Whether you’ve just recently started feeling like you’re in a rut or you’ve been dissatisfied about many things in your life for a long time, it can be hard to make changes. Change is scary, and while you may not be very happy right now, you do know what you can expect most of the time. Another big problem is that people often know that they need something different, but they don’t quite know what. Below are four main areas of your life where you may want to make a change and some tips on how to do it.
Move
Maybe you’ve lived in the same place all your life, or maybe you moved to your town a few years ago for a job or a relationship and you’ve just never settled in. While it’s always a good idea to try to make the best of wherever you are, the fact is that there are just some places and situations where it may be harder for you to be happier than others. Maybe it’s time for a change of scenery. Think about what you’re looking for, including the landscape, the climate and the type of city or town you want to live in, then start doing some research. These days, with more employers open to remote work, you might even be able to take your job with you when you go.
Learn
If you never finished or attended college, going back to school might be the change you’re in search of. You may also want to consider a return to school if you are looking for a different career path, or maybe you need a graduate degree in order to advance. If you’ve been working for a while and you have built up a strong credit score, you may be able to get low interest rates on student loans from private lenders. You can quickly check online to see what you might be eligible for.
Work
School can lead to a career change, but it’s not the only way to change your job. Whether you want to move into a new industry or you simply want to do similar work for a different company, you can start spiffing up your resume and looking into other opportunities. This might involve seeing a career counselor or contacting a recruiter, or it might mean doing some networking to see what is out there for you.
Play
Have you always wanted to take on something big, like running a marathon, acting in community theater or writing a novel? Why not start today? Walk to the end of the block, find out when the next round of auditions is or write 100 words before the end of the day. Maybe what you’re after is something even more drastic, like taking off on a long trip. Perhaps you want to buy an RV and hit the road or spend a year backpacking through Asia. If it’s not something you can do now, figure out when you can, and start arranging your life in a way that will allow you to do it later.