We all have bad days, disappointing weeks, and downright difficult months, especially where these past few years have been concerned. All are part and parcel of life that we can hardly avoid, something everyone has experienced in their chosen career.

The stage is then set where smart people remain in bad jobs, leading to burnout, anxiety and depression, all impacting their physical and mental health, reminding them that they have the power to push through and come out stronger on the other side.

Bad choices made by an employer are demonstrative not of their commitment to their staff but focused more on their own agendas. The need to work in a healthy environment and feel valued and respected ends up being a persuasive line of thinking, one that renders workers immobilized and incapable of leaving that job.

We start to question ourselves, wondering if we’re running away instead of staying when things become difficult; are we lacking, does this job legitimately suck and am I right to leave? Let’s face it, work has challenges for everyone and there certainly is no such thing as a perfect job but it’s definitely hard to persevere when things are shitty in the workplace.

Aspiring to be the kind of people who lean in when there are challenges and make a difference during the hard times is important but when do we know when it’s time to make a move? The obvious answer is that if you’re made to feel unimportant or disrespected in any way, it’s time to leave but, if you honestly feel motivated, engaged and valued at your job, there may be reasons to keep digging your heels in and continue doing your best.

Ask yourself if you are the same person when you started this job, do you have the same values, interests and priorities? If not, it may be time to leave because you’ve evolved in one direction and your employer in another. The longer you stick it out, the more acutely painful the gap between your values and your employers will become.