The Holmes Rahe Stress Scale found that making a career change is one of the 20 most stressful things that happen in your life. According to Perkbox UK’s 2018 Workplace Stress Survey – Work is the most common cause of stress for UK adults, with 59% of workers experiencing it. If you find yourself stuck in a workplace where you feel undervalued, stressed out, and overworked just to scrape by, it may be time for a career change.
Change is an inevitable part of life and can be incredibly difficult, it’s certainly not a walk in the park. There are many hurdles to face when moving careers and finding a new job – this includes finding employment within a suitable distance, a role which pays enough to support your lifestyle, and most importantly – one which will make you happy.
Here are our top reasons why you should embrace a career change:
1. It can lead to personal growth
We’re wired to stay within our comfort zones, change is difficult and can feel extremely uncomfortable. Our brains resist change as it is easier to stay on autopilot and just keep going. Our brains are pleasure seekers and like to avoid pain – whether this be emotional or physical. Stepping out of your comfort zone can lead to both personal growth and self-development by challenging your mindset and trying something new. Living outside your comfort zone for personal growth requires motivation, the desire to improve, and the willingness to strive to make changes.
2. You can learn new skills
There is an endless amount of new skills, processes and facts to learn about the world, there’s always something new to learn. Keeping your brain active and learning new skills means you’re less likely to develop dementia which is caused when neural pathways in your brain start to shut down. Learning new skills and stimulating your brain means that new neural pathways are formed, ready for information to flow through them. At first, you may find it difficult to learn new skills, but the more you persist and practice – the easier things become.
3. You will gain a new sense of purpose
Having purpose in life allows us to make our lives meaningful, and experience a sense of fullness. If you have a lack of purpose or no purpose in life, you may find yourself feeling increasingly empty. Our life purpose may not always stay the same over time, your purpose at 10 years old certainly isn’t going to be the same as when you are 30. When you started your career your purpose may have been to earn enough money to support your family and make a difference in your organisation, as you grow older, you may want to work for a charity and improve the lives of others instead. Finding your sense of purpose can be a useful tool to help you strive towards a happier, more fulfilling and healthier life.
4. You can take control of your life again
Being stuck in a job with a team leader or director micromanaging your every move can be incredibly uninspiring. You may feel like you’ve lost your sense of control or self empowerment. An internal voice can often control your actions, and you can find yourself being held back by a sense of fear, the fear of the unknown, or the fear of failing. New possibilities will open up when you trust in your ability to make your own decisions and break through your fears. Having confidence in your decisions will help you to stay grounded, forge your own path, make up your own mind, and go your own way. You own the decisions you make and should be confident in your own judgement.
Career counselling helps people to decide where their priorities lie, what their needs are and how to create a safe and comfortable transition between career paths. There are several professional bodies that register professional career counsellors, many of whom are either psychotherapists or counsellors with specialist training.
