Featured in ADDitude Magazine: “Should I Quit My Job?”
This article was originally published in ADDitude Magazine, coauthored by Beth Schoen, MSW and Kathleen Nadeau, Ph.D.
One of the most common questions I hear from my ADHD clients is some version of "Should I make a move to change jobs?" The urge to leave a job can feel urgent and overwhelming for the ADHD brain, especially when work feels repetitive, frustrating, or like a bad fit. I was honored to co-author this piece for ADDitude Magazine alongside Dr. Kathleen Nadeau, exploring five questions worth sitting with before making that leap. If you or someone you love is wrestling with this question, I hope it helps.
When a job grows repetitive or frustrating (which most jobs do), an urge to quit may become overwhelming. But before you hand in your notice, pause and ask yourself these questions:
1. Is my dissatisfaction due to boredom with routine? ADHD brains crave novelty. Could shifting projects or responsibilities add enough variety to re-energize you? Might there be a more stimulating role in your company, such as consulting as a problem-solver for coworkers when they feel stuck or responding to phone queries from clients?
2. Should I consider a career assessment? A career assessment can clarify whether you're in the wrong field or in the right field by the wrong job. It might also help discern whether your job could be a mismatch for your personality.
3. Should I ask for accommodations? Workplace accommodations can make a difference, but you only get what you research and request. Talk with your human relations department or your supervisor to uncover supports that could enhance productivity while lightening your load. These might include access to time-management and task-organization tools, a quiet workspace, flexible hours, or noise-cancelling headphones.
4. Am I creating my own stress on the job? The emotional dysregulation of ADHD impairs both personal and professional relationships. If you explode in frustration, express resentment, or disagree harshly with colleagues or a boss, interpersonal stress can build until leaving feels like the only option. But before you reach that conclusion, remember: if you don't address the patterns that created the stress, they will follow you into the next job too.
5. Pause and look inward. Mull over these questions:
Can I repair strained relationships by clearing the air?
Can I show that I'm building systems to meet deadlines more reliably?
Can I acknowledge my past slip-ups and let coworkers know I'm working to change?
Could shifting responsibilities allow my strengths to shine?
Can I start focusing on the positives, appreciating the good things about my job, acknowledging the successes of my colleagues?
Sometimes, leaving really is the right move. But slowing down to consider these questions will help you choose wisely and with clarity.
So, Should You Make a Move?
If these questions are bringing up bigger career questions for you, I would love to help. Career assessment and career coaching are at the heart of my work at Executive Functioning Solutions. Feel free to reach out.
The article was originally published in ADDitude Magazine. You can read the full piece, including reader comments, here: Should I Quit My Job? 5 Questions for ADHD Brains
