At some point, almost everyone gets “itchy feet” in their career.
Sometimes it’s obvious — you’re burnt out, unhappy, and counting down to Friday by Monday morning. Other times, it’s quieter. You simply feel like you’ve outgrown where you are.
But how do you know when it’s genuinely time to move on?
Only you can answer that properly, but over the years we’ve seen a handful of common signs that usually point towards one thing: it may be time for a change.
1. You’re Constantly Stressed or Miserable
A little stress can be motivating. Constant stress is something else entirely.
If work anxiety is following you home, affecting your sleep, relationships, mental health or physical wellbeing, that’s no longer “just part of the job.” Long-term burnout rarely fixes itself.
2. Your Workplace Has Become Toxic
Not liking every colleague is normal. Being in an environment where there’s bullying, abuse, discrimination, intimidation, or ongoing conflict is not.
You spend a huge portion of your life at work. If the people around you are making your professional or personal life miserable, it’s a serious red flag.
3. Your Work-Life Balance Has Disappeared
Work will occasionally demand extra effort. But if late nights, weekend work, and constant availability have become the expectation rather than the exception, it may be time to reassess.
A healthy career shouldn’t come at the expense of your entire life outside work.
4. You’re Underutilised and Going Nowhere
If you’ve outgrown the role, stopped learning, or repeatedly been overlooked for growth opportunities, you risk stagnating professionally.
A good role should challenge you, develop you, and make use of your strengths.
5. Your Responsibilities Keep Growing — But Your Salary Doesn’t
More responsibility should usually come with greater recognition, whether through salary, title, progression, or development opportunities.
If your workload has expanded significantly while your compensation has stayed the same, it’s fair to question whether you’re being properly valued.
6. The Company Is Clearly Struggling
You can usually sense when a business is heading in the wrong direction — restructures, layoffs, panic-cutting costs, poor leadership decisions, or constant instability.
Loyalty is admirable, but staying too long in a sinking environment can ultimately hurt your own career prospects.
7. Your Gut Is Telling You It’s Time
Sometimes there isn’t one dramatic reason.
You’re just done.
Maybe you’re bored. Maybe your motivation has disappeared. Maybe you can’t picture yourself there in another year. That instinct is often worth listening to.
There’s nothing wrong with wanting more from your career, just as there’s nothing wrong with being genuinely happy where you are.
But with so much of our lives spent at work, it’s important to regularly step back and ask whether your role is still helping you grow, develop, and enjoy the life you want outside the office too.