“Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.”—Andre Gide
Most people develop a specific career in a field and stay there. But often, we feel the desire to change careers or begin to wonder about the possibility of doing something else. Here are the signs that will tell you whether this is the right time for you to change careers and start a new path in your work life.
You feel bored, nothing excites you anymore
One sign that it’s time for a change is that there doesn’t seem to be a challenge anymore. Everything feels boring, familiar, and monotonous. You might try to look for a challenge, but you just can’t seem to find one. Instead, you feel that you are stuck in a rut.
You might not see a clear path forward for professional growth or feel very bored, daunted by the prospect of doing the same thing. When the field seems to have lost its challenge, it might be a good time to begin considering a change.
You are always stressed and anxious
Some work is associated with higher levels of stress. However, when you feel it’s too much, all the time, it might be a good time to make a change or a shift. If your job, your workplace, or your field are inspiring anxiety in you, it’s a good idea to consider if it’s becoming too much.
Consider whether the stress is overwhelming you and also the source of it. Sometimes, the idea of staying at a job fills us with dread and worry. This is not a good sign, and
it might be time for a change.
While stress is something that appears across fields, you might feel that it is becoming way too much for you, and that’s a danger sign to pay attention to. We might not become totally free of stress, but we can make a positive change.
You don’t see any growth, even though you are trying your hardest
Another sign that you might want to change is that you’ve hit a ceiling. Even if you are trying your hardest, you might find that there is not more growth to be found.
Growth is something that will often drive us to the next step. If it’s important to you, it would be worth considering whether it’s worth continuing when the growth will not happen. Changing industries is a way to satisfy this desire and increase your skills by developing in different ways.
Your values are not aligned with the environment
Values are, by definition, what matters most to you. They are something that should be present in your daily life, not just an occasional thought or something that would be nice to have. It’s absolutely essential.
As Ralph Marston said, “Live your days on the positive side of life, in tune with your most treasured values. And in each moment you’ll have much to live for.” This means that your best life is the one aligned with your deep beliefs and ideas. But if your job, career, or workplace are not in agreement with the values you hold dear, it’s important that you consider if it’s worth staying at that place.
You can’t find peace of mind
When you feel ill at ease, it could be a sign that you should be looking for a change. You might find yourself feeling restless or experiencing complex emotions, feel that the place you are at at the moment is not bringing you peace.
Perhaps you find that your work is too chaotic and you need something quieter; or maybe it’s too boring and you itch for a challenge. When you can’t be at peace, it might be a good time for a change.
You want something different
Some people are content to stay in the same place for a while or for a long time. But others want to or choose to move along to new locations and new experiences. Even if everything is fine and dandy, but you want more, even that can be a good enough reason to seek out a change.
The desire for new things, new growth, and new experiences is natural. If you want a change, that can be enough to choose to move on and move forward, whether your intention is to make a complete 180 or just begin exploring new possibilities.
