No job is perfect and every job should be filled with challenges. However, no one should feel stuck in any one job forever. In fact, it’s healthy to make a regular assessment as to whether or not you’re happy in your current position.

Contemplating whether or not to quit can be one of the most stressful decisions to make in life. You’re basically cutting off all ties with a company once you quit. It’s almost like a no-looking-back situation. It’s a pretty big deal. That’s why you should never just quit on a whim. That would be irrational and irresponsible. Instead, make a thorough assessment using the following 20 big signs that it’s probably time to leave.  Keep in mind, however, that leaving doesn’t mean quitting blindly. You need to have a game plan when you’re getting ready to pack your boxes. Get your resume revamped, polish your portfolio, and start networking. The worst thing you can possibly do to yourself is leave one position without another offer on the table. Sure, sometimes the situation is that bad. But your chances of getting hired by another company while being unemployed are much slimmer.

If any of the following signs ring true to you at all, then it’s probably time to start crafting an exit plan.

20. It’s Effecting Your Health

Every job requires some degree of stress. However, the stress should not be eating you up alive and turning you into a crazy person. Stress and anxiety can be crippling. The stress you’re enduring will take a toll on you mentally before it begins to manifest physically. Once it gets out of control, you’ll start having anxiety attacks and heart palpitations, or unexplainable signs of irritable bowel syndrome. It’s going to catch up to you sooner or later. If the stress can’t be managed through coping skills or other therapeutic methods of choice, then it’s probably a good time to cut the cord.

19. No Pay Raise

Sure, every company goes through tough times and sometimes this means that your salary has to take the heat. On the other hand, if your company is thriving (especially if it’s thanks to your hard work) and you haven’t seen a raise in quite some time, then it’s time you step up to the plate and ask for one. Get your ass on Payscale and find out what you’re worth. If you present an excellent case and you’re still not getting a raise, or if your request for a review has been put on the backburner, then you need to start revamping your resume while you wait for them to never get back to you.

18. You Dread Going to Work

Yes, there is such a thing as enjoying your job. You’ve just been stuck with yours for so long that you assume everyone else is just as unhappy as you are. If you’ve been counting down the hours until the weekend and it’s only Tuesday, or if you’re constantly running late because you struggle to drag your ass out of bed, it’s probably because you don’t enjoy what you do. Your daily motto right now is probably, “Another day, another dollar.” However, no amount of dollars is worth you being utterly miserable. Okay well, maybe if you’re making six digits then it might be worth it, but you get the point.

17. Always Worried About Getting ‘Let Go’

Before you can agree that this is you, make sure you’re not just being unreasonably paranoid and that you actually have valid reasons for worrying about getting fired. Perhaps you’ve seen your job posted on Craigslist recently and have actually seen your boss conducting secret interviews in her office with random well-groomed strangers. Okay, this would be an absolutely certain reason to assume that you might be getting replaced or fired. But before you get too worked up, do some subtle investigation and see if your company might be undergoing some restructuring and you might actually be getting a promotion instead. Positivity is always good. Just don’t be naïve and maybe start polishing up your LinkedIn in the mean time.

16. Your Boss is a Dick

You get jealous whenever you see other employees having lunch with their bosses and actually looking like they’re having a good time. You’d rather eat alone than have to eat with your boss. You’re always trying to minimize interaction with him/her as much as possible. Any day he/she is out sick is the best day ever, and if he/she is actually out on vacation, then it’s a vacation for you too. Your job would be 100 times better if your boss resigned, but that will probably never happen. One of you will have to leave, and it’s more likely to be you.

15. Non-Existent Work/Life Balance

You’re constantly bringing work home and you find yourself on your laptop every night, even during Friday Netflix nights. You don’t like how you’ve become a workaholic but it somehow just crept up on you. Your home life is calling out for some serious attention. It’s never healthy to be so absorbed in your work that you neglect having a social life of your own. Sure, your job is pretty important but not at the expense of some of your closest relationships deteriorating. If you’ve made some unsuccessful attempt at achieving this with your current job, then perhaps it’s time to consider moving into a less time-consuming role.

14. Company Going Downhill

You see all the signs of the fact that your company’s going bankrupt, downsizing, or being outperformed by all of the competitors. I’ve been there numerous times. You name it… I have seen my employers lose all of their major clients, have products recalled from all of the shelves, suffer major lawsuits, and be in the red for several consecutive years. Companies that aren’t constantly reinventing themselves can’t compete in a rapidly evolving market. You’ll know that your company is going downhill when you start to hear of major budget cuts in various areas and begin seeing people laid off. If this is where you’re at, you better start putting in some applications before you’re left without a plan B.

13. Increased Workload Without Pay

It’s always a good sign that you’re being entrusted with more responsibilities. It usually means that you’re excelling at your job and your boss trusts you with more. However, if your colleague is being let go and his/her responsibilities are all falling into your hands, then this better come with perks. You’re suddenly having to work twice as hard, pull longer hours, and pick up double slack from every angle. If business is rapidly expanding, yet the company isn’t hiring more staff to cover the workload, then maybe it’s time to ask for a raise. If you’ve been in this situation for quite some time and the company still refuses to compensate you, then it’s time to start looking elsewhere.

12. Bullying or Abuse

Bullying is abusive regardless of whether or not it can technically be labeled as illegal behavior. If you’re constantly being bullied by a co-worker or boss, then you really need to do something about it. No one deserves to be in a hostile work environment. Some people endure work-related abuse daily by managers who are degrading and disrespectful. However, one can only handle so much abuse for so long. Your best course of action is to file a complaint with your Human Resources department and keep a detailed log of the activity that has already taken course. Take necessary actions to get yourself out of that toxic environment before it destroys you.

