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Work life balance is a catchphrase that has kind of come and gone over time. Sure we strive to achieve it but for many of us, if we haven’t got to that point by this stage of our careers and personal lives, chances are we never will.
Plenty of lifestyle bloggers talk about making small changes to effect big change and rightly so but there are times when really the only thing to do is to make the biggest change, right away with no looking back. That’s not to say you shouldn’t talk to family or friends first but you’ve already spent too long worrying about the what-ifs and still find yourself in the same frustrating career/house/relationship – check whichever applies.
So how do we go about making real change in our lives, big change and is it always a good idea? In this blog we explore some techniques on making radical shake ups and how to apply them to your personal circumstances.
You could work for one of the top seo companies making a lot of money and being great at your job but if you’re not happy, none of that counts for anything. Walking away from your job is career suicide right? How do you explain that gap on your resume? Well, you know what, you don’t mention it. That’s right, you don’t need to explain anything unless asked and even then a brief explanation in your cover letter ought to do the job without too much drama.
What will help is if you’ve done something constructive with your time. Sitting in your den watching reruns of old movies is not going to get you far but learning a new skill, volunteering, raising your child, that all counts and is valid.
Often what holds us back is fear of change rather than making the change itself so how can we go about beating this fear? Admit to yourself that you’ll never know all the possible outcomes. Accept that there is an element of risk and that is something you’ll just have to live with.
Give yourself the benefit of the doubt and starting putting some trust in yourself to make good decisions. Decisions that will lead to a happier, more productive and more content you. You could ask yourself what the worst outcome could be but often that’s unhelpful so instead focus on the bigger picture of where moving home, town or even country might take you, what you might do there and what you might learn. Allow yourself to feel optimistic and inspired rather than shut away and fearful.
A great deal of the time we are asking permission from others to make decisions about own lives so now is the time to think about who influences you and if that relationship is holding you back. If, for example, you are in an unhappy relationship but don’t want to hurt your partner, picture the pair of you five years from now and consider whether you are both likely to be happier or unhappier. Recognise that by staying in a relationship that brings mutual unhappiness is not healthy or positive for either of you.
Recognise too that you might fail. This is a hard pill to swallow, when you’ve built up all your courage and made the biggest decision of you life, but failure happens, it happens to all of us at some point or other in our lives. You need to get over it.
It does not mean you’ve made the wrong decision, it just means you may need to alter your course slightly to adjust to your new circumstances. If, for example, you quit your job to train as a teacher but didn’t get into college, think about choosing another path or an entry course that will get you in. It might happen later but with your determination firmly in place you will get there. Don’t let a little bad news set you back.
The fact that is that change is scary for everyone and it most certainly does not come easy. Why should it? If it was easy it wouldn’t change your life as dramatically as it does.
Just have a little faith and confidence in yourself and your abilities. Think about the bigger picture and where you will be a few more years along the line. Recognise that getting to that point might not always be a straight line but that with a little flexibility and determination you can make it.
Start today and see where real change will take you.
Note: this post contains contributed content.
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