(Akiit.com) Commitment is a powerful thing. When we’re young, we usually set our sights on something big or important, such as a career in a certain field or a goal that we want to reach. When we’re committed to achieving something, we typically go full speed and try to hit that target with all we have. But what happens when we realise that our choices don’t fit us? What do we do when our careers no longer interest us?
It might sound difficult, but there really is nothing holding you back from making a career change right this moment. All it takes is a lot of willpower, some planning, and a bit of courage. Here are a couple of considerations to make before you switch gears and walk down a
different path in life.
Do you have enough savings?
Switching careers means that you’re going to have a bit of downtime. If you leave your job in search of a new one or to return to full-time study, then you’ll need a lot of funds to sustain yourself when you’re not working. Try to calculate how much money you spend on a weekly basis, work out where you can make savings and try to cut out luxuries. Once you have enough savings, you can safely leave your job and invest in study, looking for a new one, or taking a break to mentally prepare yourself. Try to have enough savings to last you the entire study course. It sounds like a lot, but if you’re frugal and you already have some savings, it isn’t all too much.
Are you self-motivated?
There are some online education advisors, such as Find Your Context, that will tell you all about how you can reach your goals. They understand that deciding on a course is perhaps one of the biggest decisions you’ll ever make in life, so they provide you with plenty of advice and encouragement to assist you in your goals. However, the drive ultimately lies within you. If you aren’t self-motivated to succeed then you won’t muster up the strength to change jobs or pick a new course, and you might use your mid-life crisis as an excuse to slack off work and laze around the house and do nothing. Some common sources of motivation are your family, your children or perhaps your own well-being.
Can you study while working?
In some cases, you won’t be able to study and work at the same time, but it can be a huge boon if you somehow make the time. For instance, by picking afternoon classes or evening classes, you can be self-sufficient and work to cover the costs of your education. This is fantastic if you don’t see yourself saving up enough money to leave work, but it can be very stressful on both your mind and body. If you do take this route, or if you choose to study online at your own pace, then try to pick a course that isn’t very intensive. It takes a lot of discipline and mental fortitude to balance your work life with your study and personal life, but if you’re committed, you can make the change.
Staff Writer; Carla Poole