How To Know It's Time To Go

-Chelsea B. Ashworth

More evidence amasses each day that experiences, not things, are what bring people happiness. In my own life, I can say that I've had more recurring positive feelings remembering past trips I've taken than enjoying any item I've ever purchased. Being that an average person will spend around 90,000 hours, or 1/3 of a lifetime, at work, it behooves us to pursue careers that provide meaningful experiences in addition to a solid income. For those considering a career change to find more fulfillment, I've compiled a list of questions to ask yourself to sort out whether it's time for you to take the leap.

1. How are your finances?

This is really a two-pronged question. First, do you have enough savings to pay your bills for several months if you don't find new work immediately? Take into consideration the familiar saying, "It's easier to get a job when you have a job." Second, will the new work you are considering pay enough to meet your needs and goals?

The rule of thumb has generally been that you should have three to six months worth of expenses saved in an emergency fund. In my opinion, if you are seized with dread each workday when you wake up, that constitutes an emergency. However, if you don't have your next job lined up, or have a solid plan to find a new one, consider whether you would just be exchanging one emergency for another. A financial planner can help ensure you have enough funds to last during a break in your employment, and a career coach can help you strategize your job search.

If the new work you are considering will mean a pay cut, ask yourself how that will impact your fulfillment. Make a realistic assessment of the costs in your life - both your regular bills and what you pay for your hobbies. If you will be paid much less, but your new work will incorporate your hobbies or more tasks that you enjoy, that might be an acceptable tradeoff. A new job that pays less may also mean you should change your strategies for saving for retirement. If you are considering a change, make sure you have taken a holistic evaluation of your current and future finances into account, and consider consulting some experts.

2. Do you enjoy the actual work?

In the quest to self-actualize, it is all too easy to focus on what we want to BE, rather than what we want to DO. If you find that you have made this mistake, and you don't enjoy the actual tasks involved in your current work, that's a major sign that change is needed.

If there are just a few tasks you despise, consult your supervisors or coworkers to see if someone else can take those on, or if you can move to a different position within your workplace that doesn't require that work. If most everything about the job is unpleasant for you, a whole career change may be what you need.

3. Are your relationships suffering?

If your work is making you miserable, chances are you're bringing that misery home with you. While some possess the gift of easily compartmentalizing their work life from their home life, I'll volunteer that I don't suffer well. When I'm upset, my husband often notices before I do!

An unhappy work life can impact your relationships in myriad ways. You might lash out at a family member without just cause. Or your sour mood may just bring down the whole room. A friend once confided that she felt her sadness led to her divorce. Her reasoning was that her husband felt powerless to help her, and that feeling of powerlessness led him to resent her.

Our loved ones celebrate with us, but they can also suffer with us. If you are motivated to go to work to provide a good life for your family, ask yourself whether your current work is actually satisfying that goal. If you aren't feeling fulfilled, chances are your loved ones notice, and it's bumming them out, too.

4. Have your priorities changed?

The priorities that you had when you started your career may have changed, due to family, health, or just evolving and new interests. If you are feeling apathetic about your job or your work isn't meeting your needs, you may not be miserable, but you probably aren't feeling fulfilled either.

After a friend had a baby, she discovered that her job's heavy time commitments were no longer acceptable to her. She made several changes, but none adequately addressed her new priority of spending time with her child. She has now transitioned to a new career that allows her to permanently work remotely from home several days a week, with more flexible hours, and she's much happier.

The decision to change jobs, or even careers, can feel overwhelming, but if you are going to spend 1/3 of your life working, you owe it to yourself to find work that brings you joy or at least fulfillment.

If you'd like some expert guidance on your career journey, Apochromatik can help.

Chelsea B. Ashworth is currently a licensed attorney in Nashville, Tennessee. When not lawyering, Chelsea uses her writing and editing skills to chase the greatest high she can think of: being understood. She is looking for new opportunities to bring clarity to messaging and deliver content that is clear, concise, and conveys confidence. Watch for future posts from Chelsea as she continues her career exploration.