8 Signs You Should Quit Your Job

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A startling number of Americans are unhappy in the workplace. Studies show that nearly three-quarters of corporate employees would realistically consider finding a new job today and more than half say they chose the wrong career to begin with. (See also: The 5-Step Plan to Quitting Your Job)

So how do you know when it's time to call it quits? Look for these eight sure-fire signs you should be moving on — and up — to better places.

1. You Don't See Eye to Eye With Your Boss

If the person who's supposed to be raising you up is bringing you down, it might be time to skedaddle. Studies show that bad bosses affect how your whole family relates to one another, your physical health, and your morale while in the office. They also raise your risk for heart disease. No job is worth putting up with woes like that.

2. Your Commute Is Killing You

Americans spend more time commuting (100+ hours per year) than they do vacationing (80 hours), an unwelcome reality that triggers neck pain, obesity, loneliness, divorce, stress, and insomnia, according to research out of Sweden. So if the twice daily traffic jam is driving you mad — and tampering with your health and love life — then it's probably time to move closer to the office or launch a job search closer to your neighborhood.

3. Your Skills Aren't Being Tapped

If you're being underutilized, sooner or later you're going drift into a sea of boredom and indifference. That's not good for business, and it's not good for your professional growth, happiness, or self-esteem either. Here are the tell-tale signs: You've been skipped over for assignments that perfectly fit your skill set, you've been passed over for a promotion on more than one occasion, and your workload has been reduced or simplified.

4. You Want to Be Your Own Boss

A Business Insider survey found that 22% of executives want to call it quits and launch their own companies. Why? Because they want to do things their way. Among Generation X workers, the biggest reason for pursuing a solo enterprise is a deep distrust of corporations. All told, 63% of adults under 30 either own their own business or want to someday, according to a University of Phoenix survey. Among those who are not already entrepreneurs, 55% hoped to be in the future.

5. Your Company Is on the Fritz

There's no need to go down with a sinking ship. If your company is on its way out, it might be wise to make your exit — sooner rather than later.

6. You Don't Believe in Your Work

If you're not proud of the work you're doing, it's probably time to make some adjustments so that you are. And if your work or your company's ideals are at all in conflict with your beliefs, be they religious, social, or otherwise, your time would be well spent to figure out how to reconcile that — which could mean finding a new job. You'll never reach your potential if you're doing something you don't stand behind 100%.

7. The Office Culture Is Toxic

If you've ever said, "My job is killing me!" — you could be right. Research shows that people who work in hostile environments are more likely to die sooner than those who work in atmospheres that are more favorable. Death aside, toxic work environments are known to provoke aches, stress, and signs of depression. While more favorable than death, these are symptoms no one should have to suffer.

8. Your Work-Life Balance Is Out of Whack

Work has a way of getting in the way of what, for many of us, matters most: family time. These numbers offer a glimpse at the epidemic: 55% of all employees say they don't have enough time for themselves, 67% of employed parents say they don't have enough time with their kids, and 63% of married employees say they don't have enough time with their spouse, according to Families and Work Institute's National Study of the Changing Workforce. Striking the right balance is typically touch-and-go, but if you're severely under-serving yourself or your loved ones, it may be time to find a new job that offers more flexibility.

Have you ever quit a job? Why? Please tell us about how you stopped taking it anymore in comments!

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