Why change your career? How to make the decision easy

People often think that changing your career is one of the most difficult decisions to make. Uprooting yourself from a job that you’ve invested time and energy into can be hard, especially if you have come to see many of your colleagues as close friends. And making that decision to step into the unknown is very scary.

However, if you’re in a job you hate and are simply staying because you don’t know anything else, then making the decision to change careers should be easy, not hard.

Many people lose sight of the fact that as humans, we only get one life. That, on average, is around 79 years in the Western World. A huge number of these years are spent working, and so shouldn’t you enjoy this time rather than waking every day and dreading what the hours ahead have to hold? Maybe you’ve always dreamt of working for yourself? Of building your hobby into a thriving business? Of simply training again and taking a new direction?

Then follow your dream and make your life as enjoyable as possible.

One of the biggest hurdles to get over is the idea that you’ve been in your career too long and simply cannot change. Banish this idea from your head and start with small steps.

You don’t have to quit your day job immediately and suddenly be thrown in the deep end – though, sometimes this helps!

If you want to build your hobby into a business, starting spending your spare time researching the possibilities. If you’re a passionate baker, start to develop a brand identity, explore unique recipes, start to build your business whilst continuing to work. If you want to train again in another field, look for new courses online, read some literature on the subject, join some online forums and talk to people who have made a similar switch. Perhaps a part-time or evening course would suit you, allowing for your normal day job to continue. These options will not only allow take some of the worry about switching careers away, but will also provide welcome relief from the daily grind.

Thousands of people around the world are in the same position you may be in, wanting to change their careers, hating their jobs, but too scared to take the big leap. Take small steps as first, and discover how and when to tackle the change. Seek support from loved ones, explaining the depth of the problem to them and the importance of changing careers. Make plans so that, even if you’re not in a position to change careers this very minute, you have a goal and something to work towards.

And most importantly of all, don’t be too scared to take that leap, because leaving a job you hate for a passionate and enjoyable work life should be one of the easiest decisions you ever have to make.