Ever had that "stop the world I want to get off" feeling?
I’m definitely an advocate for making changes if your current job or career is not helping you lead a fulfilling and rewarding life – but timing is everything.
If you’re at that point where you feel like you want to turn your back on the rat race altogether and go bush, or maybe move to a little cottage by the seaside and snuggle up on a couch with a cosy rug for a number of weeks … you might want to pause before signing that sale and purchase agreement.
Decisions one makes in this frame of mind can be quite different to those that would be made when feeling more energised and clear-headed. So it’s really important to buy yourself time to recoup and reassess.
We’ve probably all felt exhausted by unrelenting pressures at work and long hours at some point in our careers. But I often see clients for whom these feelings are exacerbated, usually because they are either:
- in a job that doesn’t allow them to play to their strengths or is in conflict with their values
- have a boss who doesn’t have the necessary people management skills, or
- are working for an organisation with a dysfunctional workplace culture.
As a result, their self-confidence is at rock bottom and they are completely drained of energy. The kind of tired that a short holiday just won’t fix.
Reassessing your job, and potentially career, in this situation is essential.
If your current workplace feels toxic, then it could be that a change of job is all that you need. But if the work you do doesn’t feel aligned to your strengths, interests, skills and values, then it might be time for an entirely new career. You will know when these things are in alignment because you will ultimately feel energised, rather than drained, by your work.
If you feel you need help to reassess your job or career, get in touch.
Read more on this topic in my previous blog posts:
About the author: Lucy Sanderson-Gammon, MBA, is a Wellington-based career coach helping mid-career professionals who have fallen out of love with their jobs to find meaningful work. She also provides career development for those who want to get ahead at work or make a transition after redundancy. Find out more about Lucy's coaching services here.