STUCK IN A WORK RUT

Not sure whether it’s your career or your job you should change? Here’s a checklist to help you figure it out

- Francoise Galle

DOES going to work feel like a drag when you used to be enthusiastic about it? Maybe you’re so de­ motivated that even your paycheque isn’t enough to get you out of bed in the morning.

That’s because we aren’t motivated to work purely for money, says career coach Khanya Matlala, who’s based in Midrand, Johannesburg.

“We choose to work because we have a deeper set of goals – to have an oppor­tunity to do what we do best every day,” she says.

When our job no longer offers us this opportunity, we start to rethink our op­tions – perhaps a more exciting position or a change of career.

Both prospects bring exciting possibil­ities and challenges. So how do you fig­ure out what’s the right move and the right set of challenges for you?

GET TO THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM

“Knowing what you don’t want often leads you closer to what you do want,” Matlala says. “Make a list of the pros and cons of changing jobs, and likewise of changing careers.”

Like Matlala, UK­based life coach Kate Marshall also helps those feeling de­motivated in the workplace to find a sense of purpose. Use these pointers to figure out whether it’s your job or career that’s getting you down, she suggests.

WHAT’S THE SOURCE OF YOUR STRESS?