Whether you’re in a job, a contract role, or a corporate path that once felt promising, something now feels off.
You’re drained, unsure, circling the same thought loops every week. But you’re also practical. You need the paycheck, the health insurance, the stability—especially now.
So how do you make a decision that’s not just smart, but sustainable?
One that honors your mind, body, and future self?
This guide offers a values-aligned, nervous-system-friendly approach to deciding whether to stay, pivot, or walk away from your current career path.
So I wanted to give some context for this because 3 years ago I started a podcast… unbeknownst to me, because I didn’t set out to start a podcast, I just wanted some sort of way to decompress and kind of make sense of work, ways to work, and ways to make money, and it turned out that using my voice felt like the best way to make sense of things.
I didn’t know what was gonna come from that, and then here we are three years later with a different iteration of the podcast and work, and making sense of it is still one of the threads that I come back to.
This topic of a nervous system aligned guide is very near and dear to me because, as I have grown in myself and learned different skills, what has consistently remained true is focusing on what’s going on inside me more than what is going on outside. That’s not to say that the job market, economy, rent, and taxes don’t influence the jobs and the way we go about navigating work.
Rather, it’s how we make the decision, what is going on inside of us, that is consistently more important. Like the 80/20 rule, it’s 80% more important in decision-making because how we are is going to go with us wherever we go. Said another way - wherever we are, we are. We can’t avoid ourselves no matter the job or environment.
We are in our in the environment, we are navigating the job market, the job market is not navigating us.
That’s a question for another day: why the economy or why society doesn’t take individuals and what individuals live through more into account, but hopefully this guide or these kinds of questions help in this time of reevaluating what works, what doesn’t work, whether there is a shift that needs to be made, what that shift needs to look like, and hopefully this is something that you can kind of tweak and go back to again and again.
5 Signs It Might Be Time to Go
These aren’t just red flags. They’re nervous system signals your body might be sending you—quietly, consistently, persistently.
1. You’re in a Constant State of Freeze or Fawn
You over-accommodate, say “yes” when you mean “no,” or feel like your only way to survive is to keep the peace. Staying shouldn’t mean self-erasure.
2. You No Longer Recognize Yourself in the Work
Your values have evolved, but the work hasn’t. You’re feeling misaligned, like you’re play-acting a past version of yourself to keep up appearances.
3. Your Body Is Breaking Down the Longer You Stay
Chronic headaches. Sleep issues. A pit in your stomach every Sunday night. These are data points—not just random symptoms.
4. You Can’t See a Clear Future
If the best-case scenario at your job still feels heavy or misaligned, it’s time to explore other pathways.
5. You Feel Resentful—But Don’t Know Where to Put It
Resentment is often a map. It means you’re giving more than you’re getting—and you’re out of sync with what your work is costing you.
If you’re feeling one or more of these things consistently, it may be time, or been time, to assess what your next move would feel sustainable and safe for you. Not when, but what or why.
5 Signs It Might Be Worth Staying (For Now)
Leaving isn’t always the answer—especially when the problem isn’t just the job, but the industry, the culture, or the larger system. Here are a few reasons you might intentionally choose to stay:
1. You’re in a Season of Resourcing
You’re staying to build your savings, gain experience, or prepare for a long-term exit. That’s not stuckness—that’s strategy.
2. You Have a Strong Support System at Work
You’re not alone. You have mentors, allies, or team members who truly get you and support your growth.
3. The Work Aligns (Even If the System Doesn’t)
You still find meaning in your tasks or purpose in your role—even if the institution needs work.
4. You’re Learning Skills That Will Serve You Elsewhere
Sometimes the job is just a bridge. You’re collecting tools and contacts that will fund your next move.
5. You’re In Recovery Mode
Burnout makes everything feel worse. If you’re healing and not yet ready to leap, that’s okay. Rest is strategy, too.
These feelings are helpful to notice if something is acute or temporary, not the main reality at work. Ask yourself what is creating these feelings or what’s the combination of work and personal and all the things happening that may be exacerbating.
What to Do If You’re Not Sure Yet
1. Stop Trying to Think Your Way Out of It
Your nervous system might have more clarity than your mind does. Track how your body responds to certain meetings, emails, and tasks. That’s data.
2. Journal Through This Prompt:
“If I knew I would be okay no matter what—I would…” See what surfaces when fear isn’t steering the wheel.
3. Talk to Someone Who Can Hold Space Without an Agenda
Not a recruiter. Not your boss. A coach, therapist, or peer who won’t pressure you either way.
4. Create a “Go” Plan—Even If You Don’t Use It Yet
Sometimes just knowing you have an exit strategy reduces the urgency and anxiety of the decision.
If you’re in limbo or not sure, the most helpful thing is to acknowledge that and perhaps give yourself some time to sort things out/allow things to naturally show themselves. Being in a limbo state might mean you need more information about yourself and/or the situation before taking action. So it’s best not to rush into anything, even though being “stuck” is uncomfortable and all we want to do is get out of it.
I’m here if you want someone to bounce ideas off of and help get another set of eyes. Shoot me an email if you’d like :)
For context, I’ve been laid off, fired, quit, been a full-time, part-time employee, consultant, contractor, a temp, and all while asking myself, what does stability and freedom look/feel like for me? In this chapter of my life?
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