“Should I quit my job?” is probably the question I get asked the most.
And it’s such a nuanced question because there’s really no right or wrong answer.
Sure, some gals will tell you, “Yes, of course, if you hate it, just quit.” Others will claim, “No one actually likes their job, just suck it up and deal with it.”
But I would say: don’t listen to either of these gals because there are so many layers to this question than a simple yes or no. It’s not just about your boss being annoying or your commute being long. It’s about you, your values, and the bigger picture.
That’s why I’ve put together this list of journal prompts to help you get clear on whether it’s time to stay, shift things and slay… or finally walk away and start fresh.
P.S. If you’re new here, hey! I’m Thalia. I help 9-to-5 girlies recover from burnout and transform their draining AF job into a magnetic career they love. Every week(ish), I share content on burnout recovery, self-development, finding joy, and career growth. Subscribe here so you never miss a debrief.
“You’re a failure” and other BS things I told myself
It personally took me two years to actually quit my job.
I kept flip-flopping between absolutely hating it and semi-tolerating it. One day, I’d be crying in the toilets, the next I’d convince myself it wasn’t “that bad.”
Beneath the surface, I was stressed and exhausted — basically burnt out and I knew deep down that I couldn’t keep going on like this.
But every time I thought about quitting, I’d hear this voice in my head saying:
- “What a waste.”
- “You went to university for this.”
- “You’ve worked years to get here. Why throw it all away now?”
I managed to talk myself out of quitting so many times that I convinced myself it was just easier to stay. But I ended up stuck for way too long.
Eventually, I hit that point where I couldn’t do it anymore. My job was toxic, and I knew I couldn’t stay any longer. I was done. So I quit.
But instead of jumping straight into another 9-to-5, I packed a bag and went travelling. The plan was: 5 months off to figure out what the hell to do next.
Those 5 months turned into a year and a half, and I went back home feeling more lost than ever.
Yes, travelling was A LOT of fun, and it gave me the freedom I’d been craving. But it also became my way of dodging adulthood and elongating the process of getting my shit together.
I mean, it’s not like I wasn’t working — I was working. I was teaching English in Peru, and it did open my eyes up to a digital nomad lifestyle, but I still didn’t know WHAT I wanted to do. I’m talking about the nitty gritty — the thing I’d jump out of bed for every single day.
What I learnt since then is that my job was only half of the problem. The other half was me not knowing who I truly was or what I really wanted out of life.
So, if I were to quit my job today and save myself all the time, stress, and wasted money in figuring everything out, this is what I would ask myself to gain clarity on whether it’s a yes or no.
51 journal prompts to help you answer, “Should I quit my job?”
Before you dive in, let’s keep this really simple.
Because the last thing you need right now is another thing on your to-do list that feels like a chore. (Trust me, overwhelm ain’t pretty, especially when you’re stressed TF out and questioning your entire career already.)
Journaling doesn’t have to be complicated.
All you need is to grab a notebook, carve out a little space for yourself (even 10 minutes counts), and choose 2-3 prompts that feel right for where you’re at.
Think of this as a tool, not a chore. You don’t need to answer all 51 questions all at once. Take it slow, save this post, screenshot the prompts that hit you the hardest, and come back to it whenever you’re feeling stuck.
This is about giving yourself space to actually hear and make sense of your thoughts.
P.S. I encourage you to save this post (like now!!) so you can come back to it whenever you need to.
1 | Get to know where you’re at rn
- Am I burnt out, or just bored?
- What’s one thing my body has been trying to tell me lately that I’ve been ignoring?
- What emotions keep showing up and what might they be trying to say?
- What’s stopping me from quitting? Fear, money, identity, other people’s opinions, etc.?
- Do I trust myself to figure things out if I left?
- What do I want my ideal day to actually look like?
- How do I want to feel at work every day?
- Do I know my core values? Does my work support them?
- What’s one thing I wish I could change about my career right now?
- Do I want to climb the ladder in this field, or am I just staying because it’s familiar?
- How do I define “success” for myself and does this job align with that definition?
- Do I want my boss’s job one day?
- Am I doing this work for me, or because it looks good to others?
- What am I scared would happen if I quit?
- What would I gain by staying?
- What would I gain by leaving?
- Do I need to quit… or do I need to set better boundaries?
2 | Get real about your job
- What are the pros and cons of my job?
- What parts of my job energise me vs. drain me?
- Which part of my job feels most misaligned with who I am?
- Does my job role reflect my core values?
- If my best friend described my job in one sentence, what would they say?
- Am I proud to tell people what I do? Why or why not?
- If money wasn’t a factor, would I stay in this role?
- Do I feel respected at work?
- What does a “good” day at work look like for me?
- How often do I actually experience that kind of day?
- Am I learning and growing here, or just coasting?
- If I quit tomorrow, would I feel relief or panic?
- How do I feel on Sunday nights before the work week starts?
- Do I bring the stress of work home with me?
- Do I see myself in this role 1 year from now? 3 years? 5?
- What’s the worst part of my workday?
- When was the last time I felt truly excited about work?
3 | Get clear on what’s next
- If I quit, what’s the first step I’d take next?
- What skills do I actually enjoy using?
- What industries or roles spark curiosity in me?
- Do I want to work for myself, or for someone else?
- How much money do I need to live the lifestyle I want?
- Am I open to a pay cut for more fulfilment?
- What’s one career path I’ve secretly always wanted to try?
- Who do I admire for their career, and why?
- How do I want my work to impact other people?
- If I had to design my dream role from scratch, what would it look like?
- If I had zero fear and unlimited options, what would my next career move look like?
- What’s the worst-case scenario if I quit and it doesn’t work out?
- What’s the best-case scenario if I quit?
- Do I actually need to quit, or do I just need a break?
- Am I willing to invest in myself (time, money, energy) to figure this out?
- What version of myself do I want to grow into, and does this job support that?
- What’s one small change I could make this month that would bring me closer to the job I want?
Final thoughts
Most people think the hardest part is deciding whether to quit.
It’s not.
The hardest part is being brutally honest with yourself about whether you’re staying because it’s truly right for you or because you’re scared of what happens if you leave.
That’s why these prompts matter. Because they cut through everyone else’s BS and push you to stop running on autopilot, dig deep, and actually get real about what you want, not what you’ve been told you should want.
You’ve got this.
Thalia xx
