‘Should I quit my toxic job or stick it out?’

Today I’m analysing the situation of Fee.

Fee reached out because she’s been struggling in a role that feels mentally exhausting. She works from home, barely speaks to anyone all day, and the culture is draining her. Every morning she wonders if she should quit. But the timing always feels wrong.

She and her partner are house hunting, and financially it would make sense to hang on a little longer. But emotionally, she is done.

What’s the challenge?

Fee is in that awful grey area where the job has become toxic, but leaving right now feels risky. She is tired, unmotivated, and starting to feel the mental toll.

She knows she does not want to be there long term, but she also knows the market slows before Christmas. She is torn between protecting her mental health and protecting her finances.

It is a horrible place to be, stuck between survival and sanity.

How can she move forward?

The key is to reframe the situation. Right now, the job feels like a trap. But what if it could become a stepping stone?

Fee does not need to stay forever. She just needs to make the next few months work for her, not drain her.

My advice

1. Reframe the purpose of the job

When a role turns toxic, it is easy to let it define you. Take the power back by changing what the job means. Instead of “the place I hate,” make it “the bridge to my next thing.” That small shift can create breathing room.

When I was at Apple, my last two years felt like nails on a chalkboard. I could not leave yet, so I reframed my purpose. Apple became my funding partner. It gave me the income and flexibility to build my next chapter. Once I saw it that way, the boredom and politics did not sting as much. I had a plan.

2. Protect your mental space

If the environment is toxic, reduce the day to day impact. Limit exposure to people or tasks that trigger stress. Create small rituals to detach after work, like a walk, a workout, or a call with someone who makes you laugh. Protect your energy so you have the capacity to plan your exit.

3. Keep your exit flexible

You do not have to decide today. If things become unbearable, you can leave sooner. If you can, stick it out through the quiet holiday period and start fresh in January. That buffer gives you financial, emotional, and strategic space to make the right move.

If you are reading this and feeling like Fee, you are not alone. You can get through this phase and come out stronger.

If you want help reframing your current situation and building your next chapter, my Creative Career Level Up programme can help.