Should You Quit Your Job? (Published 2023) (2024)

Even political superstars have their job issues.

Jacinda Ardern, New Zealand’s prime minister, who became known for her successful strategy to contain the spread of Covid and her response to the massacre of 51 people at two mosques in Christchurch, unexpectedly announced on Thursday that she would step down after nearly six years on the job.

“I’m leaving, because with such a privileged role comes responsibility — the responsibility to know when you are the right person to lead and also when you are not,” said Ms. Ardern, who has been facing mounting political challenges ahead of the country’s October election. “I know what this job takes. And I know that I no longer have enough in the tank to do it justice. It’s that simple.”

Ms. Ardern, 42, New Zealand’s youngest prime minister in 150 years, also said she was planning to spend more time with her partner, the television presenter Clarke Gayford, and their 5-year-old daughter, Neve.

Making the decision to step away from a job is not always easy or feasible. But when your physical or emotional well-being is suffering and your stress isn’t eased by the occasional mental health day, experts say it’s generally best to start looking elsewhere. Just be sure to give it some thought before rage quitting. Here are some signs it might be time to leave — and what to do if you can’t.

You are burned out

Burnout is typically characterized by three symptoms: emotional exhaustion, negativity and the feeling that no matter how hard you try you cannot be effective at your job, said Dennis Stolle, the senior director of applied psychology at the American Psychological Association.

Everyone feels emotionally exhausted from time to time, but “I’m talking about an extreme level,” Dr. Stolle said, the type of distress where you often feel that you have nothing left to give and “if there’s one more thing, I’m just going to scream or I’m going to cry.”