How to Get Unstuck and Go After Your Career Dreams

You hate your job.  But you don’t know what to do about it.  You are so overwhelmed, stressed out and anxious.  You are well on your way to getting burnt out. 

Thinking about a new career used to be that light at the end of the tunnel but now it just feels like another weight being added to your shoulders, weight that you just can’t handle right now.

The danger is complete and total burn out.  Of remaining stagnant and things getting worse instead of better.  Of being so afraid of the journey that we don’t do anything.

You just need to get started. 

But on what?  When you are so overwhelmed and your head is spinning it can be extremely hard to think about that first step because you can’t help thinking about ALL the steps you may need to take to achieve your goal of a new job or career. 
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You are over complicating things.  Let’s bring it back to basics and make it super simple for you.
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Let’s figure out your first step and not even worry about the rest.  And it is easier than you think​.

ACCEPT THAT YOU NEED TO CHANGE

Staying where you are is not the answer to the problem.  Yes there are ways to love the job you hate that will put you in a better mindset for leaving your current job but you need to 100% accept that things need to change, you need to change. 

Things are not going to magically get better, in fact they will more than likely get worse the longer you stay.  Leaving your job is no longer optional.

PROPEL YOURSELF FORWARD

You are feeling all the crappy feelings right now.  Good.  Don’t try and ignore them or rationalize them or repress them.  Feel them.  And use those crappy feelings to push you forward towards your goal of leaving your job behind you.

WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?

Grab your phone or a pen and paper.  Just write.  Write about all the problems, all the ways life is getting in your way of going after your career dreams. 

HOW CAN I SOLVE IT?

Write down solutions, at least one for each problem. Don’t judge them, don’t try to action plan them.  Just write all the ways to solve each of the problems. 

TAKE THE FIRST STEP

Look at that list.  Think about all the different options.  Think about how they make you feel.  If thinking about a particular solution makes you feel stressed, or overwhelmed or trapped then scratch them off for now.  What can you do TODAY.  Just one thing. 

But maybe you are so lost and overwhelmed that that long list is too much for you to handle right now.  So what are some of the things on that list that will give you the biggest bang for your buck?  Here are some ideas:

1. Ask for Help
This is a great first step.  At work you can ask your boss or a colleague to help with the workload.  Or at home, you can ask for help around the house so that you can free up some time to find your new job.  Set up a free call with me, maybe there are some free resources or a way that we can work together that will lighten your load.

2. Sleep
If you are in the throes of a burn out then this could be tough.  But trying to get your 7-9 hours of sleep will help get you in the mindset and give you the energy to take a career change or job search on!

3. Take Care of Yourself
This is an extension of sleep, but I wanted sleep to be its own.  This is eating, relaxing and moving.  Perhaps your first step is to eat 5 vegetable servings, or to take a walk or to meditate for 5 minutes.  Little wins lead to big wins and taking care of yourself gives you that confidence boost while also setting you up for success.

4. Talk to People
If you have an idea of what you want to do or where you want to do it, seek out people to talk to.  Ask for more information.  This will give you the knowledge of whether or not it is worth investing your time into that particular path, plus it will get you excited to know you are doing something and give you the information and a networking connection that will help make your dreams a reality!

5. Create a Plan
Sunday morning, figure out how much time you can devote to a career change/job search for that upcoming week.  Be realistic and easy on yourself.  Any time is better than no time. 

Then figure out when you are going to use that time.  If it is 2.5 hours, are you going to do 30 minutes of work per day or a 2.5 hour chunk of time?  Use my Dream Career Planner to help make it even easier!

6. Build a Support System
This goes hand in hand with asking for help.  But this is thinking about who in your life can help you out – who can cheer you on, hold you accountable, or give you guidance?  This can be one person or many people.  It can be a mentor, a peer, a family member or a coach like myself.  You don’t have to do this alone!
 

Life goes by so fast.  Which means it is so easy to stand still, in a situation that we hate and have hated.  The old classic quote of a journey of a thousand miles starts with just one step is one we all know but not one we live.  Because we can’t stop thinking about the rest of those steps needed.  But we must remember the alternative.  Staying put. 

Don’t let that be an option.  Pick one thing.  And do it. Take that first step.
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And of course, if you need help or want to talk it through, never hesitate to set up a complimentary strategy call with me.