Get Out of Overwhelm One Step at a Time

Just run to the end of the block. That’s my favorite takeaway from this article on how to change careers without losing your mind.

After working with so many career changers over the years one thing holds true for almost everyone making this life change: they freak out because the task feels too big. There’s too much to do! I have to rewrite my resume and find new references and assess my skills and values and do informational interviews and find companies that pay well and practice interview questions? AHHHHHHHHHHH (Stick head in sand instead)!

And all of them are right. It IS totally overwhelming. Just like every life transition that has multiple steps, you can’t do all the steps at once. You don’t run a marathon one day because you decide it’s time to get in shape. You run to the end of the block. Maybe you just walk to the end of the block. One. Foot. At. A. Time. But you keep moving!

That can feel overwhelming as well, because meanwhile you’re still hungry to get OUT of the place you’ve been stuck. You want to jump ahead and start applying to things, even though you don’t know if they’re a fit, simply to get out of the “ick” you’re in. And then sometimes you end up getting one of those jobs that isn’t right, and suddenly the devil you know becomes the devil you don’t. I’ve seen people get a new job and realize VERY early on it’s not a fit- that they jumped ship to the wrong ship- and they end up quitting that too.

Job seekers have a tough go of it all around- you have to somehow maintain patience in a long process of figuring out what you want and then who has it, followed by actually trying to go get it. Meanwhile most job seekers are balancing the job they already have with seeking what’s next, as well as all of life’s other commitments! I have so much compassion for those of you in this situation!

So let’s focus on just getting you to the end of the block, not running the whole marathon right now. What’s ONE thing that would help you feel like you’re making moves, but isn’t so heavy that it creates more pressure than is already weighing on you?

For some people, that’s setting up a consult with me. For others, it’s doing a skills or personality assessment. Others want to update their resume because it’s been forever. Whatever single step you can take this week to lighten your load- do it. Tell a friend you’re going to do it and ask that person to hold you to it. Perhaps they have a goal and could use a little accountability too!
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What would take some weight off your shoulders? Give yourself permission to move forward at a manageable pace, and I promise wherever you end up, you’ll feel like you've won the race.