5 Signs You Should Change Careers

Feeling happy and stimulated at work is a major factor in your overall quality of life. Life is way too short to be miserable every day. If you find yourself with a consistent case of the “Sunday Night Blues,” then you might want to start reevaluating whether you’re in the right job. Here are 5 clear signs that it might be time for you to consider a career change:

1. You dread going to work almost every day
If you dread going to work every day, then you definitely want to think strongly about a career change. No one should have to endure that for a long period of time. It’s normal to dread certain things occasionally or to dislike a particular task, but normally this is a pretty situational issue. If you’re dreading going to work week after week and day after day—then something’s not right.

2. You don’t enjoy what you’re doing
This one’s pretty obvious, but you’d be surprised at how many people will work in a job they don’t enjoy out of habit or fear of change. This is your life we’re talking about!!! And life is too short to work at a job you don’t enjoy for a long period of time. If you’re no longer enjoying what you do, don’t be afraid to explore other opportunities.

3. You find yourself looking at the clock a lot
We’ve all heard the phrase, “Time Flies When You’re Having Fun.” If your days drag by and you catch yourself looking at the clock every 10 minutes waiting for the end of the day to roll around, this is a strong sign you’re not in the right job.

4. You don’t get along well with your co-workers
If you have trouble getting along with your colleagues, this is going to impact your ability to do your job well and feel content. If you find you don’t really “click” with your team, this is another sign you might not be in the right job. It’s so important to have a few friends at work. If your colleagues are distant and detached, it’s probably going to impact your happiness at work.

5. You aren’t feeling challenged anymore
If you feel like you’ve gotten all you can from your current job, and you thrive on a challenge, then it may be time to consider a career change. Upward mobility is certainly not important to everyone. However, if you’re the kind of person who is looking to climb the corporate ladder and keep gaining new skills and you find those opportunities are no longer available to you, then it might be time to look for a new opportunity.

Changing careers can be a daunting process—especially if you’ve done the same thing for a very long time. It takes courage and a lot of effort to make a major life change. Get to the heart of what you dislike about your current job and try to determine if it’s as simple as looking for a new job in a similar field, or whether you want to look at a completely different type of job. The first step to feeling better is identifying the problem. Remember this is your life; don’t be afraid to take control of it!