How to Be Thankful at Work (Even If You’re Ready to Quit)
You’ve outgrown your job. Maybe the company changed, maybe you did. Either way, you’re already halfway out the door. It’s tough to stay positive when every meeting feels like déjà vu and your motivation’s running on fumes.
But here’s the thing: being thankful where you are, even when you know you’re leaving, doesn’t just make the days more bearable. It helps you walk out with your reputation intact, your energy protected, and your mindset strong for whatever’s next. Think of gratitude as a way to “fund” your future career.
Gratitude is a really healthy thing to think about. It can make your time at work feel lighter and preserve your reputation for when you go. Here are some ideas on how to practice gratitude at work even when you’re mentally halfway out the door:
Shift Your Focus to What You Still Gain
Even when our job is draining or we feel checked out, we can ask ourselves:
How can I use my position to learn something new? Maybe that’s a new technical skill, or maybe it’s practicing boundaries or patience.
How will this experience make me more marketable for my next role? Sometimes gratitude comes from simply recognizing that this is a training ground, not a dead end.
Even the bad can help you grow and gain skills. If you can work with that horrible boss, you can do anything. If you can get your job done without all the resources you should have, you’ll become even more resourceful in the future. And all of this will act as talking points in your future interviews about how you accomplished things despite the odds stacked against you.
Appreciate People, Not the Company
If you haven’t experienced it yet, I promise there’s going to be times when you dislike the organization you work for, but there’s often at least one coworker, mentor, or client who’s been kind or helpful.
Send that person a thank-you message and let them know how they helped you.
Is there a coworker who always answers your questions? Do you have a manager who (even if unintentionally) gives you clarity about what you don’t want to do in your next job?
Spread positive energy and take the opportunity to strengthen your network. Telling someone, “I’ve learned a lot working with you on this project,” can go a long way to building positive relationships.
Practice Micro-Gratitude During the Day
Sometimes it’s the little things that matter. Notice those things. A quiet morning before meetings start, the comfort of a good cup of coffee, or a laugh with a coworker. These little acknowledgements can keep frustration from dominating your thoughts.
Keep a Gratitude Exit Journal
I use a Full Focus Planner by Michael Hyatt, and every day there’s a place to write what I’m grateful for and what the best part of my day was. You don’t have to use something so formal or do it daily, but once or twice a week, jot down one thing you’re grateful for at work.
It also might help to write down one thing you’re ready to leave behind. This will help keep your mindset balanced. You can appreciate what was while still preparing to move on.
You could do this every Friday. Ask yourself, “What did I do well this week?” or “Who made my day a little better?” or “What parts of the week did I enjoy the least?”
Each week, write down what you’re grateful for (coworker help, a quiet day, a flexible schedule). And also write down what helped you grow (tough conversation, boring task that built patience).
Reframe Your Transition
Instead of seeing your job as a trap, view it as part of your transition story. Instead of thinking, “I don’t want to be here,” try thinking, “I’m preparing for what’s next.”
This is the last chapter before you level up. This subtle shift has made it easier for me to show up with gratitude and professionalism in the past.
Be Thankful for the Paycheck - Even if It’s Temporary
Even if your current job isn’t ideal, it is buying you time, money, and the space you need to plan your exit strategically. And that’s something worth recognizing in itself.
Many people don’t get this luxury. They are pressured into taking whatever comes their way next as soon as possible. But if you’re still working, you can give yourself a longer runway to make sure your plane lands at the destination you want, and not just the first one that shows up next.
Cole Sperry has been a recruiter and resume writer since 2015, working with tens of thousands of job seekers, and hundreds of employers. Today Cole runs a boutique advisory firm consulting with dozens of recruiting firms and is the Managing Editor at OptimCareers.com.
