Career Health Check: Are You at Risk?
We're all familiar with the term "health risk" when it comes to our physical and mental health. But what about our career health? Are we taking care of ourselves in the same way we take care of our bodies and minds?
Here are some signs that it's time to check in with your career health:
You're feeling burned out: Burnout is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by prolonged or excessive stress. It can lead to a number of negative consequences, including decreased productivity, increased absenteeism, and health problems.
You're cruising at work: Cruising is when you're doing your job adequately, but not putting in any extra effort. In the current competitive market, organizations need to create new value and adapt quickly to meet changing market needs. The danger of cruising is that if you are not learning or taking on new challenges, if there is a reduction in force due to the economic downturn or merger, you will not be competitive in the job market. For office workers, if your work is somewhat manual or repetitive, AI can easily do your job more efficiently and accurately.
You're facing negative cash flow: If your income can't keep up with your expenses, you're at risk for financial stress. This can lead to anxiety, depression, and burnout.
You're working in a toxic environment: A toxic environment is one that is characterized by negativity, hostility, and lack of support. It can also include a lack of professional development, stifling of new ideas, and gaslighting.
Your company or industry is on the decline: Is your industry in decline? Is your company resisting technological advancement? Can your daily work routine be replaced by new technology? If so, your job may be at risk.
If you're experiencing any of these signs, it's important to take steps to protect yourself. Here are a few tips:
Set boundaries between work and personal life: It's important to have a clear separation between work and personal life. If you're constantly checking work emails or messages outside of work hours, you're setting yourself up for burnout. Attend your personal time as if you are attending a long meeting. Block it out on your calendar.
Take breaks throughout the day: Get up and move around every 20-30 minutes to avoid fatigue and improve your overall well-being.
Eat healthy foods and exercise regularly: These two things are essential for both your physical and mental health. A friend shared healthy recipes and low intensity workouts in his book that reversed poor health.
Talk to someone you trust: If you're struggling to cope with your career health problems, talk to a friend, family member, therapist, or career coach. They can provide you with support and guidance.
Discover: One of the best ways to learn about different careers and industries is to talk to people who work in them. Ask them about their day-to-day tasks, the challenges and rewards of their jobs, and what they like and dislike most about their work. If you're intrigued by an industry or role that you're not familiar with, don't be afraid to reach out to people and ask questions. You can also read up on different careers and industries online, and watch videos and interviews with people who work in them. The more you learn about different career options, the better equipped you'll be to make informed decisions about your future. And who knows, you might even discover a new passion along the way!
Take the initiative to learn: Once you've identified the skills you need to move into a new career, don't wait for opportunities to come to you. Seek them out. If you're bored at work, or if your company is lagging behind in tech adoption, take the initiative to learn something new. It doesn't have to be directly related to your current role. The key is to keep your mind active and your skills sharp.
Consider finding a new job: If your current job is causing you too much stress or unhappiness, it may be time to find a new one. There are many companies out there that offer positive and supportive work environments. Don’t know how to start? Designing Your New Work Life can help you get started.
Discover what others do: Talk to people you know and people they know, and learn what they do. If you are intrigued by an industry or role that you are not familiar with, read up on them and talk to more people to evaluate if you are interested in moving into that direction, and what skills you need to learn in order to get there.
Your career is a marathon, not a sprint. It's important to take care of your career health so that you can thrive over the long term.
Ask yourself these questions to evaluate your career health:
Are you investing in your career health, or are you just putting out fires?
Is your current career path a good fit for your values and goals?
Are you feeling challenged and engaged at work, or are you coasting by?
Are you surrounded by supportive people who help you grow and succeed?
Are you taking care of yourself physically and emotionally?
If you answered no to any of these questions, it may be time to take a step back and assess your career health. By making small changes now, you can set yourself up for a long and successful career.
To explore how you can personally practice career management principles like this, schedule a complementary call to evaluate if coaching can accelerate your results.
