Unless we are lucky enough not to have to, we spend a huge part of our lives working. For a lot of people, this is a pleasure or just something that has to be done to bring in the money; for others, work is a huge burden that affects their every waking moment in a negative way. Of course, we all make choices, and we can choose not to have a nine to five job, but it is hard to just give up a career, particularly in this world of mortgages, loans and pension funds. Here are some tips that may help you decide whether to continue in your current career or turn your back on the rat race and embrace the lifestyle of your choice.
Decide if it is really your job that is making you unhappy
Work takes up such a large part of our lives that sometimes it is easy to blame our jobs for our unhappiness. Take a long, hard look at your life. Is it really your job that is making you unhappy? Or is there something else that needs to be addressed? Perhaps it is low self-esteem or a relationship that isn't working out or depression. If that is the case, address that issue and hopefully, your working life will improve.
Discuss your career with an expert
Being at an unhappy stage in your career does not mean that you should immediately give up your job. It may be that a career development discussion with your supervisor can help find a solution. We are often overly critical of our own efforts and it is quite possible that a supervisor can shed a more objective light on your work and suggest ways in which to progress. Problems with particular colleagues could be sorted in this way. If you do not feel that in-house advice has been useful, then there are specialist career advisors that can help either in person or on-line. People who are unhappy in their jobs often have low self-esteem; a career advisor will be able to help you sell yourself in the most proactive way.
Decide on the lifestyle path that you want to take
If you still feel that it is your job that is making you unhappy, then decide what it is you want to do with your life. In my case, for example, I wanted to write and was already spending a lot of my non-working life doing so. For others, it may be starting up a business, raising children or retraining. Think carefully about your options and whether your dreams are just that, or could really be translated into reality. Obviously, you need to consider dependants here, but remember that sometimes an upheaval is necessary to set yourself on the right tracks again.
Financially, can you manage?
When changing career, whether it is a matter of moving from one company to another, or starting completely from scratch by setting up your own business, financial considerations are nearly always one of the most important factors. However, people's judgement is often clouded by a fear of not being able to maintain a certain standard of living. Work out exactly what outgoings you have each month and whether there is anything you could cut back on. Remember that, at the end of the day, there is very little that you really need and if a cut in income is what you need to become happy, then it will, ultimately, be worth it.
Can you cope with the loneliness?
Depending on the path that you choose to take, you may find that you will be spending a lot of time alone. While this may suit some, others may find that they are becoming socially redundant and that they need to spend extra effort building up a social life. Think about it. It may not be a factor that initially seems important, but not having people around to bounce ideas off can be debilitating.
Building a new career is never going to be an easy path to take. However, if you are really unhappy in your job, then there are other options out there. At the end of the day, earning a good wage does not make up for being unhappy. You just need to ensure that you don't act on impulse and plan ahead.
