How to know when it’s time to make a change

Post by Open Colleges on March 7th, 2016

The amazing thing about change is that it is always possible. You can always change your situation, whether that be your career or lack-there-of, your relationships, your home, or even your hair colour.

Change is always just one decision away.

But sometimes it can be hard to know when it’s time to make a change. We can feel stuck, scared or overwhelmed by the situation, and this causes us to worry over whether it really is time to make a change.

To help you make your decision, we’ve outlined the nine most common signs that it is time for you to finally make a change!

1. You live in the past or dream of your ‘someday’ future

You haven’t admitted it to yourself, or perhaps you have, but the fact is you dwell heavily on the past to escape your present.

Or, you may live in a constant dream of “someday” to avoid the present.

Both of these extremes are sure fire signs that you need to make a change.

Someday will never happen if you don’t take the steps you need to get there. All you have is the present. The past and the future exist only in your head. The present is here right now, so make a change and finally begin to enjoy what you have.

2. You live in fear

You are scared of change. Perhaps because you are worried about rocking the boat or you are terrified of it not working out. Well, if you risk nothing, you will gain nothing.

To live a truly amazing life you need to take risks, you need to embrace the fear. After all, fear is just one of the many emotions that you are capable of. Don’t let just one emotion rule your life.

If you live in fear, it’s a sign that you need to make a change.

3. You’re becoming a person you don’t like

You find yourself doing and saying things that are not in line with who you are and what you want from life.

Perhaps your work is shaping you into a person that you do not like, or the people that surround you are turning you into a bad version of yourself.

There will only ever be one you, don’t rob the world of that, it’s time to make a change.

 

4. You feel numbed and your passion for life has gone

If you have lost your passion for life, if you feel numb and every day you feel like you are just going through the motions, it’s definitely time for a change.

Life is meant to inspire you, to challenge you, sometimes to make you cry, but also to make you laugh until your face hurts, don’t live life numb. It’s time for a change.

5. You feel stuck

You feel like you are dragging your feet through mud and there is no escape from your daily routine. Whether it’s finances, a fiancé or a job that holds you back, if you feel stuck, know that something has to change.

6. When you find lies slipping from your mouth

“I’m fine”, “It’s fine”, “I’m really happy”. If you feel yourself saying these things to more and more people, but feel that they are less and less true, it’s time to ‘fess up to yourself. Take a hard look at your life and work out what is making you unhappy. Then it’s time to change that thing.

You only get one life, don’t live a lie.

7. When you are settling

You know that you could do better; get a better job, find someone that treats you well, get friends that make you feel good about yourself, but either you don’t think you’re worthy, or you think there’s a chance that you’ll fail. So you settle for a life less extraordinary. You settle for 2nd, 3rd or even 4th best.

If you’re settling, it’s time for a change!

8. You’re burned out

Fatigue is your constant companion. You keep telling yourself “just push through it”, but you never give yourself time for a break. Eventually your body will just say no, something will happen, you’ll get sick, or you’ll make a mistake. Pushing through it is not always the right choice.

If you are close to burned out, it’s time to make a change.

Open the door to change

Change is scary. We all fear the unknown. But change is one of the only things in this life that we can be sure of. If you want a better life, if you want to make your “someday” plans a reality, there’s only one thing for it: make a change!

Popular topic Student success Tips & resources
Open Colleges
By Open Colleges

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