Change the reason that you can't switch. I can only think of two legitimate reasons. 1) Switching requires moving to an entirely new town where you have no fri

Change the reason that you can't switch. I can only think of two legitimate reasons. 1) Switching requires moving to an entirely new town where you have no friends and no family. I'd double check that this is actually true and start working on building up a social network in a different metropolitan area if this were the case. 2) Immigration reasons. Anything else? Options are never a certain "win" (think about lack of an exit, reverse splits, stock taking a dive). Worried about what your resume will look like? Worry less about your resume, worry more about yourself. Worried about loss of income? Don't just quit the job, search passively. "Counted on" to ship a product? Announce your departure in advance (more than the usual two weeks), hand your responsibilities over to others. Starting bonuses you will have to pay back? Money isn't worth not having something to wake up for in the morning. So, honestly, switch. However, before you make the switch, very carefully think what is that you will be looking for in your next position and how to verify that it provides that. People claim that you should "work to live" not "live to work". I call bullshit. Your work consumes plurality of your day and majority of your own waking hours. When I feel underused, micro-managed or otherwise unhappy at work, it means I am not looking forward to waking up in the morning. Personal projects are important (and I try to have several even when I am absorbed in interesting work), but they happen at the end of the day when you've already given up your best hours.