Working under high pressure or tight deadlines at your job can get very stressful. And often, this stress makes us want to find a permanent alternative to this problem. You can always discuss such situations with your line manager.
And yet, it is not always possible to resolve these discussions. If there is work, there will be pressure, but if it is something you cannot deal with anymore, it might be time to leave the job.
Through this article, we will share why you should quit your job if it is stressful, what signs to look out for, and how to best explain it to your manager.
Should You Quit Your Job if It Stresses You Out?
Ideally, the answer should be yes. It would help if you left a job that stresses you out. But before you do that, ask yourself this: Is this the job stressing me too much, or am I getting overwhelmed with work?
We often mistake our incompetence for doing a job, with the job itself being the problem. Maybe it is time to self-evaluate and see where we are lacking.
You can also ask for guidance from your manager, seeking help on what might be causing this stress. If they agree, there may be a common ground to work on.
However, if they inform you about the stress levels being equal for the same, you might want to deal with what is bothering you before deciding.
When to Leave a Job Due to Stress
If a job puts your physical or mental health at risk, finding a new job might be a good idea. Your health should be your top priority, and not having a proper work-life balance could become a hazard to your health. Many people working in high-stress jobs have insomnia, anxiety, and depression. To avoid such a situation, you must consider the signs before it is too late.
5 Ways to Explain Leaving a Job Due to Stress
It can be difficult for the employer to consider work pressure as a reason for your health issues. And yet, it is essential to convey the actual reason for leaving a job instead of making one up.
Here are 5 ways to help you explain your situation to your line manager:
- Talk about your experience at the job – what caused you to feel stressed out
It is always good to share personal experiences and why you are forced to find another job. Personal experiences seem more genuine than a vague, generic problem everyone may face.
Also, if you have already had similar discussions with your manager, they may accept it as a valid reason.
- Explain that you tried your best to cope with the stress, but it was having a negative impact on your health and wellbeing.
Talking about the root cause can be a good and genuine way of explaining why you cannot work at your current job. Everyone gets stressed with work pressure.
And stress can hurt your health. Several health issues, such as weight loss, high blood pressure, etc., are diagnosed by medical experts as directly connected to work stress.
Hence, it would not be difficult to make your manager or HR representative understand why you wish to find another job.
- Discuss how you’ve been feeling since leaving the job and how this decision has made things better for you
Even during interviews for a new job, this question can come up. It should not be a problem explaining the issue to the hiring managers. You can always share how you used to feel while stressed at your last job and how leaving it improved your lifestyle.
Even mentioning the reduced health problems after your last job will be proof enough for them to consider your answer.
- Talk to your boss about your concerns and see if there is any way they can help you manage them.
Always try to manage your stress by informing your manager about it. If there’s a job that seems too stressful for you, try to find an alternative or another capable person to handle it.
Once you have an option, share it with your manager and tell them why you cannot do the job. It is always easier to talk about a situation while offering a solution.
And yes, it is a formality that you must adhere to. Nobody likes a person who complains about stress when leaving a job but never wishes to discuss it during the tenure.
- Thank your employer for the opportunity to work there, even though it didn’t work out in the end
It is an excellent gesture to be grateful for the job you had. When leaving a job, irrespective of how stressful it was, it is vital to maintain your work relationships and ensure etiquette in the workplace.
A heartfelt thank you for all your opportunities goes a long way. And this may also work as your return ticket someday.
What Is a Good Way to Say the Reason for Leaving a Job?
Being straightforward and genuine about your reason is a good way of communicating. It especially helps if you leave a job that was too stressful for you. It can also prove helpful to your manager to consider your feedback in the future.
How Do You Explain Why You Left a Job Due to Burnout?
Sharing details on how burnout at work left you mentally and physically unhealthy helps make your current manager or a potential employer understand the situation. You could also consider keeping documents relating to the health issues suffered as proof.
And since stress is a part of most jobs, with levels varying depending on how severe the work is, it is something anyone can understand if informed correctly.
Is Burnout a Good Reason to Quit?
There can be any number of reasons to quit a job. You are not obligated to stay at a job forever if it deteriorates your mental health. Hence, burnout is as good a reason to quit a job as is not wanting to continue in the same job position.
It is not about whether it is a good reason, but how much stress you can take in the next job. And if so, what you can do to avoid a similar situation again.