This post is for the corporate gals who:
- Have done the homework. (aka, you’ve written a pros and cons list about your job, have realigned with your core values, and have tried to improve your situation.)
- Have read the signs, and it’s clear you need to quit your job.
If you have zero clue what I’m talking about, check out part one of this blog post, where I outline everything you need to know about when to quit your job.
If you’re 100% confident and ready to quit, here’s exactly what to do next for a smooth pivot.
Whether you want to change your career or direction, travel the world or go completely off-grid and live on a farm, these tips will put you on a more fulfilling path.
I encourage you to bookmark this page so you can refer back to it whenever you need to.
P.S. If you’re new here, hey! I’m Thalia. I help burnt-out girlies in their 30s unf*ck their life through 1:1 coaching and self-paced tools. Every week(ish), I share content on burnout recovery, self-development, finding joy, and career growth. Subscribe here so you never miss a debrief.
Quitting your job is just the beginning.
I’m not going to lie. The first few weeks after quitting your job will feel like a dream.
You finally get to wake up without an alarm clock and enjoy a slow morning. You have zero plans — maybe you’ll wander around a museum or head down to the beach for a swim. You’re finally not restricted by a schedule someone else has created for you.
But once the novelty of your new freedom wears off, the guilt for not being productive will kick in.
After years of structured workdays and deadlines, not having a rigid schedule might make you feel as though you’re slacking off. Especially if your friends are still living the 9-to-5 life and can’t meet you for brunch in the middle of the day.
My advice — embrace it.
The key to ditching the guilt after leaving your job is to redefine what success means to you.
Because truth bomb — it probably doesn’t look like working in a cubicle for 8 hours a day to build someone else’s dream. Hence why you knew it was time to quit your job. Because your career no longer aligns with your values.
Sure, the majority of people might not get it and will think you’re lazy, but you didn’t quit your job to meet their expectations, right? You did it for you.
So, while you navigate this in-between phase, there’s no better time to dive headfirst into this blog post and figure out what’s next.
P.S. I encourage you to save this post (like now!!) so you can come back to it whenever you need to.
5 things to do after quitting your job
Just a heads up: I am not an expert in quitting the corporate world. I’ve done it only once in 2017 when I quit my toxic job to travel the world.
And I never looked back.
I share the tips below based on my own experience in the hopes they will help you in some way. Whether that is to give you support, inspire you to make a change or make you feel less alone.
Feel free to bookmark this page so you can come back to it whenever you need to.
P.S. These weekly notes are your space for clarity, self-discovery, and inspiration. But my 1:1 coaching program is where the real transformation happens. Details here.
1 | Map out a financial game plan
Quitting your job is a big move.
While it’s freeing to leave behind the monotony of the daily grind, it can also be a little scary when you think about your finances.
That’s why the first thing you need to do is get radically honest about your money.
Mapping out a financial game plan is essential to make sure you’re set for the next chapter while also supporting your well-being. (No one. And I mean, no one thrives well on stress.)
Start by taking a look at what you’ve got saved. Do you have an emergency or rainy day fund?
How long can you comfortably live off of it?
Then, think about your regular expenses. How much do you spend on rent, bills, groceries, and all the other life stuff? You need to make sure you’ve got enough hidden away to cover these basic essentials.
Once you’ve mapped out your essential finances, you can then look at ways of funding your ideal lifestyle. To fund my travels abroad, I taught English in Peru and online to make ends meet.
Brainstorm any new income streams you could tap into.
Whether you freelance, build a side hustle or sell digital products (lol), it’s essential to identify how you can keep money coming in while you figure out your next big move.
Action steps:
- List all your current expenses and compare them to your savings
- Create a basic budget that covers your essential living costs
- Identify potential new income streams (side hustles, freelancing, etc.)
- Set financial goals for the next 3-6 months
- Revisit and adjust your financial plan every month to stay on track
2 | Reconnect with your skills and strengths
When you spend years doing the same tasks every day, it’s easy to lose sight of what you’re actually good at. aka — your strengths, skills, and unique qualities.
You’ve become super comfortable with what you know, and the thought of trying anything new (like solo travelling) brings up overwhelm and anxiety.
Yes, this is totally normal. The problem?
When we play to our weaknesses, we hold ourselves back.
We don’t allow ourselves to fully take risks that will move us forward to the life we want, and instead, we keep playing small.
This is usually out of a fear of getting it wrong, failing or looking stupid in front of others. Adding to the cycle of low self-esteem and confidence.
Which is not a good look after you’ve just quit your job.
