When You Should Give Up
Now, you may be wondering, “What do you mean give up? Aren’t we told to persevere?”
This is a great principle to follow … in moderation. There are some situations that are toxic for your mental health, and you need to know when it’s okay to back down. Here’s a short list of some scenarios where it’s okay to throw in the towel.
You’re underappreciated or overlooked at your job for a prolonged time.
When you first start out at a new job, you’ll probably be seen as an underdog. If after months of hard work you still don’t get any recognition, you may need to look how this treatment is affecting your mental health. Some jobs aren’t worth the negative thoughts they bring. Your boss or co-workers shouldn’t consistently make you feel like you’re not enough, remember that.
You’re the only one putting effort into a friendship or relationship.
Be selfless but know when your sincerity is being taken advantage of. For a while, I’d have certain “friends” that would reach out to me for a favor or if no one else was talking to them. Be nice, but also place boundaries. Don’t give 100% of yourself to someone that’s only giving you 10%.
You can’t see yourself happy working in the field you have chosen to study.
Every parent has told us growing up to be a doctor or veterinarian. Why? Because the pay is ridiculously high. Something I learned is that money shouldn’t be the main factor impacting your career. The main thing you should look for in a career is passion and joy. If you don’t enjoy what you’re doing, it’s not worth it. Look at me for example, journalism is probably one of the most underpaid jobs. That doesn’t really bother me because I love what I’m doing, and I’m okay with that.
You’re mentally exhausted.
Now, when I say give up in this situation, I don’t mean permanently. Instead, I mean give yourself a well-deserved break. I can’t tell you how many nights I had to remind myself I don’t have to work until 3 a.m. every night. Your work can wait; focus on yourself, please.
There are obviously other scenarios where it’s okay to call it quits. Take these as a model and adjust the points to your situation. Most likely, you’ll know when you need a break; your brain just refuses to acknowledge it. Please take care of yourself. You have to put your health over your situations.
Sincerely, Abbey
Photography: Abbey C.