When is the ‘right’ time to end your work?

Copyright © HT Digital Streams Limit all rights reserved. Not every bad quarter is a reason to leave. (IStockphoto) Summary If you leave a job too early, you run the risk of looking impatient. On the other hand, it could stay too long until stagnation, burnout or resentment by Thursday afternoon, Rohit Sharma already knew how she would end on Friday. The content based at an advertising agency in Mumbai is on back-to-back calls, which cleaned the last moment escalations and reported the exhausted stuff past 9pm. The weekend offered little rest. By Sunday night, the famous melancholy had returned. “I stopped recognizing myself,” said the 38-year-old. “I was funny with my team, eternally tired and constantly thought about stopping. But I was also afraid of what would happen if I were to do. ‘ Across the country in Bengaluru, Ananya Nair faced another dilemma. For the 34-year-old brand manager at a global FMCG business, everything was on paper ‘right’: a good salary, a swanky office and international work trips. Yet she feels hollow. She remembers: ‘I would sit in meetings wondering why I was even there. The only time I felt alive was on weekends, cooking and filming recipes for Instagram. ‘ Two professionals, two very different posts. Both faced the same question: Did their roles run their course? The decision to stop is one of the most difficult career decisions to make. If you leave too early, you are at risk of looking impatient. On the other hand, it can stay too long until stagnation, burnout or resentment. The slow build -up for most, the decision to quit, does not stem from a single bad day. This is the result of a slow accumulation of fatigue, frustration and disconnection. Overwork is often the first sign. Sharma remembers that I woke up every morning and ahead of the day; Not because of one impossible boss or multiple deadlines, but because the rhythm of his work has become unsustainable. “I didn’t do badly,” he says, “but I was permanently exhausted.” When he finally stopped, it made sense. He joined a smaller business with a balanced working hours and less payment, but felt happier. “For the first time in years, I’m actually looking forward to Mondays,” he says. “The work is manageable, my evenings are mine, I feel like me again.” Yet the decision to leave often comes before the relief. For many, it begins with the realization that they are no longer growing. After a few years in the same role, work can start to feel like muscle memory; Effective, but uninspiring. Bhakti Talati, a Mumbai-based working life balance coach and resuming the building strategist, says: “If you are no longer challenged, when projects you no longer stretch, it is when stagnation comes in.” Value -Wan alignment can also cause the urge to leave. Nair remembers a presentation of the introduction of the product when it hit her: she no longer believed in the product. “It wasn’t a big crash moment. It was quiet with the knowledge that I didn’t want it to be my job for the next five years. ‘ Sometimes it’s not the work that changes, it’s you. Parenting, care responsibilities, or simply to enter a new decade of life, can shift your career priorities. Warning signs often appear before we consciously recognize them, Dr. Anjali Singh, Assistant Professor (Human Resource and Organizational Behavior), KJ Somaiya Institute of Management, Mumbai. “Absence, a fall in initiative, lower task focus and poor generation new ideas are all red flags. If performance goals start to slip and you are disconnected from the team outcomes, it’s time to look for new challenges,” she adds. Rough patch or structural problem? Not every bad quarter is a reason to leave. The real challenge lies in distinguishing a temporary slump from a deeper, systemic issue. When Sharma first felt drained, his manager suggested to take a week off. It helped temporarily. “I came back fresh, but within two months I was back in the same cycle,” he says. “That’s when I started to wonder if the problem is greater than just fatigue.” Talati recommends that you step back over time and observe patterns. “Ask yourself if the tension you feel is linked to a specific project or season, or if it persists, even if things are relatively calm,” she says. “If you find that you complain about the same things week after week – chaotic processes, a lack of recognition or invisible – it is probably a structural matter, not just a passing rough patch.” This distinction can be critical, add Singh. A temporary rough patch will usually relieve when the project ends, the quarter closes or leadership changes. ‘But if nothing shifts in spite of your efforts, you can harm performance and mental health. If a pivot is sometimes the answer, the solution is not a new job, it is another life. Nair, with 12 years of experience in the industry, tested the waters with her food videos for a year before resigning. “It was scary to walk away from a steady salary. But every day I feel like mine now. Even on difficult days I work for myself. ‘ For Gurugram-based sales, Neha Lakhani, 34, the shift was quieter but deliberate. After almost a decade in advertising, she realizes that her most significant moments are on the yoga mat. She saved aggressively for two years, became a certified instructor and slowly built a community. “It wasn’t a burnout story. I just wanted to build something of my own. Not every rediscovery requires you to give up a salary or start from scratch. Siddharth Gupta, 41, based in Mumbai, chose a sideways move. After years in Tech Consulting, he realized that his work had done on autopilot. After an executive course and extensive network, he started at a growth stage as COO. “I was nervous at first, but the energy is contagious. I feel sharper and more engaged than I had in years. ‘ The general thread in all three stories: clarity, preparation and courage. Each tested their choices – through the side projects, training or short courses – before the jump was made. The preparation to stop Singh says most careers have a ‘lovely place’ for growth. “Typically, two to five years in a role enables you to learn, build credibility and develop a fresh vision,” she explains. “Departing before two years can indicate instability, while it stays much longer, it can lead to saturation.” But she warns that there is no answer to one size. The right time to move depends on the industry, your role and your personal goals. Once you have decided to leave, preparation is key. Experts recommend that Uu Résumé and LinkedIn update update to reflect recent achievements, work inside and outside your industry and invest in upturn. If you already have incoming job offers, but are not sure if you want to take the leap, it helps to approach the decision systematically. “Compare the pros and cons of your current role against the new opportunities, taking into account factors such as growth potential, work and life balance and alignment with your long-term career goals,” Talati suggests. Also identify which of your professional needs are unfulfilled in your current job, and consider whether the new roles are addressing the gaps. Talati warns that transitions are draining emotionally. ‘Optimizing CVs, interviewing and rejections can start your confidence. Share your travel with a trusted friend or mentor that can remind you of your strengths and keep you based. ‘ The most practical advice is perhaps financial planning. Experts like Talati and Singh recommend that they save at least six months of expenses before they stop. If you take a Sabbath day, switching industries or freelance, a cushion of nine to twelve months is safer. If you tackle small freelance projects while still working, it can also test the waters and facilitate financial pressure. “It builds confidence and gives you a softer landing,” Talati says. It is extremely important to stop leaving on good conditions. Give proper notice, document handing over, mentoring successors if possible, and thanks to colleagues. Singh emphasizes: “A spilled exit retains professional relationships and keeps doors open for future events.” In the end, it is less to abandon a job and more to regain your career on your own conditions. This is a chance to align your work with your values, your energy and your long -term goals. As Sharma puts it: “It wasn’t an easy decision, but now I feel in control of my life again. I learn, grow, and most importantly to enjoy the journey.” Write to us at feedback@livemint.com, catch all the business news, market news, news reports and latest news updates on live currency. Download the Mint News app to get daily market updates. More Topics #Features Read Next Story