Career change?

Research suggests the British workforce spends on average over 42 hours a week at work, that’s over 2184 hours a year! Britons are spending more time at work than any other country in Europe. If you are happy in your role and your working environment, then this is not necessarily a negative factor. However, what if, conversely, you dread that feeling of going to work and you feel your weekend is over by Sunday afternoon? Negative thoughts about the week ahead creep in, false assumptions and catastrophising thoughts develop as the dreaded Monday morning approaches?

How do you cope? Denial? Accepting “this is just how it is?” Alcohol?

There can be numerous reasons for wanting to leave a job for example:

• Stressful role
• Sense of feeling burnt out
• Your job does not reflect your core values or beliefs
• Boredom
• Lack of opportunities to progress

A common cycle of thought people have once they have finished their working week is one of “my work isn’t too bad” often at the sheer relief of knowing they are off work for a couple of days. This feeling however, does not last, and those negative feelings invariable return again in time for the new week.

It does not have to be this way. The positive news is that there will be options for a more fulfilling career. Something that provides you with a sense of purpose, satisfaction, direction, and happiness. It may be that the role has not yet been identified or even created, however through focussed exploration of your core values as a person (personally and professionally), of who you are, who you want to be, that role can be realised.

Potential benefits of a career in a role of value to you include:

• Increased self-esteem, confidence, and a general sense of mental wellbeing
• Renewed sense of identity and ‘being true to yourself’
• Positive impact on relationships
• The sense of feeling empowered, liberated, and having a fresh start
• Using transferable knowledge, skills, and experience
• Increased energy and motivation
• Pride in having taken positive steps to help yourself
• Improved physical health
• Increased enjoyment of life and feeling fulfilled

I have experienced working through exploring career change with clients from identifying their core values and what is important to them in life, through to ideas generated coming to fruition. Its positive impact on bio-psycho-social health has been incredibly rewarding for both the client and myself as a practitioner.

You too can identify that role you want and deserve, and you too can make it happen.