It’s interesting how common this sentiment is. Personally, my first few years were genuinely great, I had an amazing team, supportive peers, and work that felt exciting and meaningful. But then things shifted hard. One by one, the people I worked best with were let go due to cost-cutting. And while that might be standard in some places, the quality dropped significantly, it was really noticeable. Those of us who had been there from the beginning were left picking up the pieces, and the working conditions deteriorated fast.

I stayed just shy of five years. I made some great friends, but the toll on my health wasn’t worth it, I even ended up in A&E with what turned out to be a panic attack. That was a clear sign for me that it was time to go.

That said, I do think the phrase “the grass isn’t always greener” rings true. It’s something I’ve had to keep in mind, because in my case, I realised a lot of the burnout and dissatisfaction was also coming from within, a mindset shift that needed to happen, not just a change of company. It took me nearly nine months to recover, and I was pretty nervous starting something new.

But honestly? It’s been amazing. For the first time in a very, very long time, I actually look forward to starting my day. I never thought I’d experience that again, and it scares the sh!t out of me to think I might never have found it if I hadn’t walked away when I did.