Not Loving Your Job? Here’s What To Do Next
Well, maybe you don’t hate your job, but you’re not thriving either. You might feel like you’re coasting, clock-watching, or just constantly questioning whether you're in the right place. It’s not a full-blown crisis (yet), but it’s definitely something.
This post is for that in-between space where you're not sure if it’s time to leave, stay, or do something completely different.
Instead of jumping into panic mode, let’s take the time to slow down and work through it properly.
1. Get honest about what’s changed
Sometimes, it’s not that the job has changed - it’s you.
Maybe your values have shifted, your priorities look different, or what you want out of life has simply evolved. Suddenly, what used to work doesn’t feel like it fits anymore. It’s easy to assume the job is the problem but often it’s more about realising you’ve grown into someone who needs something different.
Life moves on and so do you
Maybe you’ve started a family and your job doesn’t feel as manageable anymore. The rushing, school pickups, juggling all the things - it’s exhausting. And where flexibility once felt like a ‘nice to have’ now it’s essential. You want work that fits your life, not the other way around.
Or maybe you’ve been in the same role for years and it used to light you up but now, it just feels flat. You’ve ticked the boxes, climbed the ladder…but the spark’s gone. You’re still good at it, but you’re wondering whether it’s still you doing it, or just the version of you from five years ago.
When personal growth shifts everything
I’ve been there myself. I was working in a busy corporate role while raising my daughter. But once she finished high school, started at university and became more independent, my whole outlook shifted. I craved more flexibility and independence from a corporate job. I wanted to be able to travel and focus on other projects without the constraints of a 9-5 role.
I’d always loved the idea of running my own business again, something I’d done before, but I’d put it on pause while my daughter was younger because I didn’t want to stretch myself too thin. But now, the time felt right. I still cared about my job and the people I worked with, but I knew it was time to back myself and do something that aligned with the life I wanted now.
Your version might look different
You might be craving more creativity or more freedom in your schedule. Or perhaps you want to explore a different industry or move to a more senior role with a higher salary and more responsibility. You don’t need to have a crisis to decide something’s not working anymore; sometimes you’ve just grown and the job hasn’t grown with you.
A few career reflection questions:
What really matters to me now that didn’t before?
What parts of my job still feel like a good fit for who I am today?
If I could wake up tomorrow and do anything else, what would it be?
Is it the work that’s draining me or has something in my life or environment changed to make this feel harder than it used to?
This isn’t about leaving just for the sake of leaving. It’s about checking in with yourself. You’ve changed and your work might need to change with you.
2. Stop assuming you have two choices: stay or leave
We tend to think in extremes “Should I quit or stick it out?” But there’s often a middle ground.
One client came to me feeling like she was ready to leave her job entirely. But after digging deeper, we realised the real issue wasn’t the work itself, it was the dynamic within her team. She felt like her contributions weren’t valued, and the lack of support was holding her back from doing her best work. Once she recognised that, she was able to take steps to shift that dynamic and suddenly, the job felt different.
Not loving your job doesn’t always mean you’re in the wrong role. Sometimes it just needs a recalibration. As life changes, so do your needs, and the job that once felt like a good fit might just need a few tweaks
That might mean:
A shift in responsibilities
A conversation about flexibility or salary
Addressing team dynamics (like a tricky manager or feeling out of sync with colleagues)
Reconnecting with parts of the work that still matter to you
And sometimes? You’re just tired. You’ve been holding a lot, and what you actually need isn’t a new job, it’s a proper break, some rest or even just a mental reset.
Before jumping ship, it’s worth asking: is it really the job, or just the way it’s currently set up? A few insightful adjustments can sometimes make all the difference.
Career clarity questions to consider
Is the issue the job itself or the way I’m working?
Is there anything you could tweak in your current role?
Is it the work that’s draining me, or the environment or people around me?
Would a new manager, a different team or a short break change how I feel?
Am I just exhausted and would things feel different if I was well-rested?
Take some time to reflect on this. It might save you from throwing out the baby with the bathwater!
3. Tune into your energy, not your to-do list
It’s easy to get caught up in the daily churn of meetings, emails and endless tasks. You tick things off the list, stay busy and technically get stuff done but that doesn’t always mean your week felt meaningful.
Instead of focusing only on what you did, try paying attention to how you felt while doing it. Your energy is a great clue when something’s off or when something’s right.
You might notice that certain parts of your job leave you buzzing, while others feel like pulling teeth. Maybe you come out of a client meeting feeling sharp and energised but a day buried in spreadsheets leaves you flat and irritable. That kind of feedback matters even if you’ve been ignoring it.
Questions worth asking:
What tasks leave me feeling energised or proud?
What parts of my job feel like a drag or make me feel like I’m pretending to care?
Am I being stretched in a way that helps me grow… or just worn down?
Is there a difference between being tired and being drained? (Big one)
Do I end most days feeling satisfied or just relieved it’s over?
Real talk: not every job will feel amazing all the time
There’ll always be admin, awkward meetings or tasks you’d happily pass on to someone else. But if most of your week feels like a grind, it’s worth digging into why. Sometimes it’s about how you’re working. Other times, it’s a clue that your role might need reshaping - or you’ve simply outgrown it.
Career journaling prompt:
Try this exercise in a quiet space with a cup of tea or your favourite drink. Take 10 minutes and write freely. No editing, no overthinking. Just let it out.
What parts of my job truly excite me or give me energy?
What tasks do I dread, avoid, or feel completely drained by?
How do I feel at the end of the day: fulfilled, flat, overwhelmed, satisfied?
Are there any recent moments where I felt “on fire” at work - what was I doing, and why did it feel so good?
If I could design my ideal workday, what would it actually look like?
This isn’t about overhauling your job tomorrow, it’s about getting honest with yourself. Tuning into your energy gives you insight into what’s working, what’s not, and what might need to shift.
4. And if it is time to move on…
After all that reflecting if the answer is still, “This isn’t right for me anymore,” that’s a valid decision.
You don’t need a dramatic reason or a rock-bottom moment to justify a change. Sometimes you’ve just grown and the job hasn’t grown with you.
That doesn’t make you flaky, selfish, or disloyal. It means you’re paying attention to your life. You’re being honest about what you need now and that matters.
Yes, it might feel hard to leave a team you care about, or a role that looks good on paper. But staying in something that no longer fits out of guilt isn’t doing anyone any favours, including the people you’re worried about letting down.
You’re allowed to want more. You’re allowed to want different. You’re allowed to make a career change. And you’re allowed to build a working life that feels like you.
Whatever decision you make: tweak, stay, or move on, let it come from clarity, not obligation.
