From decreased motivation to frustration with the industry, most professionals face ups and downs in their careers. It’s quite common for even the most passionate employees to fall into a funk, then come through the other side of it just as fulfilled as before. Those negative thoughts or feelings you’re experiencing may also signify something deeper, however.
Below, the members of the Young Entrepreneur Council share some of the signs you may actually be ready for a significant career move. Read on to discover if you’re just in a temporary funk or if you need to consider making a change.
1. The ‘Funk’ Has Lasted for Months or Years
A funk usually doesn’t last for an extended period of time. It’s just a cycle that you’ll go in and out of and is usually determined by outside factors. So, if you are in a position where you have felt like you’re in a funk for a long time, evaluate what changes you need to make and if you need to re-examine your career as a whole. —Diego Orjuela, Cables & Sensors
2. You Hate Getting Out of Bed on Monday Mornings
Everyone gets in a funk, but when you’re not excited to get out of bed and go to work Monday morning, it may be a sign that it’s time to make a career change. To survive working long hours and develop the drive to be the best, you have to love what you do. In a pandemic world, we create our own destiny. Live where you want. Do what you want to do. Follow your career passion or the funk will always follow! —Bill Mulholland, ARC Relocation
3. You’ve Already Taken Time to Think Critically About the Situation
How long has this feeling been with you? What about your job irritates or demotivates you? Who do you need to talk to about this development? Is this something that has to do with you or your personal life? Answers to the questions above require time to think, to consider your options and to act accordingly. Time is the only constant here, and there’s no other way to figure it out. Take your time. —Samuel Thimothy, OneIMS
4. You’re No Longer Evolving
I consider myself a dynamic person. I like to stay on the cutting edge and innovate whenever possible. One way I identify that it’s time to move forward is to constantly evaluate the progress I make. If, over a period of time, I don’t see an evolution or I feel that I have already accomplished my goal, then I decide it is time to move to the next level in order to maintain constant growth. —Kevin Leyes, Leyes Media
5. You’re Just Working to Pay the Bills
Life sometimes speaks to you in plain sight. It often pushes you around, and each push is telling you to wake up and change your way of life. Have a look at your life and analyze if you love everything that you do or just working to pay the bills. Start delving into your passion and set higher standards for yourself so that you and your loved ones lead their lives without fear or scarcity. —Kelly Richardson, Infobrandz
6. You’re Not Happy With What You’re Doing Every Day
We all have feelings of uncertainty and frustration in our professional lives. But you should know if it’s just a funk or if you need a career change. A good way to know that is to identify if you’re really happy with what you’re doing. See if you're learning new skills and growing professionally. If you have to force yourself to go to work every day, then something surely needs a change. —Thomas Griffin, OptinMonster
7. You’re Questioning Whether You Still Love Your Job
It’s time to make a career change when you suddenly find yourself wondering if you still love your job or not, and when all of sudden you feel like dragging yourself to work. At the same time, if you feel unaccomplished and unhappy, you are definitely ready for a new work environment. In the meantime, you can also do stuff you’re passionate about to compensate for days you work unhappily. —Daisy Jing, Banish
8. You’ve Taken Time Away From Work and You Still Feel This Way
See if your perspective changes after some time away from your work. A good vacation and time for some creative experimentation or passions will snap you out of an ordinary funk. If you return from the time away determined to change careers, you know the problem was deeper than a temporary loss of enthusiasm, which happens to everybody. —Tyler Bray, TK Trailer Parts
9. Your Current Job Doesn’t Align With Your Passion in Life
An important question to ask yourself is whether your current job aligns with your passion in life. If you’re doing something you don’t care about and even dislike, there’s a strong chance that you feel real discontent and will need to change careers. But if you’re working in an area you do care about, then it’s more likely that you’re in a funk and will soon feel better about what you do. —Blair Williams, MemberPress
10. You’re Counting the Minutes Until Your Workday Ends
When you dislike your day and count the minutes until you go home, you are in a bad place. Understanding what flow is and how to apply it to your situation is critical to success. When you work and hours fly by and you are excited about the day, you can build a successful career by matching your occupation to your unique strength. Find your flow state and pursue it. —Matthew Capala, Alphametic
11. You’re Apathetic and Disinterested
If you’ve lost interest and you’re feeling apathetic, then that means it’s time to evaluate what you’re doing and why you’re feeling that way. Make a list of things you enjoy and what you don’t enjoy. Whatever side is longer will generally win. —Kristin Kimberly Marquet, Marquet Media, LLC
12. You’re Bored and Unchallenged
A fulfilling career is a challenging one. If you are just coasting through each day, you will likely feel bored, detached and unmotivated. Examine your daily activities and the future trajectory of your career. Ask yourself if this is helping you grow or holding you back. This is what made me decide to leave my CPA firm after almost a decade in public accounting to start my own business. —Shaun Conrad, Guitar Repair Bench
13. You’re Surrounded by People Who Don’t Encourage You
We are the average of the five people we keep around. Our environment and friends play a crucial role in our success. Many people don’t achieve their potential due to low standards or effort, and this is contagious, as our brain tries to fit in with our peers to avoid the fear of missing out. Start living up to your potential with some extra effort and drop those who constantly use your time. —Vikas Agrawal, Infobrandz
