Core of Change

I Regret Quitting My Job: What to Do Next When the “Fresh Start” Feels Like Free-Fall

A practical, step-by-step plan to calm the emotional whiplash, get clarity on what you miss, and choose your next move (return, new job, or new path).

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Help. You quit your job, told yourself, “Fresh start. New chapter. Main character energy.” And now, a few days (or weeks) later, you’re staring at the ceiling thinking: i regret quitting my job.

First—exhale. You didn’t ruin your life. You made a big move, and big moves come with emotional aftershocks. This is especially true for ambitious, high-performing, slightly fried professionals who are used to being competent on Day 1.

Here’s the candid truth: quitting isn’t just a logistical change. It’s an identity change. It’s the moment you stop being “the person with the job/title/team/email signature” and become “the person figuring it out.” That gap can feel terrifying… even when it’s necessary.

Let’s make this practical.

I Regret Quitting My Job - What Do I Do? (Step-by-Step)

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1) Normalize the emotional whiplash
Regret, doubt, and grief don’t mean you made a “terrible decision.” They mean your nervous system liked predictability. Your brain is basically a spreadsheet with feelings.

2) Identify what you actually miss
Most people don’t miss the work—they miss the stability. Ask: Am I grieving income, routine, identity, relationships, or certainty? (Hint: it’s often “certainty” wearing a fake mustache.)

3) Revisit why you left—no revisionist history allowed
Write the real reasons down, unedited. What drained you? What felt misaligned? What need wasn’t being met? This prevents your mind from turning your old job into a romantic comedy when it was actually a slow-burn stress thriller.

4) Reframe regret as “incomplete data,” not “I failed”
When you think i regret quitting my job, you’re usually reacting to the messy middle—the part where the next step isn’t obvious yet. That doesn’t mean the quit was wrong. It means the plan isn’t finished.

5) List options without ranking them by ego
Make three columns:
- Return (same company, different terms—or same terms)
- New job (lateral is fine; stability is a strategy)
- New path (retraining, freelancing, bridge job, apprenticeship)
You’re not choosing “the best title.” You’re choosing a workable path that leads somewhere.

6) Create a 30-day plan you can actually execute
Keep it grounded: update resume/LinkedIn, reach out to 5 people, apply consistently, explore one training route, set a daily routine, protect cash flow. The goal is momentum, not perfection.

7) Keep moving forward (even with uncertainty in the passenger seat)
The past is loud because it’s familiar. But your career is a river—it moves downstream. If you keep trying to swim backward, you’ll exhaust yourself and still end up wet.

A HARSH REALITY ABOUT BIG DECISIONS (and Shy You’re Not “Behind”)


When you make a life-altering move, you unconsciously demand immediate proof that it was “the right one.” If the results aren’t instant, your inner critic grabs a megaphone: i regret quitting my job.

That’s the trap: treating the early discomfort of transition like evidence of failure. It’s not evidence. It’s a phase.

Relax—it’s part of the journey
Regret is often just grief in business casual. Leaving a role can trigger the same stages you’d see with any major loss or change:

Denial -> Anger -> Bargaining -> Depression -> Acceptance

If you’re bouncing around in there, congrats—you’re human. The goal isn’t to “never feel regret.” The goal is to keep building your next chapter while you feel it.

My experience (because you’re not the only one)
I’ve been there. When I shut down my window cleaning business after more than a decade, I went through a stretch where I genuinely wondered if I’d done something stupid. It felt like I’d given up the one thing that proved I was capable. My mood dipped. My confidence wobbled.

What helped wasn’t a magic insight—it was a perspective shift: regret didn’t mean I failed. It meant I cared. It meant I was in transition. Once I stopped treating the feeling as a verdict, I could use it as information and keep moving.

Quitting is the first step—not the full transformation

Here’s the identity-level truth: the quit created a void on purpose. That space is where you build the next version of you—more aligned, more intentional, more you.

But space can feel like free-fall if you don’t give it structure. So you don’t just “exit the old path.” You design the new one, one practical step at a time.

Also: don’t expect instant clarity. Closing a door doesn’t automatically open another—it just stops the draft. You still have to walk down the hallway and try a few handles.

What you need isn’t “better.” What you need is a path.
A huge chunk of regret comes from the fear that you don’t have options. And then the mind starts measuring every option by pay, perks, and status.

Status is a sneaky trap. It will talk you out of good, workable moves because they feel like a “step down.” But sometimes a “step down” is actually a step toward sanity, skills, or a cleaner runway to the next leap.

A career path often only makes sense in hindsight. It’s less about the title and more about what the role unlocks.

So if you’re stuck repeating i regret quitting my job, consider this: you may not need the “best” next move. You may need the next move that creates traction.

Should You Try To Get Your Old Job Back?

Decision Checklist (Yes/No)
1) Would returning solve the real issue (income/structure), not just soothe anxiety for a week?
2) Were your reasons for leaving fixable (workload, manager, role clarity, boundaries, schedule)?
3) Can you reach out without shame spiraling—and frame it professionally?
4) Did you leave on good terms with a strong reputation?
5) Is there a version of that role you could tolerate (or even enjoy) for 6–12 months?
6) If they say “no,” can you handle it and still move forward?

If Returning Might Be Right For You
Communication tips (calm, confident, no groveling):
- Lead with value, not emotion: “I’ve reflected, and I believe I can contribute strongly in X. Is there a need on your team right now?”
- Be specific about fit: role, timing, and what would need to be different (scope, boundaries, schedule).
- Keep it easy and low-pressure: ask for a short call, acknowledge timing may not work, and express appreciation.

IF MOVING ON IS BETTER

Concrete next moves (so regret doesn’t become a lifestyle):
- Choose a bridge plan for income: a stable interim role is not failure—it’s strategy.
- Run a 2-week “focused search sprint”: tighten your positioning, reach out to 10 people, apply to a short targeted list consistently.
- Build proof-of-work in parallel: pick one skill or direction and produce something tangible in 30 days (portfolio piece, case study, certification, small freelance project).

You’re not “going backwards.” You’re recalibrating.
Regret is loud when your identity is between versions. But you didn’t quit because the job was amazing—you quit because something in you knew it wasn’t sustainable.

Now your job is simple (not easy, but simple): build the next path with structure, humility, and momentum. Better times are in front of you—not behind you.

If you keep hearing “I regret quitting my job” on a loop, don’t treat it like a verdict—treat it like a signal that you need a plan.

Book a Calgary Career Reset Session with a local career strategist and we’ll turn the emotional whiplash into a clear 30-day path. Together, we’ll:
- stabilize your routine and confidence (so you can think clearly again)
- choose your best next lane: return, new job, or new path—without ego running the show
- build a simple weekly action plan for applications, networking, and income runway

You’ll walk away knowing exactly what to do next—and how to do it without spiraling.

Ready to get traction this week? Book your Calgary Career Reset Session now.