Managing Anxiety About Career Change: Career Coaching Tips

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If you’re contemplating a career change, you may be experiencing a certain level of anxiety about it.  This is a perfectly normal reaction that most people have when they think about leaving their comfort zone and delving into the unknown.  But, you can make this career transition successfully by learning and practicing strategies to manage your anxiety about career change.

Recognize Your Anxiety for What It Is

The first step to managing your anxiety is to recognize that your reaction is completely normal.  Most people resist change because of the anxious feelings it invokes but remember this quote by Orrin Woodward, “success is on the other side of your comfort zone”.  Anxiety is a normal response to the unknown but if you take things one step at a time, the transition becomes far less daunting.  

Remember, it’s okay to feel anxious about making a change, especially one that involves your livelihood and your future.  The bigger question is, how are you going to choose to deal with your anxious feelings? 

Identify Your Fears and Journal About Them

Spend some time with a pen in hand and identify all the fears and concerns you have around making a change.  Common fears include the financial impact of making a career change, questioning our skills and capabilities in a new role and worries about the time and money investment to bring the change about.  By identifying and writing about your fears, you’ll find that you can lessen their impact and, you’ll find more clarity about your new direction.  

Investigate Options for Support 

Trying to do it all alone can make the process far more difficult.  Reach out to a trusted family member or friend or even a career coach who can offer expert guidance.  Expressing your thoughts and feelings can go a long way to bringing more clarity to the situation.  And, if you opt to reach out to a career coach, you’ll be able to tap into their expertise in navigating a career change successfully along with strategies for overcoming your anxiety.  

Direct Your Energy Towards Things You Can Influence

One way to deal with anxious feelings is to direct your energy towards those things that you can influence control over rather than those things that you cannot.  For example, you cannot control market conditions or industry trends but you can take charge of your own actions.  Look for professional development opportunities.  Attend networking or industry events and brush up on your job search skills.  By directing your energy towards the things you can influence, you’ll bolster your confidence during this time of change.  

Incorporate Self Care Practices Into Your Daily Routine

During stressful life situations, self-care practices are crucial for well-being and staying the course with your career transition plans.  List all the activities that help you relax and bring your joy.  These things could include reading a novel, engaging in hobbies, meditating or going to the gym.  Make self-care a priority so that you don’t burn out in the process of making a change in your life that could be truly beneficial in the long term.  

Final Thoughts

Don’t let anxiety about career change hold you back from taking action.  Everyone feels anxious when making a significant change in their lives especially when it involves their livelihood.  Focus on the reasons you want to make a career change such as advancement opportunities or greater personal and professional fulfilment.  Embrace your feelings and focus on the things you can control.  Reach out to trusted family members or friends for support or even better, reach out to a career coach.  Career coaches have the experience and training to help guide you through the process and acknowledging your anxious feelings is part of the process.  They will help you with stress management strategies as well as the practical aspects of career transition.

If this post resonates with you and you’re considering a career change, you might want to save THIS PIN in your career advice board so you don’t miss any critical future updates.