Are you unhappy in your current job and want to make a change but you don’t have the time? 

Here’s a friendly reminder: 

You don’t have the time to stay in an unhappy job!

 Here are 4 tips to help you find time.

Tip #1. Is it a time or an energy issue?

 Can you find 30 minutes 2X per week? 

 If you can, why does it feel like you don’t have time? 

Maybe you don’t know where to start and you’re procrastinating (see tip #2 below), or you have higher priority activities, or you just don’t have the energy. 

 If you are too tired to work on career transition activities, consider going back to basics: get more sleep, eat nutritious food, get out in nature, and move your body. 

 What if you really can’t find the time?

 What can you delegate? 

 For example, can you outsource cleaning your home, delegate meal preparation, or children pick-up?

 Another way to find time is to cut back on scrolling through social media or watching a show. I’m not saying eliminate these activities. Just consider limiting the time you spend on them. 

Tip #2. Do you see your career change as one big looming task? 

 If you see career change as one big task, it can feel daunting and lead to procrastination. Next thing you know, a year has passed and you’re still unhappy. This happens to the best of us. 

 The trick is to break up career change activities into small, “bite-size” steps.  

 Ask, “What’s one small thing I can do this week that will help me move forward?”

This way, if you have a busy week, you’re putting off one small task for a week instead of putting off one big task for a year.

Tip #3. Are you skipping ahead to the last step of the process?

 It’s common to want to know how to find and apply for non-clinical jobs. However, this can suck up time in unproductive searches.

Before you leap into searching for jobs, first get clear on what you want, your desired role and industry, and then focus your search. 

Tip #4. Are you putting your dreams on the backburner?

If your natural inclination is to put others first, doing anything for yourself can feel selfish. But if you’re unhappy in your current role, what impact will this have long term on the people you’re putting first? 

 If you take care of yourself, you avoid the buildup of resentment, and can show up more fully for others. 

 Make your career change process a priority. It’s a time investment in your future. 

Last words:

Critically evaluate how you spend your energy and time. Take care of your needs, delegate tasks, get clear on what you want, and move forward with your career change one small step at a time! 

You don’t have time to stay in an unhappy job!