There are times when we may embark on a career path simply because we feel like we should. Either we’ve study a subject matter for so long, or we’ve already started on a certain trajectory, our families and friends have suggested we’d be good at it, or the selected field is lucrative and has more stability, longevity, respectability–the list goes on.
What happens, though, is that there often comes a time, sometimes sooner rather than later, where those reasons no longer hold any weight. Then, you’re deep into these undesired careers, and you feel stuck and miserable.
Sometimes, it isn’t obvious to us that in these careers is no longer where we’d like to be. We’ve grown to accept how things are and ignore how they could be.
Below are four signs that the career you have may not be the one you need:
1. You’re Unfulfilled
If your days don’t conclude with a feeling of accomplishment, even if you’ve successfully moved mountains, then the job just might not do it for you. If you’re where you’re supposed to be, simply doing the work can have you leaving the office feeling lifted and aligned. Â No, every day may not feel like the best day of your life, but it certainly won’t feel like you’re wasting your life away.
2. No Work Goals
If you don’t seem to have any goals in your current job–whether it’s a promotion, a new project, a new client, or even a raise–then this is a sign that you’re unmotivated. Lack of motivation where you are indicates that you may need to be somewhere else. It may be helpful to find a career path where you can set goals and continue to strive for the next levels. Having constant goals in mind can help to ward off complacency. This sense of motivation can be necessary in surviving what would otherwise be a mundane nine-to-five.
3. No Emotional Attachment
If the walls are crumbling down around you, and you’re neither here nor there about it, it’s probably because you just don’t care. If there are huge developments in your work or workplace and you’re not filled with excitement, you’re likely detached. If you’re doing what you’re supposed to be doing, where you’re supposed to be doing it, there tends to be an emotional component when engaging the work. You want things to be right. You strive for integrity in the work and in the working environment. If you’re at a point where nothing is moving you, this may be a sign that it’s time to physically remove yourself.
4. You’re Weary
If every work day you have to convince yourself to go in, you need to get out. Some days will inevitably be harder than others, but these days shouldn’t be consistent. A good sign that you’re doing what you’re meant to do is that you actually want to do it.
If this sounds like you, it may be time to detour your path to one that’s more fulfilling. It might seem hard to do right now, but trust that you’ll thank yourself later.
Safon Floyd is the Digital Editor at Black Enterprise. Follow her @accordingtofon.