Why Quitting Your Job May Not Be the Answer
A year and a half ago, I walked away from a twenty-year career in public accounting. It wasn’t a decision I made lightly. In fact, from the moment I first whispered the intention to leave to the day I actually gave notice, three full years passed.
And in hindsight? There are parts I miss.
Do I regret the bold choice to chart a new course for my life and career? Not for a second. Would I recommend it to everyone? Not necessarily.
For me, I had come to a place of completion. I had outgrown the chapter I was in and felt a deep calling to step into a fuller version of who I am—one where I could launch my book into the world without limits, complete my master’s degree, and lean wholeheartedly into leadership coaching and training. And, if I’m honest, I just didn’t want to audit anymore. Period.
Since leaving, I’ve had countless conversations with professionals who are considering doing the same. They’re burned out, feel undervalued, and yearning for something more. And yet, many of them still like their work—they’re just doing too much of it.
In the neuroscience work I teach and coach around, I often introduce the idea of the “just right” zone of stress—the Goldilocks zone for your brain. Most professionals I work with are living in the “too much” zone. And when we spend extended time there, our brains start to fog. We struggle with decision-making, memory, and emotional regulation. Our capacity for empathy drops. We start to feel disconnected from ourselves and others.
The fix? It’s not always a dramatic career pivot or a bold leap. Sometimes, it starts in ten-minute increments.
I wrote much of my memoir in ten-minute blocks—because that’s all I had while raising a toddler and working full-time during a pandemic. Those ten-minute windows added up to something powerful.
So, what would it look like for you to reclaim a few of those windows in your day?
A 10–30-minute walk in nature to give your mind space to wander
Two minutes of intentional breathwork between meetings
Noticing who or what triggers you at work, and creating boundaries where you can
Actually taking a lunch break (yes, a real one)
Replacing one Zoom meeting a day with a walking call
Before you assume your only option is to quit, experiment with dialing your life closer to that “just right” zone. For me, this looked like reducing my overtime, working from home several days a week to avoid a grueling DC commute, and bringing more mindfulness into my day. I felt proud of what I’d created—something close to work-life alignment.
But even then, I knew I wanted to devote my energy to the non-technical side of the profession. I was ready to stop pushing paper and start moving people.
So, if you’re standing at your own crossroads, wondering whether this is the year you finally take the leap—start small. Explore what adjustments might help your current situation feel better first. And if that inner nudge still persists, tune in and listen. Sometimes our greatest adventures begin with brave, imperfect leaps.
What’s one thing you can do in 10-minute increments this week to bring you into the “just right” zone? Share in the comments.
For the world needs who you were made to be.
