Maybe you’re in that situation now. You find yourself going through the motions, waiting impatiently for the workday to end, perhaps fantasizing about a career change.

By the end of the day, you feel totally burned out and worried that your work is starting to take a toll on your health.

But then you go home and start thinking… about how you’ve been doing that work for years… you’re good at it… you have a regular paycheck coming in. Besides, you have no idea what else you’d rather do.

And so it becomes a daily dilemma, whether to stay or not to stay. On the one hand, you fear giving up a steady job and paycheck. On the other hand, if you stay and do nothing, your situation may become worse.

How do you decide?

Before you do anything, it’s important to find the cause of your unhappiness and to determine whether anything about your situation can be changed. Making a career change is a big decision, especially when you’re not sure what else to do. It will have an impact on many areas of your life. You want to make sure that moving on is the best solution.

Here are some steps you can take to help you make this decision:

1) Address the burnout

Burnout affects your energy on every level – physically, emotionally, and spiritually. When you’re feeling burned out, you’re unable to think clearly, much less make an important decision.

Start by telling yourself that you are working on the problem, and that it will be getting resolved. Then begin pulling back.

Reduce your involvement at work as much as possible, and allow yourself to step away mentally. If you can, take some days off to relax and think things through. If you can’t take any time off, build some 15- or 30-minute mini-breaks into your day. Make a point of getting regular exercise and rest as you evaluate your situation.

2) Identify the cause

Look at what’s really happening at work. Taking your emotions out of the picture for now, pinpoint the reason(s) for your unhappiness.

Are there unclear expectations or lack of recognition for your efforts? Perhaps you work for a difficult boss or constantly worry about being laid off. So many people today are working longer hours and taking on more responsibilities, with no corresponding increase in pay. Are you one of them?

You may find that the problem is with the work itself. Your job may have become less challenging over time. Maybe it’s no longer a good fit for who you are. Whatever the cause of your burnout symptoms, once you know what it is, you’ll be better equipped to decide what you need to do.

3) Think about what would make your job more satisfying

This step gives you the opportunity to consider what you really want in your job. You may never have thought about this before, but what would make it work for you? Maybe you’d be happier with fewer meetings, less overtime, clearer expectations, less structure, more structure.

To answer this question, it can help to itemize the things you like and don’t like about your job. After doing this exercise, some of my clients realize that the problem isn’t with the work itself, but rather with the corporate culture in which they work. They often decide to stay in their current field, but transition to a company whose values and work pace are more in line with their own preferences.

4) Ask yourself what you can realistically change in your situation

Now that you’ve identified what’s wrong, as well as what might make your job more palatable, find out if anything can be changed. If your job has “gotten away” from you and you find that you’ve taken on more responsibilities than your job description calls for, try discussing your concerns with your boss. You may be able to negotiate a different work role, a more flexible schedule, or a long-overdue increase in pay. Transferring to a different department or supervisor could be another option.

If there are no “fixes” at your current place of work, changing companies may be just the thing to revitalize your career. However, if the challenge is gone or the work itself has become drudgery, you may have a good reason for making a career change.

5) Decide what’s next

What came up for you as you worked through the previous four steps? Are there some changes you can make in your current work to make it more enjoyable?

If there’s no way to make it better, if your work situation has become toxic, or you truly dislike the work you’re doing, it’s probably a good idea to look for something else that’s more in line with your values and talents.

It can be so tempting to simply walk away from the job you hate, but when you feel the urge to leave, give yourself some breathing room while you explore your options. It may very well be that it’s time to go, but understanding the reasons for your burnout will keep you from rushing into another bad situation. And if you do decide to move on, make sure you have a transition plan in place.

I’d love to hear from you in the comments below. Are you wishing you could just walk away from the job you hate? How will you know when it’s time for a career change?

Photo credit: Uwe Hermann / CC license

You’ve probably seen the lists I’m talking about – the ones with titles like “the 10 hottest careers of the year,” or “the top 5 high-paying careers.”

These lists can be useful for finding out what types of jobs are out there at the moment (after all, without such a list, I never would have known about such jobs as “wrinkle chaser” or “light bender.”). But if you want to change your career, it won’t do you much good to pick the “hottest” or “fabbest” job from a list.

Authentic career change must come from the inside out.

The older I get, and I find this to be true of my clients as well, the more I want my work to be something that comes naturally and fits who I am. I spent most of my working life unhappily not fitting in, because my career was not a good reflection of my strengths.

You have certain talents, strengths, and values that give you your unique style. No one else has quite the same combination as you. It’s like your DNA.

The work you’re meant to do is an authentic expression of all these things. You’ll find that such work comes easily and allows you to feel on purpose. Now I’m not saying there’s only one career waiting for you out there. Your authentic work could take any number of forms.

Match your work to who you are.

Don’t fall once again into the trap of trying to match yourself to a career. This time around, make sure your work matches who you are.

Start by listening for your deepest values. Pay attention to your interests and passions. Then look around you and see what needs in your world call to you. How can you create a bridge between your values and those needs?