I mean, take it from me, whether you’re heading on job interviews, travelling the world or building a side hustle, you need the courage and self-belief to make it happen.
If you keep playing to your weaknesses and believe you’re not capable, you’re going to continue to hold yourself back. But if you lean into your strengths and learn new skills, you can gain the confidence you need to achieve more.
So, as soon as you’ve mapped out that financial plan, you need to reconnect with your skills and strengths so you can start to identify what to do next.
Action steps:
- Reflect and identify your key strengths and skills
- Find ways to incorporate these strengths into your daily life
- Celebrate your wins
- Set goals that align with your strengths
- Download this app and listen to Activations™
3 | Find your Ikigai
Ikigai, meaning ‘reason for being’ is an ancient Japanese philosophy that encourages individuals to discover their life’s purpose.
It involves identifying the intersection between four parts:
- What you love — your passion and mission
- What you’re good at — your passion and profession
- What the world needs — your mission and vocation
- What you can be paid for — your profession and vocation
When you find your Ikigai, you have essentially found your “bliss”, leading to a life of deep satisfaction and fulfilment. You are inspired to get out of bed every day as you are pursuing activities that truly resonate with your inner self.
After you quit your job, you may find comfort in exploring your Ikigai and finding out what your true purpose is.
Heads up: It might lead to you being paid for doing what you love!
This was the exact method I used when I came home after 1.5 years of travelling and still felt lost. And it led me here.*
*By ‘here’ I mean writing weekly blog posts to over 60,000 women all over the world.
Action steps:
- Brainstorm the things you love and what brings you joy
- Identify your strengths, skills and unique talents (as you did above)
- Explore how your skills can meet the needs of the world
- Look into job or work opportunities that align with your passions and skills
- Find the sweet spot (Ikigai) between your passion, profession, mission and vocation
4 | Do the inner mindset work
Even though you might be financially and physically prepared to quit your job, you need to make sure you’re mentally and emotionally ready, too. Which brings me to this…
No matter how tempting it is to suddenly quit your corporate job, you need to do the inner mindset work first.
Because let me tell you — going against the norm and leaving the hamster wheel behind is not as easy as it looks.
You need to have the clarity and confidence it takes to stop questioning whether you’re on the right path or not.
You need to have the courage and resilience it takes to tackle any obstacles or setbacks that come your way.
You need to have belief in yourself to make it happen.
So do not skip this step!
Mindset is the foundation for optimising your entire life.
Without the support of a resilient and positive mental space, you will simply crumble under the pressure of quitting your job and struggle with fear and self-doubt.
Journal, repeat affirmations, lean into your strengths, practice gratitude or work with a coach. Do what you need to do to mentally prepare for this epic, life-changing moment.
Action steps:
- Journal to challenge any negative thoughts
- Spend time solo and lean into your authentic self
- Surround yourself with positive influences and like-minded people
- Read books or listen to podcasts that promote a positive mindset
- Practice self-care daily, even if it’s for 10 minutes or less
5 | Book a 90-minute blueprint call with me
If you’ve read this blog post and worked through the framework, but still feel stuck — that’s okay.
Sometimes you need someone to look at the bigger picture with you. Someone who gets what you’re going through, can help you spot the patterns you can’t see yet and help you map out a clear way forward.
That’s exactly what we’ll do together in this 90-minute blueprint call.
We’ll dive deep into what’s burning you out, what you actually want from your career (and life), and map out your EXACT next steps, whether that looks like quitting your job or staying and reshaping your role to better align with your goals and values.
You’ll walk away with an INSANE amount of clarity, an action plan that feels doable, and peace of mind that you can’t get from panic-asking ChatGPT at 2 am, “Should I quit my job?”
Action steps:
- Book your session now, as spots are limited
- Add the date and time to your calendar
- Write down your top 3 goals and bring them to our call
- Start thinking about your BIG dreams in life
- Come prepared with a stable wifi connection, a notebook and a pen
Final thoughts
Despite all the work you’ve got to do after quitting your corporate job, breaking free from the 9-to-5 is SO worth it.
To this day, it remains one of the best decisions I have ever made. The freedom to live life on my own terms and waking up to my dream life every single day is truly priceless.
Remember, you are more than capable of going after your dreams.
Never settle for less than you deserve. Happiness comes from the path you want to take, not the one others carve out for you.
Yes, quitting your job might be one of the scariest things you’ll ever do.
But it’ll also be one of the most rewarding and satisfying moments. So, take that leap.
Trust yourself. And trust the process. It’s where the magic happens.
You’ve got this,
Thalia xx