11. Company Differences

No one wants to represent a company that they’re ashamed of. Are you afraid of listing your employer on Facebook or LinkedIn because you don’t want to be judged by your friends and family? Maybe you once had some kind of pride in working for them but they’ve recently cut corners, got involved in some shady scandals, or took on an edgier angle that you’re a bit indifferent about. Or perhaps the new CEO is a total scumbag that you have no respect for whatsoever. If this is how you’re feeling, then you might want to find a new employer altogether.

10. Skills Unused

You listed your plethora of skills on your resume and only a small number of them are actually being used. And it’s not like you’re not cut out for it. You’re actually really good at those other skills and you’re pretty sure you’d kick ass at taking on those tasks. Instead, your manager decides to post up an ad looking to hire a new employee to do the things that you’d probably do best. It’s ridiculous that you weren’t just offered the responsibilities, especially when your workload is already pretty slim. If the things you’re clearly good at are being overlooked, then you need to find a job where you put your skills to use.

9. Boredom

Everyone gets bored at their job once in a while. And boredom can be a good thing in comparison to stress and overload. If you’re always bored out of your mind at work and you’re starting to see your life pass you by, then it’s probably time you consider a different job or field that might be more interesting. You should be in a job where you can find enjoyment in at least a couple of things. Whether it’s the job itself or just being around your co-workers, feeling good and laughing will keep you sane. See if there’s anything at work that you can take more pleasure in. If there’s absolutely nothing, then perhaps you need to consider relocating.

8. Not Learning

Your job should encourage and challenge you to advance your skill set so that you are constantly staying at the top of your game within your career. You should be adding new things to your resume on a regular basis that shows you’re capable of handling trending requirements for your type of role. Keep a tab on other LinkedIn contacts with similar job titles to see how you’re measuring up. If you find that your job is not allowing you to grow professionally, then you need to pursue ways to take on more responsibilities or adopt new methods. Many employers offer professional development perks where you can attend paid training during work hours that are relevant to your role. If this isn’t your employer and if you’re feeling stagnant, then perhaps it’s time to find a different company that is more in tune with the times.

7. No Tools

Having to use your own tools to fulfill any responsibilities for a W2 position is a huge no-no! Never purchase your own accounts or supplies unless you’re going to get reimbursed for it. As part of the requirement that you fulfill certain job duties, your employer should provide you with all of the necessary tools that could possibly be required. Before paying for anything out of your own pocket, mention the cost to your supervisor and ask whether or not the company has a budget for it. If they can’t provide you with the tools to complete a task, then they need to eliminate the task altogether or outsource it.

6. Unclear (or Impossible) Expectations

There’s nothing more annoying than ambiguity. Your boss sends you an email asking you to complete a task but his email is so brief and vague that you really have no idea what he’s even asking for. So you try responding with a question only to get an email back from her that leaves you even more confused than you were before. You’re unsure whether or not you should even bug him again and when you do, he looks at you like you’ve got three heads. What’s even worse than a situation like this? Having a set of job descriptions that don’t make any sense. It’s not you. Anyone in your place would rightfully feel completely lost.

5. Ignored Ideas

You’ve got excellent ideas that are going to solve all of the company’s problems. In fact, your ideas are so good that they’ll save the company time and money, and you wouldn’t even mind stepping up to the plate to see your ideas into action. Here’s the only problem – no one gives a shit about your opinion or lowly ideas. Instead, you see the star employee present the same exact ideas you had and he suddenly gets recognition and a promotion. If your ideas aren’t being heard or recognized, then you’ll start to suffocate because you don’t have a voice. Go where your ideas are heard and valued.

4. Loneliness

You’ve got zero companions at work. And it’s not because you’re a douche bag. You’re a good guy with average popularity outside of work. But regardless of whether or not you try to socialize, there’s just no one at work you can connect with. Instead, you eat lunch alone in your car or at your desk. Don’t get me wrong. Being lonely can be a good thing too, especially if you’re an introvert or if everyone else is just annoying. But for the most of us, we’ve got to find at least one other person that we can be on the same wavelengths with.

3. Illegal Behavior

If you’ve witnessed or been a victim of workplace harassment or racism, then don’t just sit there and be a vegetable about it. Stick up for what’s right and report that shit to Human Resources. You need to make specific and accurate notes regarding the smallest details of the situation so that you’ll have some hard evidence to back up your claims. If your employer isn’t taking the proper steps to resolve the situation, then seek out the help of a labor lawyer. Also, start looking for a new job. No one wants to work for a company that tolerates illegal activity and crude behavior.

2. No Room to Move Up

Are you literally stuck in your position or level for life? Like there’s no chance of moving up the latter into a senior or management role? This is a terrible situation to be in. Every company should allow for regular reviews and promotions to occur when employees perform well. If your company doesn’t have a system like this in place, then you can pretty much guarantee that you’re probably going to be stuck in your role for another several years. It’s perfectly normal for employees to want to advance in their career. If you feel like your growth is stunned, you’ll eventually want to leave so that you advance elsewhere.

1. You Have Nothing Nice to Say About it

When people ask you, “How’s work?” or, “How do you like your job?” you have nothing but negative feedback. As a matter of fact, you don’t even need to wait for people to ask you. You’re probably constantly moaning about how terrible it is to everyone you talk to, including your own co-workers. You’re probably calling your mom every night, hoping to get some kind of therapeutic reassurance that you’re really worth more than what you’re subjecting yourself to every day. Why are you making everyone around you suffer with you? If you find that you have nothing nice to say about your job, you probably hate it enough to leave.