Burnt Out or Bored? Signs It's Time to Change Jobs

Not All Misery Is Burnout

Not every bad Monday is burnout. Not every heavy week means it’s time to quit. But when the dread is daily, the spark is gone, and your brain feels like mush - something’s off.

The question is: are you genuinely burnt out… or just bored out of your mind?

Because the solution isn’t always rest. Sometimes, it’s reinvention. And knowing the signs it's time to change jobs is step one.

Burnout vs. Boredom: Know the Signs

Burnout looks like:

• Physical and mental exhaustion

• Irritability and cynicism

• Emotional detachment

• Feeling like you’re constantly behind

• Trouble sleeping, even when exhausted

• Resenting your inbox before you’ve even opened it

• Feeling like no matter how much you do, it’s never enough

Boredom looks like:

• You’ve mastered your role and it’s on autopilot

• You’re not learning, growing, or being challenged

• Your motivation is flatlined

• You’re going through the motions

• You zone out during meetings and miss what was said - because it doesn’t matter

• You’re scrolling job ads out of habit, not urgency

Either way? Your job is no longer serving you. And that’s a flashing sign it’s time to change jobs, or at the very least, rethink what you're doing.

Why High Performers Stay Too Long

Because you’re good at what you do. Because it’s comfortable. Because everyone else thinks it’s a great gig. Because it looks good on paper. Because it pays well.

But can I suggest this: if you’re not challenged, you’re not growing. And if you’re not growing, you’re sliding.

Comfort is not the same as alignment. Familiarity is not fulfilment.

High performers often get stuck because they’re rewarded for staying in roles long after those roles have stopped rewarding them. You become reliable. Dependable. Indispensable.

But at what cost?

I’ve coached senior leaders who’ve stayed in roles five years too long. They knew it. Their team knew it. But the fear of change - of stepping off the predictable track - kept them still.

If you’re stagnating in a senior role, you’re not just risking boredom. You’re risking irrelevance.

Leadership-Level Stagnation: The Hidden Career Killer

If you’re in a senior leadership role, the signs it's time to change jobs become more subtle. Here’s what it often looks like at the top:

• You’re spending more time managing politics than solving real problems.

• Strategic decisions get recycled, with little real innovation.

• You’re no longer learning from your peers or your executive team.

• You’ve stopped mentoring because there’s no time - or motivation.

• You’re playing defence, not offence.

At this level, boredom isn’t just a personal issue. It trickles down. A disengaged leader breeds a disengaged culture. Teams start to mirror your energy - or lack of it.

But because you're "successful," no one challenges you to grow. You’ve plateaued, and no one’s calling it out.

Except you. Quietly. In your head. Every day.

Leadership stagnation isn’t just bad for business. It’s brutal on confidence. It chips away at your sense of impact, purpose, and edge. And it becomes harder to explain a five-year lull when you eventually do decide to move on.

Questions to Ask Yourself

• When was the last time I felt proud of my work?

• Do I feel like I’m adding value - or just adding tasks?

• Am I energised or depleted at the end of most weeks?

• Have I stopped learning?

• Am I staying because I’m scared - or because I’m strategic?

• Is my job fuelling my ambition - or draining it?

• What would I tell a friend in my shoes?

• Am I leading a team or simply holding the fort?

If those answers make you uncomfortable, good. That discomfort is data. Your job isn’t just what you do - it’s where your future gets shaped. And knowing the signs it's time to change jobs gives you back the steering wheel.

What “It’s Time to Move” Actually Looks Like

✅ You can do your job in your sleep, and hate that fact

✅ Your Sunday scaries start creeping in on Saturday morning

✅ You’re clock-watching and zoning out more than you’re engaged

✅ You fantasise about quitting more than you care to admit

✅ You’ve started reading blogs like this one

✅ Your team’s performance is stalling, and so is your interest in fixing it

✅ You’re not seeking out stretch opportunities because you’re stretched thin emotionally

These aren’t overreactions. They’re real-world warning signs. Ignore them long enough, and they become resignation letters (or worse, full-on burnout).

What to Do Next (That Isn’t Panic-Quitting)

You don’t need to burn it all down. You just need to:

• Get honest about what you want next

• Audit your skills, values, and energy

• Update your LinkedIn and CV like you mean it

• Start talking to people in your network

• Explore before you leap

Talk to someone who’s not in your immediate circle. A career coach. A mentor. Someone who’s made a similar move. Clarity comes from action, not just journaling.

And action doesn’t always mean quitting. It might mean:

• Pitching a role redesign

• Asking for stretch projects

• Moving sideways to move forward

• Taking a break and returning with intention

• Redefining your leadership identity for this next phase

Don’t just chase a new job title. Chase new growth. Because staying put when you’ve outgrown the seat doesn’t serve anyone - not you, not your team, and not the business.

Real Talk: It’s Not Just About Passion

Yes, work should be meaningful. But that doesn’t mean you need to feel euphoric every day.

The goal is engagement, not endless excitement.

But when even the basics - motivation, focus, energy - are missing, you’re not just having a bad week. You’re likely facing the signs it's time to change jobs.

And the longer you wait, the harder it gets to recover your confidence.

Especially in senior roles, where the opportunity cost of inertia is steep. Leadership is about pace, relevance, and courage. Letting yourself plateau too long? That’s how great leaders become average ones.

Final Word: Don't miss the signs it's time to change jobs

You’re not broken. You’re bored - or burnt out. And your body, brain, and ambition are trying to tell you it’s time for something new.

If you’ve read this far, you probably know the answer already. So here’s the next step:

At Career Architect, we help experienced professionals figure out whether it’s time to stay, shift, or step up - and then build a plan to do it.

Visit Career Architect to get started. Or explore our resources and career coaching sessions to turn that Sunday dread into Monday momentum.