
Instead, the goal here is to make sure that any career decision comes from a place of self-awareness—not just frustration. By understanding the intangible qualities that make work fulfilling, you’re better positioned to make choices that work for you. And by ensuring that you’re moving toward something (not just away), you can put yourself back in control of your own experience. You may not be the boss at work—but you’re the boss of your own fulfillment.
