3 Questions To Ask Yourself Before Quitting Your Job (+ Your 3-Step Game Plan)

You’ve had it with the micromanaging, the soul-sucking meetings, and the Sunday-night dread. You’re so done that you already have your resignation letter typed up.

I get it. Quitting your job feels like the ultimate freedom right now. But before you hand in that resignation, there are certain things you need to consider.

Quitting for the wrong reasons won’t solve your problems. It will only make them worse. 

Without getting clear on how you really feel, you could risk leaving one job only to recreate the same burnout, resentment, and boredom in another.

So, let’s press pause for a moment. Here are three essential questions to ask yourself before making this decision.

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1. Is the problem your job or your boundaries?

Sometimes, we think that if we could just change our jobs, everything else would be fine. We would be happier, have more energy, and feel more fulfilled.

But the truth is, sometimes, it’s not the job that needs to change. It’s the version of you that’s showing up to it.

Think about this…

Are you constantly overextending yourself? Saying yes when you want to say no? Waiting for your boss or team to validate your worth?

If so, your job dissatisfaction might stem from your lack of boundaries. 

If this is the case, even if you were to switch jobs, you would likely bring the same patterns into the new environment and recreate the same stress.

We have complete control over our personal boundaries. So, if you struggle with people-pleasing, over-functioning, or a lack of boundaries, work on changing them before changing your job.

How?

This week:

• Say one more “no” than you usually would. 
• Decline that extra task or request. 
• Go for a walk during your lunch break rather than eating at your desk. 

Try this mini-boundary shift and notice how it impacts your energy, mindset, and sense of self.

2. Are you running toward something or just away?

If you don’t have a clear vision of what’s next, don’t quit your job just yet.

Instead, ask yourself: “If I had a 6-month fully paid sabbatical, no consequences—would I want to return to this job?”

If the answer is a clear no, there’s likely something deeper calling you forward.

Reflect on what that could be by journaling your ideal day. You might find you’re being pulled towards:

• A different industry
• A creative project you’ve buried
• A lifestyle that lets you actually live

However, if the answer to that question is yes( even a little), you might just be exhausted rather than truly misaligned. Quitting because you want to run away risks making you feel more lost and even regretting your decision.

3. What’s your “inner blueprint” telling you?

Considering how much time and energy we give to our jobs, our work can become more than our career; it can become our identity.

We see ourselves as our job role, so imagining an alternative reality can feel scary and overwhelming.

When I worked in medicine, my job title became my entire self-concept. So when I started thinking about leaving, I was terrified—not because I didn’t have other options, but because I didn’t have permission to become someone new.

I was stuck in the stories I had created about:

• Who I was supposed to be
• What success should look like
• What’s responsible
• What’s impressive
• What’s “enough”

If you feel the same, it’s time to clear the fog and uncover your inner blueprint. Here’s an exercise to help you do that:

1. Write down who you are right now—not your title, but the traits you live by.
2. Then, write a paragraph from the perspective of your future self—a version that’s thriving in a life that lights them up.
3. Compare who you are now with who you want to be. Notice the space between these two identities. That’s your growth edge. That’s where real change needs to happen.

What does this exercise teach us?

The solution is not to hand in your notice or start a new job. The solution is to shift your identity NOW by acting in small ways like the person you want to become.

Speak up more. Set a boundary. Say yes to the creative thing. Rest without guilt.

Transformation starts before you quit.

What to Do Instead of Quitting On the Spot

So what happens now if you’ve asked yourself these three questions and nothing has changed? Do you still feel like you need to leave?

If so, the next stage is to plan your transition strategically, so you can move forward without blowing up your life overnight. 

Here are three smarter, saner alternatives to just walking out and hoping for the best.

1. Do a “Mini Quit” First

Before you quit for good, try a test run.

Take a sabbatical if you can. If not, use your vacation time to create some space. Even just disconnecting from work for 10 days could give you enough clarity to determine whether you’re misaligned or just burnt out.

Another way you can “mini-quit” is by reducing your working hours.

When I was preparing to leave medicine, I went from five to four days a week and used that extra day to experiment with my future.

I took courses. I journaled. I played with new possibilities. 

That one extra day a week gave me more insight than months of overthinking, which brings me to the next step…

2. Build the Bridge While You’re Still Standing

You can start building your new career BEFORE you quit your current job. Free up some time and use it to work on your passion project. 

For example, you could block off 5 hours a week to:

• Take an online course
• Start a newsletter or blog
• Launch a small offer

Think of this as building a bridge between your current role and your dream life. 

You still have the financial security and stability of your current job, but you are actively building something new too.

3. Redesign Your Life—Not Just Your Work

Aside from making changes in your work life, examine your personal life. 

Why?

Because the two are interlinked.

Your habits, boundaries, routines, and nervous system shape how you show up to your work.

If you’re sleep-deprived, glued to your phone, and living reactively, a new job won’t fix that. You will still burn out in your new role.

That’s why, before I left medicine, I rebuilt my life first by adopting new habits. These were small but impactful shifts like:

• Going for a daily walk without my phone
• Going to bed earlier
• Creating a “Sunday reset” ritual

Try it for yourself. Design your ideal daily rhythm without changing your job, then live it for a week.

You’ll quickly see what’s working and what’s not, in both your work AND personal life.

Want To Go Deeper?

In this week’s full video episode, I walk you through this process in more depth, helping you:

• Spot the difference between burnout and misalignment.
• Rebuild your confidence when your job has become your identity.
• Take small, strategic actions to shift your life before making a big leap.

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And for even more guidance, I’ve created a free PDF guide: “50 Ways to Create Multiple Streams of Revenue.” Inside, you’ll find tons of practical and inspiring ways to start making money on your terms before taking the leap and quitting your job.

Because your next chapter doesn’t have to be chaotic. It can be calm, purposeful, and empowered!

Resources:

• My free PDF guide: 50 Ways to Create Multiple Streams of Revenue
• My Free Class for Health Coaches: How To Build A 6-Figure Health Coaching Business Using One Signature Program
• Dr. Kim on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drkimfoster/
• My Goal-Setting Planner – The WellPlanned Method™

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