If you’re burned out, bored, or feeling discontented with the work you’ve been doing, and you know, just know, that there’s something else you’re meant to do, begin the steps toward doing it!

You may find that what you’re called to do makes you uncomfortable. Maybe you’re meant to get out there and show up in a much larger way than you ever considered possible. Or perhaps your contribution is quieter, more contemplative. If so, it’s no less powerful.

Your authentic career must come from the inside out. So instead of looking on a list for the work you’re meant to do, look to your heart. It’s a clear choice, really. You can dream and wonder “what if,” or you can begin to take the sometimes-difficult steps toward living a more authentic life right now.

Over time, our habits and routines create ruts in our brains, much like well-worn tracks in the road. This can be a good thing, if your habits are serving you well. But what if they’re not?

I remember so many times in my life when I knew exactly what I needed to do to reach a goal I had set for myself. But instead of taking those steps, I fell into all the old habits and routines that do not serve me well at all.

Signs you might be hanging on to old habits

Holding on to old habits often shows up as procrastination or perfectionism. Maybe you want to wait until things are “just right,” until the economy turns around, or until you’ve had the chance to thoroughly research all the retraining options that might be available. Somehow, there’s just never enough time or money, preparation or knowledge.

The beliefs we hold about ourselves are also evidence of our old habits. Some people believe there’s no way they can change their lives. Others are reluctant to make a commitment to anything.

Creating new pathways

You may be wanting to look for a job, strike out on your own, or find a different career. Whatever it is, if you want your life to be different, you’re going to need to change some of your habits.

Sounds easy, but we all know how hard it can be to change our lives. Fortunately, our brains can be rewired and new neural pathways formed as we create new habits. Research shows that on average, the time it takes to either add or remove a habit is about 30 to 60 days.

To start breaking out of your old routines and habits, and help your brain create new pathways:

Make a conscious decision that you want to create a new habit that will get you better results. Don’t think of it as getting rid of a bad habit. Make it positive.

For instance, instead of saying, “I’ll stop talking so much during interviews,” say, “I will research the company before my interview so I can have a list of questions prepared ahead of time. I’ll also listen carefully for what the interviewer’s needs are, and then demonstrate how I can provide the solution to those needs.” As you create new habits, your old habits will be eliminated.

Figure out how you learn best – whether it’s visual, auditory, or experiential. To help you learn new habits and prepare for the change you want, read a book, take a course, try a new role on for size. Use what works best for you. Keep up with current events in the industry that interests you by reading newsletters and company publications, attending professional conferences, or volunteering if at all possible.

Start with the tiniest of steps. Taking small steps will keep your brain from overreacting to the changes you’re making. Set weekly goals for the number of jobs that you’ll apply for, companies that you’ll call, networking events you’ll attend, and careers you’ll research. Schedule time for updating your social media profiles on Google, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Begin writing your business plan or creating a website to highlight your professional portfolio.

Be prepared to fall down at times. Realize that all these new activities will feel awkward at first. You’ll need to set aside time to practice and repeat the new behaviors. Repetition is important. If repeated enough, your brain will change to reflect your new habits. Since you’ll naturally be tempted to “fall back” into old patterns, set up a system of reminders.

Reward yourself! Instead of knocking yourself for things you didn’t get done, celebrate your successes, no matter how small they seem. Identify your carrot – that thing that will keep you moving forward. If you want to become more physically active, your carrot might be weight loss, lower blood pressure, increased strength or endurance.

If what you want is a career change, what would your carrot be? Perhaps it’s something as tangible as getting that job interview you want. Or it could be finding work that gives you a sense of meaning and purpose.

I’ve found the most effective way to create change in my life is to remember why it’s important! When I think about the long-term benefits I hope to achieve, I find it much easier to work on changing my old habits now.

What new habit are you ready to create?

Photo credit: Patrick Hoesly / CC license

Why are some people able to muster up the courage later in life to follow a completely new path, while others stay stuck on the sidelines?

Well, one obvious difference is that late bloomers have made the decision to act. They get out there and do something about their dreams. A lot of them probably have a clear idea of what they want to do, as well – some sort of passion or interest that gives them the motivation they need to keep moving forward.

But what about the many late bloomers who don’t start out with a clear passion? The ones who are able to make successful transitions seem to have something else in common. They’ve discovered their cause.

Think of your cause as your purpose

Your cause is the theme underlying everything you do. If you’re having trouble identifying what you like or you’re not sure what you enjoy, start looking for your cause.

In my own case, I’ve had several careers that look nothing alike, at least not on the surface.

Right after graduating from college (equipped with my degree in English), I took a job as a bookstore clerk. Now that wasn’t my goal when I went to college, but the job market was tough the year I graduated. The day-to-day activities of my job weren’t especially exciting, but it was in that job that I began to understand what my “cause” was.

I love books, and I’ve always been an information junkie. I found myself drawn to helping people find what they were looking for, even when they didn’t know what that was. My “cause” was to listen for and understand what people wanted, and to provide them with the resources that would fit their needs.

