Ready to submit that resignation letter to HR? Great, let’s get you out of there with dignity and grace.

It’s time to free your spirit!

For about a decade, I was resigning from job to job like whoa. In fact, it was more like career hopping. At one point I was making boatloads of money, but that was when I was also the most unhappy.

Not saying mo’ money means mo’ misery. I’m saying I knew it was time to resign when my soul path and career path were no longer aligned.

Now everyone’s situation is different and you have to do what’s right for you.

Maybe you were like me with a mortgage hanging over your head. Maybe you were like me growing up in a working class household with a scarcity mindset.

There’s a lot of things to consider and blocks to address. But when you know it’s time to go, you’ll feel it down to your bones.

Take it from a gal who has resigned left and right.

I’ve given months of advance notice to less than 24 hours notice. I wouldn’t recommend either extreme either. Over the years, I learned a lot of hard lessons from these leaps of faith.

Looking back, I definitely wish I took the high road in some instances, while other times, I’m glad I stood up for myself.

Let’s get to these lessons learned shall we? Here’s 5 key points I would have down if I were to resign all over again.

1. Do your research.

It's not easy to leave a job and switch careers....even if you can't stand the work. Many times I've found that decision to be a lot less stressful when my finances were in order.

Depending on the industry you are in, the job market could be very different. So I’m speaking in very general terms using broad timelines based on my experience of working in the public and private sector.

During the days when I was a very reactive person, I didn’t always have a Plan B in place. Plan B for me means 6 months of savings (emergency fund) or another job secured.

Heck, I didn’t even know what I wanted to do next. I was so focused on just escaping the job I was in at the moment.

To no surprise, things got scary...fast.

I went from excitement to terrified to regret then repeated the cycle. It was physically, mentally, emotionally, and energetically draining, especially for an empath!

If you really can’t stand the job and your instinctive feeling is to get out even if you don’t have another job in place, then go with your gut.

Sometimes opportunities won’t show up when you are not in the frequency of joy.

So my suggestion is to apply to several jobs at least a month or more before resignation. This gives you a feel of the job market and allows you to adjust your game plan for your resignation date accordingly.

For me, absolutely nothing was surfacing. So I created multiple streams of income from side hustles to build up the emergency fund.

2. Time it based on what’s right for you.

Having resigned numerous times in the past, I’ve learned that things can get sticky. Managers may take it personally, colleagues may feel like you’re weak sauce for abandoning ship.

Other times, people may just be jealous and take it out on you for having guts to do what they wish they longed to do. That’s why the timing of your resignation ought to be well thought out.

Sure, there is no perfect solution but what you don’t want is a long period of awkward tension or abruptly leaving people high and dry.

Figure out a middle ground.

Most people feel that two weeks advance notice is amicable but even if that’s the company’s standard, it doesn’t equate to an amicable resignation. When I gave two weeks notice at my last job, my boss asked if I would be willing to stay until the end of the month.

That would have been an extra 6 awkward hellish weeks. Some may be able to stomach that but I was not. In fact, I didn’t have much respect for her so why not twist the knife and say “hells no”?

Well without a Plan B lined up, what was the point in leaving so soon? Plus, it would only benefit me to leave on amicable terms.

So I compromised and extended an extra two weeks. She and the other managers were appreciative and the last month was nowhere near as hostile as the previous months leading up to my resignation.

If you anticipate that HR or your managers will bargain, select your resignation date according. Have a set date that you know would be the absolute last day but keep an open mind in case you need the extra padding.

3. Take care of admin in advance.

A lot of things can happen quickly and the last thing you want is to do a sloppy job on important admin work. Ultimately, you don’t want to be in a space of regret once you leave.

Some admin work that you can take care of advance is obtaining employment verification paperwork. This includes references, phone numbers, and mailing addresses.

If you don’t want people to get suspicious of your upcoming resignation plans, say it is for refinancing a loan or use a believable fig leaf.

You can also draft a resignation email so that if things heat up, you are not emotional when writing your farewell. In fact, keep it short and simple.

Here’s one that I used:

Dear (your Boss or HR manager):

Thank you for the opportunities for growth in my professional career. I have enjoyed working for (your department) and appreciate the support provided me during my time.

Please accept my resignation from my position as (your title) for (your department or company), effective (date of resignation). I will do what I can to ensure a smooth transition for the team. If I can be of any help during this process, please let me know.

Sincerely,

Your Signature

Save it in draft in your inbox and focus your energy on other tasks like…

4. Go above and beyond.

Here’s the thing, when I went above and beyond, I would get burned out. Then, I'd resign slamming the door on my way out.

But like any relationship breakup, the last thing I wanted was for them to think good riddance. No no no, I wanted them to feel like they lost a huge asset.

Of course I can’t control how they think and at the end of the day, I don’t need their validation. The thing to remember is it’s a small world so you just never know if you’ll cross paths again.

Pace yourself as you go above and beyond your job duties.

Focus on the fact that you still have a stream of income coming in, health insurance coverage, and so forth. Find an outlet whether it is taking breaks throughout the day or indulging in your hobby after work.

Find a way to stay motivated in order to leave your job with a bang. It’s not easy to go above and beyond for a boss or coworker that you don’t have an ounce of respect for. I get it. But do it for yourself!

5. Build a solid support network.

This is probably the most important yet most overlooked key to the process. Yet the key to getting to where you want to go in life is to be in vibrational alignment with where you want to be.

Most times we focus on tackling our challenges on a physical, emotional, and mental level. Rarely do we approach challenges from an energetic angle.

Assess the people you currently spend the most time with. Are they people who are going to support you along the journey to the next chapter in your career?

Sometimes the people we love can be emotionally depleting even if they have the best of intentions. Perhaps it’s time to set some energetic boundaries and start building a stronger support network.

Financial Independence Retire Early (FIRE)

Before making an major career moves, be sure to have a strong support network in place. To help, I share my go-to peeps (including my personal accountant) in my FREE Financial Freedom Guide!