Are you sitting at your desk wondering whether this is the right time to quit employment?
We often look at January as the peak season for career changes. It is the month when resignation letters flood HR offices. And it also comes just as people try to navigate the financial squeeze of “Njaanuary” while looking for a fresh start for the new year.
But if you look closer at the human story behind those statistics, January is just the logistical conclusion. The actual, psychological decision to leave doesn’t start in the new year. For many professionals, especially women, the decision-making process starts in September and October.
A distinct energy shift happens as we transition out of the long, cold July/August season and head into the final stretch of the year.
Schools resume for the intense third term, family routines tighten, and corporate pressure spikes as companies scramble to hit their annual targets before December.
If you have been unhappy at work for a long time, September is the month when career dissatisfaction silently sharpens into a definitive “I am done.”
I know this timeline intimately because I lived it. Two decades ago, I made the silent decision to quit my job in September, solidified the decision in October, and finally handed in my resignation letter the following January.
In my years as a life coach, I have seen this season play out with countless clients. But before you let that third-quarter restlessness drive you to the exit door, there is a vital distinction you must make:
Wanting to leave your job is not the same as being ready to leave it.
The Mirage of Escape
When you are trapped in a toxic corporate environment or a job you are tired of, your brain focuses entirely on the concept of escape.
You become completely consumed by what you are done with:
- Done with office politics and being undervalued.
- Done with the brutal hours killing your work-life balance and family time.
- Tired of pretending you are fine when you are burning out.
- Done with waking up every Monday morning wondering how much longer you can survive.
It is completely valid to want relief from these pressures and decide to quit employment. And sometimes, leaving is the healthiest choice you can make.
However, when we plot our exits purely out of exhaustion, we tend to overlook a sobering truth: Being ready to leave and being ready for what comes after are two entirely different things.
The Reality of Life After You Quit Employment
Freedom tastes incredible when you think about it, when you hand in your resignation, on your last day at the office, and on day one on the other side. But once the initial euphoria of quitting wears off, the reality of life outside employment sets in.
Through my own transition and through coaching others, I have observed that the hardest part of the journey isn’t actually walking away. The hardest part is adjusting to the psychological, financial, and emotional vacuum that follows.
If you leave without a deliberate fallback plan, you will quickly face some harsh, unexpected realities:
- The Social Shift: The colleagues you spent forty hours a week with move on remarkably fast. Phone calls dwindle and die off, and coffee invites stop. This can trigger an intense, unexpected relationship detox.
- The Financial Bite: Freedom loses its luster very quickly when you are broke. The first month without a paycheck also slaps you in the face. If you don’t manage your spending tightly, the psychological pressure of a dwindling bank account will panic you back into the job market prematurely.
- The Identity Crisis: When you quit employment, you lose your regular routine, corporate title, predictable responsibilities, and the perks that came with the job and title. A deep sense of inadequacy can creep in, making you lose confidence in yourself and your abilities. You will find yourself staring into the blank space of your calendar wondering who you are without these.
I wrote extensively about these specific psychological hurdles in my article, 5 Unexpected Results When You Quit Employment. If you are feeling the itch to resign right now, I highly recommend reading those five points first to check if you are truly prepared for the emotional, physical, and financial aftermath.
How to Make the Switch Without Crashing
Before you calculate your notice period under the Kenyan Employment Act or draft that resignation letter, take a step back and evaluate your transition readiness across three core areas.
1. Financially
How long can you realistically sustain your life without this specific income? Leaving in January means stepping straight into the infamous ‘Njaanuary’ financial squeeze. Are you jumping and hoping all works out, or have you built an intentional, financial runway that can survive your regular bills, school fees, medical and other insurance covers, bills that your employer used to pay for you, and unexpected expenses?
2. Mentally
Are you running towards a clear, defined vision, like building your own business? Or are you simply running away from a bad boss or work environment? What will your daily structure look like when employment disappears?
3. Emotionally
Have you processed the anger, exhaustion, or grief driving this decision? Do you know what is underneath that needs to be addressed before you quit employment? Have you tested being away from your job for a longer period, such as a sabbatical? That would give you an idea of what it will feel like not to have your regular schedule.
It’s not the end of the world if your assessment shows you that you are not equipped to handle a sudden drop in income. This might be the time to pause before making a firm decision to quit employment.
But what if leaving is the only option for you? There are some cases where leaping without a net works. I’ve broken them down in my guide on 6 Times When It’s OK to Get Out of Employment Without a Plan.
Over to You…
September and October are great months for getting clarity, but dangerous months for impulsive decisions. Don’t just ask yourself, “Can I take this anymore?”. You must also ask, “Am I truly ready for what comes next?”
But you don’t need all the answers right now. You just have to be willing to honestly evaluate your current reality.
I’d love to hear from you.
- Have you ever quit a job after silently planning it for months? How did you handle the transition?
- If you are currently experiencing career dissatisfaction, what is the biggest hurdle holding you back from making your next move? Is it financial pressure, fear of the unknown, or figuring out your true identity outside of your job title?
Drop your thoughts, experiences, or questions in the comments below. Let’s talk about what really happens after the resignation letter.
Exploring Your Next Move
If you are feeling deeply unhappy at work and are unsure of your next move, let’s unpack it together. Book a Clarity Coaching Session today. This 90-minute session is about exploring the your current dissatisfaction and determining whether quitting is truly the right next step.
If it is, we will map out a secure transition plan. If it isn’t, we’ll figure out how to navigate your current situation so you can regain control of your peace.
(Photo by Eden Constantino on Unsplash)
A note about your health:
This article is not intended to diagnose, treat or replace professional medical or mental health advice. Persistent, severe, unexplained, or worsening fatigue can have many causes. If you’re concerned about your physical, mental or emotional wellness, please consult a qualified healthcare or mental health professional.
