Shaking off a mid-career slump
If you feel like you’re a zombie on a conveyor belt, going through the motions of your job, feeling unsatisfied and with a growing sense of disquiet and unease, you could be struggling with mid-career malaise.
A Job Satisfaction Index’ by OfficeTeam found the average length of time people feel they should stay in one job is six years. Still, many people spend decades doing the same role, while younger workers (18-24) prefer to spend just three years per post.
It’s a great feeling to master a job and become an expert. But if your daily tasks have become muscle memory it’s time to take things up a notch or two.
Here’s some of psychotherapist and coach Andre Radmall’s suggestions for shaking off that slump and shaking up your career.
Remind yourself what it was that used to inspire you about the work
It’s great advice from Mr Radmall. Nothing is more motivating than reminding yourself why you're doing the work in the first place. Whether you're building a product you love or simply putting food on the table for your family, it's crucial that you remain in touch with what inspires you.
However, you may find that your priorities and motivations have changed since you began your tenure. In that case, find out what your priorities and motivations are. Evaluate what matters most to you so that you can evaluate if you can derive what you need from your current job or career. Are you most motivated by money, but your salary is unsatisfactory? Do you need more management, but are often left to work alone?
It is important to determine what your current needs are so that you may more easily choose to stay in your current job, or to make a move.
Think positive
Things can look pretty dark when you’re struggling through a slump, but there’s plenty to feel good about. You’ve made it through the tumultuous early stages of a new job and have hopefully garnered some measure of respect from colleagues - maybe even made some friends.
You’ll have had professional accomplishments that you can take pride in, gained valuable skills and experience and hopefully have a few good memories to reflect upon. All these memories and achievements can be helpful to keep you happier and motivated when you’re having a tough time.
Get some distance from the job - a holiday, time out or a retreat
More good advice from Mr Radmall. Are you even happy at work, or do you just go out of pure habit? Having some alone time can help you refocus your goals and gain perspective.
You may find that a day off gets your gears turning and sends you in a completely opposite career direction. Or, at the very least, it may inspire you to make changes at your current job so it better fits your desires.
Revisit your career plan
When was the last time you really thought about where your career was going and the roadmap you created to help you get there?
Think about the objectives you set yourself then and honestly assess your progress towards them so far.
Did you expect a higher salary by this point? Did you expect to be working in a different department or organisation? Did you expect to be working in a different industry altogether?
A formal plan can serve as a tool for discussing your goals and priorities with your boss and a learning guide to make sure you’re acquiring the skills and experience you need to move forward. Outline steps you’ll need to take in order to accomplish each goal, whether it’s landing a promotion, continuing education or changing your current role entirely.
Allow for reinvention
If you find yourself in a mid-career slump, and after making several earnest attempts to break free there’s no sign of relief in sight, consider an exit strategy.
Even though you’ve dedicated sweat, tears, and years of your life travelling down your current career path, that doesn’t mean you have to continue down it if you’re not content.
There’s always room for reinventing yourself and trying something new—even in the middle stages of your career. People take bold risks all the time to find happiness and career satisfaction.