How do you know for sure that you need a change? How do you know that it’s time to act versus spin the wheels for a bit longer, to see where it will take you and make sure that your gut feeling is right?
In the later stages, you are so fed up with your career that nothing can stop you from making the change. You have enough evidence that points to the wrong professional fit.
On the other hand, in the early stages, the clues are subtle. You are not yet sure. Something is going on at a subconscious level, and you don’t quite know what and why. That something takes place over time, but there’s a point at which you know enough to act.
You can shorten this something and spare yourself–and others–the frustration that comes with being in the wrong job or business for too long.
Here are some of the symptoms that indicate the early stages of your impending separation from whatever you do for a living:
- You hate driving to work in the morning. This is not as obvious as dreading going to work.
- You are unusually irritable on your way to work.
- After work, it takes you a while to adjust back to your normal self. This takes a toll on you.
- You dislike putting on your work clothes. You feel the person you see in the mirror is not your authentic self.
- People tell you you’ve changed and that they are concerned about you.
- You feel estranged from your colleagues and coworkers, and you have no idea how that happened and why. You are not even sure whether it’s them or you.
- You feel like it’s time to move on, and it’s not making sense. You catch yourself fighting that inner voice.
- You feel like you’ve learned everything you were supposed to learn and it’s time to pursue other possibilities, although it’s way too early by any standards.
- Your coworkers and boss suddenly seem too difficult to deal with.
- You don’t feel like you are genuine. You find yourself faking often, and it’s not going away.
- Your health has declined rapidly. You are sick more often, it’s more serious, and it lasts longer.
- The activities you normally enjoy don’t mean much to you anymore. It takes a lot of effort to get you excited.
If you’ve nodded in agreement too many times, you’ve got your answer. Start looking for the place where your heart and mind wish you to go now. No need to get stuck.