Quitting your job always seems like the best idea when things get hard at work. People have their reasons why they feel the need to quit; maybe you’re not being paid enough, your boss and colleagues are jerks, you think you have a better plan for yourself, your family, friends or partner said you should. Unfortunately, quitters act when they are emotional, when they aren’t thinking rationally. No matter the circumstances, think about the consequences of your actions and how you will be affected once you no longer have a salary. Before you make the resolution to quit your job this year, think of the following:-

1. Do I have a solid plan?

Mercy couldn’t believe that after all the hard work she had been doing, her boss only noticed her mistakes. When she couldn’t take it any more, she angrily packed her things and walked out of the offices she had worked in for almost two years, for good. One week passed by and she started thinking, “Okay, what next? What am I going to do now?” She didn’t want to admit it, but she missed her office. She even missed her boss! He had been tough, but so what? In fact, because of him, her procrastination habits had come to a grinding halt. She’d learnt to deliver on time.

What do you intend to do after quitting your job? You can find yourself in a terrible fix right after quitting and realizing that you had no plan at all on how you’ll spend the next days. Being idle can further your frustrations which may even be worse than those that made you quit in the first place. Do not quit your job if you haven’t a carefully laid out plan on how you’ll continue sustaining yourself. Think about it.

3. How financially secure am I? Do I have enough savings?

A constant salary may sometimes blind us on how difficult it is to survive without an income, as you’re always sure they’ll be money in your account at the end of the month. You may have been saving, no question about it, but you haven’t had a need to use your savings for any requirements. Once you quit your job, you are now forced to fully depend on your savings. Ask yourself, do I have enough savings to sustain me until I get another job? Until my start-up picks up? Many find their savings depleted and this sets them on a panic mode, resorting to taking loans or borrowing from family and friends. So what was the point of quitting your job then?

4. Do I have enough experience in what I want to do?

Dean decided he was no longer going to waste his precious time in a cramped office space for the sake of employment. He decided he had the blood of a true entrepreneur running in his veins so he quit. He had a great idea… the only problem was that he had seen it on Facebook, but he believed in himself. He was going to be the biggest stock broker Kenya had seen. He had seen how young people doubled in the trade and became millionaires… on Facebook.

Within a few months, Dean was back to Brighter Monday looking for a job.

You need to be well versed and have enough experience in what you intend to venture in after quitting your job. Without it, you will surely fail and lose all your investments.

5. How will my social life change?

Quitting your job without a plan means a change in your financial status. Are you ready to no longer afford attending social events that you have been invited to? Social events where people talk about what they are currently doing and how far they have come? Less money means you have to cut down on expenses, and you will end up going a step down, or several steps down the social ladder, depending on how high you had climbed.

If you had your children in expensive private schools, you may be forced to move them to cheaper ones, and this affects them too, which ends up affecting the entire family one way or another. Quitting may bring embarrassment and depression. Think about it before you do!

6. Am I quitting for the right reasons?

Many people will tell you they quit because they could not stand their boss anymore, they were starting a business, the job was taking a toll on their family, they had a friend who quit and ended up being successful and so on. The list is endless. Ask yourself, am I thinking straight? Is my reason for quitting valid, or is this something I can handle?

7. Is it the right time to quit?

Different times of the year have different effects on your pockets. Nobody in their right mind would quit in December. A lot of money is spent during the festive season, meaning that January is especially tough for those who hadn’t a budget. Consider the timing of your quitting. Is it right? Is it a time when expenses are high?

Timing also relates to what’s happening in the company you work for. You may quit at a time when promotions are right around the corner. What if you were lined up for one? The opportunity for your career to take a different and better path may change forever just because you had no fight left in you.

8. Will there be any legal consequences?

If you have a contract, you have to make sure that you fully understand it before you make the decision to quit. Going against your contract could land you in a lot of trouble with the company laws and you may end up spending all your savings to get out of a mess you created, or even face imprisonment.

9. Will quitting affect how people view me and consequently my career growth?

Quitting means you gave up, so quitters are never taken seriously. People may lose respect for you and may be less willing to help you should you be in a fix. It is also bad for your CV and affects your profile. Many times the reasons given for quitting are not valid, and a potential employer may toss your CV aside should you have a habit of quitting jobs.