5 Reasons You Feel Trapped in Your Job

5 Reasons You Feel Trapped in Your JobNo matter how much you love your job, its easy to feel trapped. You wake up going through the motions and dreading getting dressed you just want to crawl back into bed and stay home. This is human, and it happens to us all.But if you really do feel trapped and find that youve completely lost track of your ambition or your drive, this list might be helpful in sorting out whyand helping you to fix it.1. Everybody else is better than me.If you feel that everyone is more capable, more skilled, or more talented than you are, youll edge yourself out of the spotlight and into isolation. Instead of constantly comparing yourself to your coworkers, remember that everyone is different. Their skills may be flashier, but that doesnt mean that yours are any less useful or important. Concentrate on doing what you do best and apply yourself to shoring up your weak spots. And trust, deep down everybody else probably feels the same2. You tell yourself its tough ou t thereThe economy is terrifying. Debt levels and unemployment have reached terrifying highs. You know youre lucky to have a job, so you couldnt possibly look anywhere else. Youd be crazy to leave Right? Wrong. The market is always scary. If you truly believe you can do better, more rewarding work, you owe it to yourself to try. Sometimes believing it can happen is enough to take the step3. I should just wait untilUntil the new year. Until I have my next review. Until Ive been here for three years. Until, until, until. Biding your time and waiting for opportunity to come to you is only a good strategy if youre saving money, say, to start your own business. Otherwise, you should make decisions based on whats best for you overall, not necessarily what leads you down the path of least resistance.4. You dont know what else you wantIts hard to get what you want when you dont even know what that is. But you owe it to yourself to find out. Dont just stick with the devil you know. Ask yours elf the hard questions and then do something about it if you dont like the answers.5. I have to prove myself.No, you dont. You have to follow your path and find a way to do your best workregardless of whether you feel your version of life matches up with someone elses checklist of success.You have to be brave enough to get yourself un-trapped. No one else will do it for you.

7 Questions To Ask Yourself That Are More Important Than Whats My Passion

7 Questions To Ask Yourself That Are More Important Than Whats My Passion If youre a millennial or a Gen Zer, youve probably been taught that the key element to choosing a career involves discovering your passions. Perhaps a counselor, teacher, or parent has even told you that if you love what you do, youll never work a day in your life. Its a goal constantly pushed on us (and, honestly, a pretty novel and exciting concept to Gen X-ers and baby boomers predominantly raised on a different platzset of priorities).However, find your passion is also a pretty vague standard around which to build a career. After all, just because you enjoy a particular activity or course of study doesnt necessarily translate it into a successful work situation. Therefore, it helps to focus on mora specific questions when trying to determine the shape of your career, like unterstellung examples1. How can I use my skills and interests to help others?According to The Muse, there are probably a million things that youwantto do, but likely fewer that youcando, and even fewer that you can do for the greater good. Focusing your attention on your own abilities and experience and how you can utilize those traits to help others can help you sift through potential career options and identify a path that suits you in terms of your strengths, your interests, and your desire to pursue a goal larger than yourself.2. What do I want my ideal work day to look like?Some workers thrive on a typical 9-to-5 schedule with a 1-hour lunch break, while others do better with a more freeform work day. Thinking about your own work habits and determining what type of daily structure fits you best can be a crucial element of discovering your ideal career path. The Muse encourages you to consider these questions What would the perfect (work) day look like to you? Do you get to have tea on your porch in the morning? Walk to the office? Have flexible hours? Physically meet with people on your team? Go to the gym in b etween meetings? Have dinner with your family? Whatever it looks like, this is your new professional goal.3. What kind of work environment is the best fit for me right now?Like the matter of scheduling, finding an office atmosphere that inspires you to work to your true potential puts you in an auspicious position for snagging your dream job. Do you thrive in a close-knit workplace with shared spaces? Or are you more likely to succeed with the flexibility to work from home? Figuring out your dream work environment may enable you to narrow down career possibilities.4. What are my workplace dealbreakers?The Muse states that knowing what you dont want can almost be as helpful as knowing what you want. Therefore, if you know that a job that requires frequent social interactions with coworkers and clients isnt a good fit for you, that information can prevent you from applying for roles that wont bring you satisfaction. Focus on what your values are and what they are not. Certain position s will align more with your values, plus youll be able to use this information to craft your perfect day, The Muse advises.5. Which of my own abilities make me feel most confident?Its likely that you have plenty of strengths to offer in a work context, but honing in on the ones that make you feel most confident and effective will ultimately result in a professional life that brings you personal pride.6. What are my biggest non-career-related goals for the next year/five years/ten years?Devising a fool-proof plan for your future rarely works out in the end. However, it can be helpful to consider your long-term life goals when selecting a career path. For instance, if you know that you hope to start a family within the next year, accepting a job offer that requires very long hours and regular travel could impede that aspiration.7. What new skills do I want to learn on the job?Learning on the job is an excellent way to increase your knowledge cousine and to gather new skills and experi ences. A career that teaches you valuable abilities can improve your life in countless ways, so its smart to seek out a work environment that encourages your growth.--