We all have times when we wonder, “Am I at the right company? Am I in the right job? And is this all there is?” These questions are especially agonizing for mid-career professionals who may be searching for fulfillment while juggling demands at home and intense financial pressures to earn. How should you address a mid-career crisis? What actions can you take to improve your professional satisfaction? How can you combat the dullness and tedium of your workaday life? And how can you tell if it’s time to make a drastic change?
We all have times where we wonder, “Am I at the right company? Am I in the right job? And is this all there is?” These questions are especially agonizing for mid-career professionals who may be searching for fulfillment while juggling demands at home. One of the biggest culprits of middle-age malaise is boredom. To address it, you don’t necessarily need to switch jobs. Instead, consider making small changes to your routine. Seek out an immersive project, join an internal committee that will stretch you, or negotiate a different schedule. These small changes can have a big impact on your outlook and perspective. It’s also important to deliberately seek meaning. Make an effort to meet the people who directly benefit from your work, whether they’re customers, clients, or colleagues. Seeing the impact you have on others is a potent reminder of why you do what you do.