Take Control of Your Career for Money, Health and Happiness

If you work a full-time job, you likely spend a third or more of every working day at your job. That's a lot of your time, which is why it's so important to think about what your work means to you. Eight or nine hours a day could fly by if you love your job, but each day could feel like an eternity if you don't. Even if you're not in love with what you do, feeling content with it and making enough money could be what you're happy with. But what if your job and career don't meet any of your expectations? If your work is making you miserable or leaving you bored, it could be time to take control and make a change.

Image from Pixabay – CC0 License

Make Connections to Get Ahead

It's pretty common to get stuck in one place when you're trying to build your career. You want to go further, but you seem to have reached a plateau, and you're just waiting for a promotion to come along. If you want to do more and take on new challenges, you might need to make sure you get to know the right people. When you make connections with people who matter, it could give you better opportunities in your current job, or it could be the key to finding new opportunities elsewhere. As well as trying to make connections with your coworkers and bosses, you should look outside of your company and connect with others in your industry.

Become an Independent Contractor

When you have professional skills, but you're not keen on being under the thumb of a single employer, you might consider an alternative option. Becoming an independent contractor is a possibility for a variety of professionals, and it can give you more control over what you do. An insurance agent could choose to work with Bright Health Contracting, as well as other insurance providers, and set their own hours. You can choose your clients and decide when and where you work. Of course, there can be downsides too. Whenever you're not working, you're not earning money. It's completely up to you to find the income that you need.

Find a New Employer

When your job isn't making you happy, but you still want to develop your career, looking for a new job might be the best option for you. When you find a new employer, it could be because you're looking for a healthier company culture. Maybe you've run out of opportunities for development and advancement, and you want to move to a company where there are more chances of getting promoted. Moving to a new job can be daunting, but it's often the best option if you feel like you need to shake up your career.

Learn to Set Boundaries

Perhaps you do like your current job, but there are a few things that you would like to change. For example, perhaps your employer expects you to take on your coworkers' work too often, or you're expected to stay late or be available while you're at home. If these things aren't in your contract or the usual expectations of someone in your position, it might be time to change things. Being able to set boundaries with your employer and with your coworkers can help you to get more control of your job and your career, as well as your work-life balance.

Image from Pixabay – CC0 License

Retrain or Switch Careers

On the other hand, maybe you've fallen out of love with your career. Most people don't stick to one career for their whole lives anymore, so retraining and switching careers are to be expected. If you're not interested in the direction your career is going in, there are several ways to pivot and do something different. You might choose a new career that's not too far from your current one, or it could be completely different.

Consider Starting Your Own Business

A lot of people say that they dream of starting their own business but never actually do it. It's like writing a novel in that way. You might have a big idea, but you've never put it to paper. If you've considered starting a business and you think that you could make it work, it could be the best way to take control of your career. However, it does take a lot of work, so don't expect to become successful right away. You need to be prepared to spend a long time building your business.

Taking control of your career could help you to earn more money, but that's not all. It could also help you to be healthier and happier when you have a career that you love.