A vast majority of people have experienced the phenomenon known as the career change. While decades ago it was normal for people to spend their whole working life employed by the same company or even at the same position, that is no longer the case. Stability, tenure, and steady climb up the salary ladder were the focus of people back then. Nowadays, it’s work/life balance, job satisfaction, and higher labor force mobility.
Just like most changes, it has its advantages and disadvantages. Individual’s professional goals can now be achieved much quicker, and there is a much wider range of jobs available than ever before. On the other hand, like most other significant changes, a career change can take its toll on our health. Since there is nothing more important than our health, we need to know what is happening to us and how to deal with it.
Reasons for a career change
First of all, we need to understand that changes can be either desirable or undesirable. If you wanted to get a better job, you’re likely to feel relieved you’ve found it. On the other hand, if you’ve been laid off, you are more likely to have low self-esteem or be depressed. Still, whatever motivated you to look for a new job, you will find yourself under new challenges, which you might have never experienced before.
Insecurity
Unless you’ve left your old job for one which you find more fulfilling and financially rewarding, you’ll feel insecure at times. This feeling will be particularly prominent if you’re starting your own company, as many Australians can confirm. The stress related to it can harm your health. There is also the element of not having any guarantees you’ll be able to provide for the family, which only increases the pressure.
To reduce all the pressure, you should first of all, check whether your new business endeavor makes sense and how likely it is to be a success. One of the ways to put your mind at ease is to consult an expert in executive coaching in Brisbane, who can advise you on the matter. Also, you need to make sure you are healthy and ready to embrace new challenges, which is why you need to see your doctor for a regular medical check-up.
Other ways of preventing health problems
If your new job requires more sitting than your old one, you have to make sure your spine, neck, and other body parts don’t suffer. Make sure you take regular breaks and exercise regularly, even if you haven’t been doing so before. Try to spend as much time in the nature, because it has a very positive impact on the way you feel, and it’s also very beneficial for your eyesight. So, if you need to spend hours behind a screen, your vision will worsen very quickly unless you do something about it.
The stress that increases as we approach the day when we start a new job is best dealt with physical exercises and doing things that make us happy. So, consider joining a gym or installing a small one in your home, which will enable you to exercise regardless of the weather. Next, make sure you have enough free time to devote to your family and friends. You’ll feel safe, relaxed, and positive in their company, which will help you deal with the stress at your new job.
Check the environment
Before agreeing to a career change, you need to check whether the environment you’ll be working in is safe. Talk to your prospective colleagues and see what they say about any potential health hazards in the workplace. Never accept a job offer, no matter how attractive it may be, if the working conditions are potentially detrimental to your health.
Every career change affects our mental, while some even impact our physical health. It’s important to know that the new environment is healthy and that you have some mechanisms to cope with the newly imposed stress. Otherwise, your health will deteriorate, and you might find yourself seriously ill.
