Is changing career as terrifying as it seems?

Windingdown

I've worked in the same field for roughly 8 years now but it's beginning to drain the life out of me. I want to start again in a complete different career while I'm still young enough to do so.

Does anyone have any experience of this that can offer some insight?

Blatchford

Just imagine what not taking that jump will mean. Aged 66 (or whatever the retirement age will be by that time) doing what you do now still? That is quite literally all you need to know. And all you need as motivation to make a success of something else. If the jump seems hard, go back to that place and think about it! Is it easy to change direction? Not really. Do you want to play it safe? Don't do anything different.

It was the absolute BEST thing I ever did.

Windingdown

Blatchford wrote: »

Just imagine what not taking that jump will mean. Aged 66 (or whatever the retirement age will be by that time) doing what you do now still? That is quite literally all you need to know. And all you need as motivation to make a success of something else. If the jump seems hard, go back to that place and think about it! Is it easy to change direction? Not really. Do you want to play it safe? Don't do anything different.

It was the absolute BEST thing I ever did.

I think it's the big change that I find scary but like you said, I don't want to do this until I retire.

Blatchford

My dad played everything safe for the entire of his life. I mean everything. Work life. Personal life. My abiding memory of growing up was "If it weren't for ... then I'd have...". Or some such thing. I vowed I'd be the opposite. I've taken risks. I've done things that are scary. I've changed direction not once but several times. Do I have regrets? A few. Would I have done some things differently? A few. But at 62 years I can tell you that I've loved my life (mostly) and I haven't anywhere near finished yet. There are two ways of being dead. One involves stopping breathing. The other doesn't

trailingspouse

Aged 19 I started my career in the insurance industry.
Aged 37 I started my teaching career.
Aged 52 I started a new business with my husband - we're no longer together, but we still run the business.
Aged 58 (two months ago) I started my career as a kitchen designer with a major DIY chain (in fact, I sold my first kitchen just today!!)


In between times I've been a childminder, an Avon lady, a cleaner, a sandwich maker at Greggs, the list goes on.


So, you're not too old to change careers, not by a long way.


I would echo Blatchford's comment about being dead. And add - you don't stop because you get old, you get old because you stop.

Windingdown

Blatchford wrote: »

My dad played everything safe for the entire of his life. I mean everything. Work life. Personal life. My abiding memory of growing up was "If it weren't for ... then I'd have...". Or some such thing. I vowed I'd be the opposite. I've taken risks. I've done things that are scary. I've changed direction not once but several times. Do I have regrets? A few. Would I have done some things differently? A few. But at 62 years I can tell you that I've loved my life (mostly) and I haven't anywhere near finished yet. There are two ways of being dead. One involves stopping breathing. The other doesn't

My father-in-law is quite similar and I see how it's affecting the people around him. In most things in life I'm not put off by risks but this career change made me halt. I'm still fairly young so I have a lot of opportunities ahead of me to take and maybe regret haha. You've given some sound advice and something for me to think about. Thank you!

MovingForwards

I did.

Background -- Had a RTA years ago, but kept going, pushing myself, never recovered and the job stress also triggered other things; I am on a combination of meds just to get through the day and work - my GP was so happy when I said I had quit and stepping into a completely different career (all my previous GPs were saying the professional career had caused many of their friends to change careers too).

Worked my way up in a professional career, I became very jaded with it, my health was declining again in my last one (physical and mental) and for the first time ever I put my health first and quit before I reached the point of no return.

I'm now working in a very small team (me and boss with big boss and overall boss), I'm very happy, I work my hours, I have an informal flexitime going on, I've had a professional in to go through my health and make reasonable adjustments so I can do the role. All I can do is try and keep my health stable and that's the constant reminder to me of my former life.

I've started doing a degree for me and not for any career, I have hobbies and I have my smile back for the first time in nearly 20 years.

We spend too much time at work, when it impacts on health you must make a decision before the decision is made for you.

theoretica

Eight years ago you started in your present career - you are at least as competent now to start a new one as you were then.

Brynsam

Change is scary for most of us. Doesn't mean you shouldn't go ahead and do it, though. Have a look at https://www.amazon.com/Feel-Fear-Do-Anyway/dp/0345487427

Best of luck!

t0rt0ise

It depends how much you earn, how much you need to live on and how much of a drop the new career will mean. If it doesn't mean much of a drop or your outgoings will be covered then it's easy, just do it. I did.

Savvy_Sue

I've never really had a 'career', just done jobs which fell into my hand. But DH was quite senior in IT in the insurance industry and ended up running a charity working in the field of homelessness and addiction. Yup, scary but he was much happier doing that than in insurance / IT.

And he continues to use bits of that experience to this day ...