Seeing my job in that broader sense made my work meaningful, fun, and something to look forward to every day.

Tell your own story

Just as stories in books have themes, so does your life/work.

For example, after working at the bookstore, I went on to work as an accountant in various nonprofit settings – the social services, the arts, and a botanical garden – once again providing information that would help people make decisions.

In my more recent careers as a social worker and now as a career coach, the themes are the same. No matter how different all those careers look, they all involve listening, hearing between the lines, sharing resources and information, and empowering others to change their lives in one way or another.

Once I saw how those common threads run through everything I’ve done, I was able to make sense of my own later life career changes. Seeing that “bigger picture” of what I was meant to do, I realized I could explore any number of interests, and still follow through every one of them the thread of my purpose.

When you know your cause, or your purpose, you’re no longer limited to any one job or any one venue. You have more possibilities.

To find your cause, start by asking yourself these questions:

• What do you like to do in your spare time? What do you do when no one’s looking?

• How do you find yourself drawn to serve people? And who are those people?

• What parts of your current (or most recent) work do you most enjoy?

• What comes easily to you? What do you do so naturally you don’t even think about it?

• What are the common threads you see in your past work (and in the answers to these questions)? Look back at your life as if you were looking at somebody else’s story. What themes do you see?

These themes provide the clues you need to find your cause. And once you know your cause, you’ll be able to tell your own story! As you create your next career or look for that next job, you’ll be in the powerful position of being able to present a coherent narrative of who you are and what you have to offer.

So… what is your cause?

Photo credit: Gavin Anderson / CC license

The bigger the change we want to make and the more important that change is, the louder our gremlins become.

Feeling Stuck

One woman I worked with, “Alexis,” had long dreamed of starting her own online business. Well aware that it would take some time to get it off the ground, she researched it carefully and took some training courses in marketing. But when it came time to design her website and begin to offer her services online, she kept putting it off, saying she wasn’t ready yet.

“Frank,” an attorney in private practice for the past 24 years, was deeply unhappy in his career. What he really wanted to do was to use his gifts as an advocate for children with learning disabilities. He was excited to discover that he would be able to use his existing skills to transition into his new career. But then one day he changed his mind. He decided it would be “unrealistic” for him to start over at his age. It would just be “easier” to keep doing what he’s been doing.

And then there’s “Teri,” who has spent the last 18 years in the I.T. industry, working long hours and dealing with demanding customers. Her passion is the graphic arts, for which she has great talent. She knows it would be a better fit for her personality, but she’s beginning to think she’d be “crazy” to take that kind of chance. It would involve too much time and hard work, and she might fall flat on her face.

Say Hello to the Gremlin

Alexis, Frank, and Teri have something in common. All three have met their gremlins.

If you’re feeling stuck, you’ve probably met yours, too.

Your gremlin is that inner critic that holds you back from expressing yourself fully. It uses your fear, worry, and self-doubts to find fault with the things you want to do. You’ll hear it say things like, “Why bother? You’re only going to fail.” Or how about this one – “People who have work they love are just lucky. That could never happen to me.”

The economy definitely presents a challenge for job seekers and career changers. It takes knowledge of the job market and the latest job search/marketing techniques, a lot of preparation, and a positive mindset, all of which your gremlin can’t wait to undermine. It doesn’t want you to change.

How to Handle Your Gremlin

It’s important to know that your gremlin is not you. It’s not even your voice, even though it sounds like you. It’s a disconnected “part” of you whose messages could have originated in any number of ways. I believe it truly is looking out for you, trying to keep you safe, but its messages are no longer relevant for who you are now. All it does now is to get you reliving your past, worrying about the future, or over-analyzing every move you make to the point of paralysis.

It’s good to be cautious, to take things slowly, but the gremlin wants you to do more than that. It wants you to give up.

When you begin to hear those familiar messages in your head, Rick Carson, the author of Taming Your Gremlin, recommends that you:

• Simply notice it. Your gremlin does not want to be noticed – that’s its Achilles’ heel. It prefers to work behind the scenes. The most powerful thing you can do is to simply observe it and listen to it. Don’t ignore it! But don’t believe what it says either. Noticing it takes away its power so you can regain yours.

• Relax yourself. Take some deep breaths. Go for a walk. If this idea sounds silly to you, that’s your gremlin talking, too! The point is to realize that those thoughts in your head are just thoughts. They aren’t you.

• Acknowledge the gremlin. If it helps, give it a name. Put a face on it. I like the picture of the gremlin above – it reminds me of how small it really is. Listen to what your gremlin’s trying to tell you. Hear what its concerns are. Name the fears that it brings up in you. And then keep moving forward with what you’re doing. Move right through those uncomfortable thoughts and feelings.

You can take charge of your gremlin by deciding how you would rather respond. Allow yourself to make that choice. And most importantly, listen for and learn how to hear your true voice underneath that of your gremlin.

Does your gremlin have you feeling stuck? Next time it starts to act up (and you know it will!), how will you respond?

Photo credit: Looking Glass / CC license