It's Okay to Quit with No Plan Whatsoever

Renayle Fink

Renayle Fink is a blogger from Chicago. She lives with her husband and cat in the suburbs. She loves the Chicago Bears and White Sox, and doesn't put ketchup on her hot dog.

I remember the last week of work. Well, actually, my last week of work I was at home, using the last of my sick days because my back was so stiff I couldn’t bend down to put socks on.

I would sit there, hurt not only on the outside but the inside. I cried because I WAS HAPPY TO BE OFF FROM WORK. Any excuse to not go in, even if it meant my husband rubs Icy Hot on my lower back before he went to work each day.

I was not only physically tired; mentally, I was struggling. I’ve had demanding jobs before, but this felt different. It didn’t seem like the job I expected it to be. 

Worst of all, I didn’t feel like me. 

I’d come home miserable every day. Fighting with my husband just by him looking at me. Crying each day because I didn’t sleep well. Waking up at about 4:30 am, leaving at 6:30 am, coming home by 6 pm (if I was lucky), and falling into bed by 8 pm.

I didn’t feel like I had time to visit my mom and sister. When the weekend came around, I slept and didn’t want to spend time with my husband. Holidays just felt draining because I knew I had to do this all over again the next day. 

I got sick and tired of it all. I wanted out. 

If you’re feeling the same way, this is a sign that the job is not for you. 

I only had the job for three months. Sure, the money was twice what I made in my previous job, but it didn’t make me happy. It left me feeling like a zombie.

But, the thing is, I didn’t have a safety net. I didn’t have a backup plan. I hadn’t had time for job searching and interviews. I only had savings for about a month. And while my husband has a good job, we’re still struggling to save.

But I knew I couldn’t stay.

So, after I talked to my husband, mom, and therapist, I decided to leave immediately.

Sometimes, you have to leave and not wait for the “perfect” time. It could be other things besides your health that make you leave. The company culture, you need time to look for another job, or simply you need more time off. And that’s okay. I want to normalize letting go without having everything in place.

I sent off an email that night and turned off my phone the next day.

That first day, I was a bit scared. But boy, did I feel relieved!

I felt relieved because that was the first time in a while that I took a leap of faith like that. Usually, I make sure everything is set in place before moving on. But when your health is a major factor, you have to put yourself first ASAP.

And I had to. I started to get this odd feeling along my leg, like it was hot and irritated. I got it checked out and it’s fine, but that made me think twice about letting stress take over my body.

Remember, you only get one body in your lifetime. If you’re trying to decide about staying at a job or taking care of yourself, that job can easily let you go. Don’t let your body go with it.

A couple of days after quitting, I finally got myself together to make a plan to have another job lined up by the end of the month. I applied to about 20-25 jobs every day and kept having multiple interviews every day or every other day. 

I thought it would be smooth sailing and only be off for a couple of weeks.

You know that saying if you make a plan, the universe laughs at it? That’s exactly what happened. 

As the end of the month got closer, I did have a lot of doubt about my decision. I wondered if I really could have stuck it out for a while. If I could have made time during the weekend or on the train to job hunt even more.

But, I’d get a little lingering tingle in my leg, as if it reminded me what would happen if I stayed. I knew I made the right call.

I know I might be repeating this, but I want you to keep in mind to listen to your mind and body. What does your intuition tell you? 

Luckily, about a month and a half after leaving, I found a perfect job for me. It’s work from home (soon hybrid for 1-2 days/week), and it’s part-time. The staff is really nice, and I feel like they are serious about taking care of your health.

Looking back, I would do it all over again. I wouldn’t worry if I have a safety net, or if I had a job lined up or a lot more savings. My health has to be a priority. I have to always look out for myself. 

And taking a leap can mean you land at something that was even more wonderful. 

So, if you’re worried about quitting without a safety net, don’t. Well, you can worry a little bit, but know that when a door closes, another one will open.